Abstract
Polysaccharide biopolymers are biomacromolecules derived from renewable resources with versatile functions including thickening, crosslinking, adsorption, etc. Possessing high efficiency and low cost, they have brought wide applications in all phases of petroleum recovery, from well drilling to wastewater treatment. The biopolymers are generally utilized as additives of fluids or plugging agents, to correct the fluid properties that affect the performance and cost of petroleum recovery. This review focuses on both the characteristics of biopolymers and their utilization in the petroleum recovery process. Research on the synthesis and characterization of polymers, as well as controlling their structures through modification, aims to develop novel recipes of biopolymer treatment with new application realms. The influences of biopolymer in many petroleum recovery cases were also evaluated to permit establishing the correlations between their physicochemical properties and performances. As their performance is heavily affected by the local environment, screening and testing polymers under controlled conditions is the necessary step to guarantee the efficiency and safety of biopolymer treatments.
Highlights
Polysaccharide biopolymers are regarded as biomacromolecules derived from renewable resources, in a raw or chemical modified form [1]
Scleroglucan has been widely used in the section of enhanced oil recovery of the petroleum industry, where Scleroglucan is added into the injection water to increase the viscosity and improve the oil recovery
Holding better thermostability, modified Guar such as Carboxymethyl Guar gum (CMG), Carboxymethyl Hydroxypropyl Guar (CMHPG) and cellulose-based polymers such as Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), Hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), and Carboxymethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose (CMHEC) are alternative biopolymers applied at high temperature [113,114]
Summary
Polysaccharide biopolymers are regarded as biomacromolecules derived from renewable resources, in a raw or chemical modified form [1]. Understanding the workflow of petroleum recovery, as well as the property requirements of biopolymers in the process, is the prerequisite for designing efficient polymer. In that case, utilizing polymers, especially biopolymers, as fluid additives, is an important aspect regarding the efficiency and safety of petroleum recovery. While synthetic polymers generally exhibit simple and homogenous structures, their high cost, complicated synthetic process, and potential toxicity to the environment limit their application realms in the petroleum recovery process. The benefits and limitations of biopolymer as fluid additives are discussed to provide insight to the potential improvement of current petroleum recovery process. While the biopolymer treatment is usually on a case-by-case basis, this work provides general guidelines of biopolymer application in the petroleum recovery process, aiming at realizing a greener and more efficient energy production
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