Coated nanosand as relative permeability modifier

11993,750

18/330033

June 06, 2023

Polyacrylamide (PAM)-coated nanosand that may be a relative permeability modifier (RPM) and that is applied to treat a wellbore in a subterranean formation. The treatment may be for excess water production. The PAM-coated nanosand is PAM-hydrogel-coated nanosand. The PAM-coated nanosand os nanosand coated with PAM hydrogel. The PAM hydrogel includes crosslinked PAM in water. Application of the PAM-coated nanosand may reduce water production from the subterranean formation into the wellbore. The PAM hydrogel of the PAM-coated nanosand may expand in a water zone of the subterranean formation to restrict water flow into the wellbore. The PAM hydrogel of the PAM-coated nanosand may contract in an oil zone of the subterranean formation so not to significantly restrict crude oil flow into the wellbore.

Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Dhahran, SA)

Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Dhahran, SA)

1. A relative permeability modifier (RPM) that is polyacrylamide (PAM)-coated nanosand comprising nanosand coated with PAM hydrogel, wherein the PAM hydrogel comprises crosslinked PAM in water.

2. The RPM of claim 1 , wherein at least 90 weight percent (wt %) of the PAM-coated nanosand is the water, and wherein concentration of the crosslinked PAM in the PAM-coated nanosand is in a range of 1 wt % to 9 wt %.

3. The RPM of claim 1 , wherein the nanosand comprises a particle size less than 100 nanometers (nm).

4. The RPM of claim 1 , wherein a weight ratio of the crosslinked PAM to the nanosand in the PAM-coated nanosand is in a range of 0.1 to 1.

5. The RPM of claim 1 , wherein the PAM hydrogel is configured to expand in response to the RPM in a water zone of a subterranean formation, and wherein the PAM hydrogel is configured to contract in response to the RPM in an oil zone of the subterranean formation.

6. The RPM of claim 1 , wherein concentration of the crosslinked PAM in the PAM-coated nanosand is in a range of 2 wt % to 6 wt %.

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