NATIONAL POLYTECHNIC SCHOOL

FACULTY OF GEOLOGY AND PETROLEOS

TREATMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF PRODUCTION WATER

Garzón A. Marilyn
01/22/2018
Swelling of clays with fresh water and the inhibitors used

We know that lay swelling is a direct result of the d-spacing increase and volume expansion when
the exchangeable cations are hydrated in aqueous solution. The swelling of clays is defined as a type
of damage in which the permeability of the formation is reduced due to the alteration of the balance
of the clay. Clay swelling occurs when water-filtered fluids from drilling, finishing, conditioning or
stimulation penetrate the formation. Clay swelling can be caused by the exchange of ions or changes
in salinity. The most common swelling clays are smectite and smectite mixtures that create an almost
impermeable barrier to fluid circulation when they are located in the larger pores of a rock deposit.

The exposure of the clays to lower salinity brine than the formation water will disturb the often
delicate chemical equilibrium at the exchange sites. On resaturation with formation brine, for
example, prior to SCAL testing, or on exposure to lower salinity brine or fresh water, the existing
cations on the clays will hydrate. The hydration forces will depend upon the original cation at the
exchange sites. Sodium cations are the most readily exchangeable and can promote adsorption of up
to 32 layers of water molecules in smectite interlayers, causing clay volume expansion and
flocculation. This expansion of the swelling clays will block pore throats. In some cases, if the rock is
inherently weak, the expansion force on rehydration with formation water containing Na+ cations
can be so powerful that it can cause disintegration of the plugs of hydrated clays.

Himes et al. (1991) describe the desirable features of effective clay stabilizers, especially for
applications in tight formation as following: 1.The product should have a low, uniform molecular
weight to prevent bridging and plugging of pore channels. 2. The chemical should be nonwetting on
sandstone surfaces to reduce water saturation. 3. It should have a strong affinity for silica (clay)
surfaces to compete favorably with the gel polymers for adsorption sites when placed from gelled
solutions and to resist wash-off by flowing hydrocarbons and brines. 4. The molecule must have a
suitable cationic charge to neutralize the surface anionic charges of the clay effectively.

The main inhibitors usados son inorganic cations (IC) because clay stabilization can be accomplished
by maintaining the aqueous solution salinity above that of the connate water. Other is cationic
Inorganic Polymers in order to provide somewhat permanent clay stabilization, cationic inorganic
polymers (CIP) such as hydroxyl aluminum and zirconium oxychloride have been introduced. Finally
the oligomers offer many potential advantages over the cationic organic polymers for clay
stabilization (Himes et al., 1991). Availability of many repeating sites and high affinity for clay surfaces
enable better competition of oligomers with gels in water.

Bibliography

 Clays swelling. Availble in

https://www.glossary.oilfield.slb.com/es/Terms/c/clay_swelling.aspx.
 Clay Swelling. Avaible. in http://www.xnxx.com/video-m7yt64/free--long-haired-schoolgirl-
laylah-diamond-gets-fucked-and-.