Foam Drainage Research Articles

Mixed Systems of Quaternary Ammonium Foam Drainage Agent with Carbon Quantum Dots and Silica Nanoparticles for Improved Gas Field Performance.

Foam drainage agents enhance gas production by removing wellbore liquids. However, due to the ultra-high salinity environments of the Hechuan gas field (salinity up to 32.5 × 104 mg/L), no foam drainage agent is suitable for this gas field. To address this challenge, we developed a novel nanocomposite foam drainage system composed of quaternary ammonium and two types of nanoparticles. This work describes the design and synthesis of a quaternary ammonium foam drainage agent and nano-engineered stabilizers. Nonylphenol polyoxyethylene ether sulfosuccinate quaternary ammonium foam drainage agent was synthesized using maleic anhydride, sodium chloroacetate, N,N-dimethylpropylenediamine, etc., as precursors. We employed the Stöber method to create hydrophobic silica nanoparticles. Carbon quantum dots were then prepared and functionalized with dodecylamine. Finally, carbon quantum dots were incorporated into the mesopores of silica nanoparticles to enhance stability. Through optimization, the best performance was achieved with a (quaternary ammonium foam drainage agents)-(carbon quantum dots/silica nanoparticles) ratio of 5:1 and a total dosage of 1.1%. Under harsh conditions (salinity 35 × 104 mg/L, condensate oil 250 cm3/m3, temperature 80 °C), the system exhibited excellent stability with an initial foam height of 160 mm, remaining at 110 mm after 5 min. Additionally, it displayed good liquid-carrying capacity (160 mL), low surface tension (27.91 mN/m), and a long half-life (659 s). These results suggest the effectiveness of nanoparticle-enhanced foam drainage systems in overcoming high-salinity challenges. Previous foam drainage agents typically exhibited a salinity resistance of no more than 25 × 104 mg/L. In contrast, this innovative system demonstrates a superior salinity tolerance of up to 35 × 104 mg/L, addressing a significant gap in available agents for high-salinity gas fields. This paves the way for future development of advanced foam systems for gas well applications with high salinity.

Tuning thermal stability of fluorine-free foam by nano-MDH inorganic flame retardant

Foams enhanced by nanoparticles (NPs) have become an important way to develop new type of fluorine-free firefighting foams. This study focuses on thermal stability of foams generated by the mixed dispersion of CoatOsil-77 silicone and BS-12 hydrocarbon surfactants as foaming agent and nano-magnesium hydroxide (nano-MDH) as foam stabilizer. The interaction between nano-MDHs and surfactants were studied. Thermal stability of nano-MDH enhanced foam was explored by investigating drainage and volume attenuation of foam and heat transfer in vertical foam blanket. Stabilization mechanism of nano-MDH enhanced foam under heat was clarified. Results show that nano-MDHs have a weak interaction with the BS-12 molecules and almost has no interaction with the CoatOsil-77 molecules. Initial foam height of mixed dispersion increases at the presence of nano-MDHs, but further increase in the concentration of nano-MDH decreases its foaming ability. At room temperature, foam drainage and coarsening are accelerated by low concentration nano-MDH (1 wt%) and delayed by high concentration nano-MDH (>1 wt%). Meanwhile, foam was strengthened by rising nano-MDH content after exceeding 1 wt%. Drainage and volume attenuation of foam and heat transfer in vertical foam blanket were significantly delayed and the corresponding thermal stability was strengthened by nano-MDHs. This study can offer a possibility for tuning thermal stability of fluorine-free foams based on nano-MDHs.

Effect of gas type on properties of anionic surfactant foam system

The foam drainage technique is considered to be a promising measure for solving the problem of liquid accumulation in natural gas wells and gathering pipelines. However, differences in gases can greatly affect the performance of surfactant foam, thus limiting the application of this technology. To elucidate the mechanism of natural gas components influencing foam properties, the interfacial properties of hydrocarbon gas-surfactant-water system were analyzed thermodynamically and kinetically by combining molecular dynamics simulations and foaming experiments. The results show that with the increasing alkane chain length, the foaming volume and half-life of the foam are gradually rising, while the gas–liquid interfacial tension is decreasing, which is consistent with the results of molecular dynamics simulations. Compared with air, hydrocarbon gases are more beneficial for foam generation and stabilization. The interfacial adsorption of alkane molecules and the interaction between alkanes and surfactants are the main factors affecting the interfacial tension and film stability of different systems.

Experimental study of foam stability and interfacial behaviour of cellulose nanocrystals-enhanced C22-tailed zwitterionic betaine surfactant

The intrinsic thermodynamic instability of foam systems significantly constrains their effectiveness in enhancing oil and gas recovery from unconventional reservoirs. This study investigated the foam properties and interfacial rheological characteristics of the EDAB/CNC/APG system, analyzing the influence of various factors including temperature, pH, and inorganic salts. The results indicated that the optimal concentration ratio for CNC-surfactant system consists of 0.3 % EDAB, 1.5 % CNC and 0.5 % APG by mass fraction. In this system, the addition of CNC forms a three-dimensional network structure at the gas–liquid continuous interface, significantly extending the drainage half-life of the system. At elevated temperatures, the intense molecular thermal motion disrupts the interactions between CNC and EDAB. This disruption leads to a decrease in surface tension and the viscoelastic modulus of interfacial expansion, resulting in an increase of foam volume but a decline in foam drainage half-life. Foam performance and interfacial rheological characteristics are optimal under neutral pH conditions and manifest higher stability in alkaline conditions compared to acidic conditions. In highly mineralized reservoirs (≥5.0 % salt concentration), inorganic salt ions shield the attraction between CNC and oppositely charged surfactants. This shielding weakens the cross-linking within CNC-surfactant systems, altering the structure of the liquid film interface and causing a sharp decrease in foam half-life. The C22-tailed zwitterionic betaine surfactant EDAB, enhanced by CNC, provides a novel, environmentally friendly, efficient, and safe approach to the exploitation of complex, low-permeability oil and gas reservoirs.

Study on Dynamic Liquid-Carrying Process of Foaming Agent and Establishment of Mathematical Model.

The efficiency of foam drainage gas recovery is predominantly dictated by the performance of the foaming agent. To better understand their behavior, a novel testing apparatus was developed to simulate the foam drainage gas recovery process within the wellbore. Through the dynamic liquid-carrying performance tests of four foaming agents under uniform conditions, it was discerned that there existed significant disparities in the liquid-carrying performance and action duration. Further interface performance analysis disclosed that the liquid-carrying capacity and the duration were correlated with their adsorption capacity and interface activity at the gas-liquid interface. Notably, foaming agents with lower adsorption capacity and higher interfacial activity demonstrated superior liquid-carrying performance and longer action duration. By analyzing the consumption of foaming agents during the liquid-carrying process, five dynamic liquid-carrying equations were derived based on first-order reaction kinetics, the Malthusian population model, and the logistic function. The outcomes demonstrated that all these five equations could precisely delineate the dynamic liquid-carrying process of the foaming agent. During the research, we found that the consumption of the foaming agent in the foam drainage gas recovery process is related to its adsorption behavior at the gas-liquid interface, and revealed that the dynamic liquid-carrying process of foaming agent is the increasing process of liquid-carrying capacity under the continuous consumption of limited foaming agent resources. This laid a foundation for the further exploration of the functional mechanism of the foaming agent in the foam drainage gas recovery process.

Classical solvability to the free boundary problem for a foam drainage equation. II. From the interface to the bottom

We study a nonlinear partial differential equation describing the evolution of a foam drainage in one dimensional case which was proposed by Goldfarb et al. in 1988 in order to investigate the flow of liquid through channels (Plateau borders) and nodes (intersections of four channels) between the bubbles, driven by gravity and capillarity. Its mathematical studies so far are mainly restricted within numerical and particular solutions; as for mathematical analysis of it there are only a few. We prove that the free boundary problem for the foam drainage equation in the region below an interface to the bottom in a foam column admits a unique global-in-time classical solution by the standard classical mathematical method, the maximum principle. Moreover, the existence of its steady solution and its stability are shown.

Classical solvability to the free boundary problem for a foam drainage equation. I. From the top to the interface

We study a nonlinear partial differential equation describing the evolution of a foam drainage in one dimensional case which was proposed by Goldfarb et al. [Izv. Akad. Nauk SSSR Mekh. Ghidk. Gaza 2, 103–108 (1988)] in order to investigate the flow of liquid through channels (Plateau borders) and nodes (intersections of four channels) between the bubbles, driven by gravity and capillarity. Its mathematical studies so far are mainly restricted within numerical and particular solutions; as for mathematical analysis of it there are only a few. We prove that the free boundary problem for the foam drainage equation in the region from the top to the interface in a foam column admits a unique global-in-time classical solution by the standard classical mathematical method, the maximum principle and the comparison theorem. Moreover, the existence of its steady solution and its stability are discussed.

Enhancing bioactive compounds retention in pomegranate juice powder through foam mat drying

AbstractThe effect of addition of whey protein isolate (WPI; 0%, 5%, 7.5% and 10%) and carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC; 0%, 0.25%, 0.5% and 0.75%) was studied for its foaming properties and stability in pomegranate juice (PJ). High‐quality powders can be produced from fruit juices and heat‐sensitive food items using foam mat drying (FMD). The PJ foam with 10% WPI, a foaming agent, and 0.25% CMC, a stabilizer had high foam expansion (FE) (455.28%) and low foam density (FD) (0.2030 g/cc) and foam drainage volume (FDV) (20.10 mL). The PJ foam was subjected to different drying temperatures (50, 60 and 70°C) and thickness (3 and 6 mm). The drying temperature of 60°C and foam thickness of 3 mm were found to be the acceptable drying conditions based on drying time (180 min) and retention of bioactive compounds. At optimum drying conditions, the retention of phenols, anthocyanin, ascorbic acid, and antioxidant capacity was 97.86%, 83.90%, 77.29%, and 87.11%, respectively. The sensory evaluation of the reconstituted foam mat dried pomegranate juice powder (FPJP) showed lower overall acceptability scores than fresh juice (FJ), but the overall acceptability of the powder dried at optimum drying conditions was within liking limits (>6). FPJP has an amorphous nature with a particle size of 3564 nm and a porous and irregular structure. Bioactive compounds in FPJP were studied after 8 months of storage, with higher retention of bioactive compounds in refrigerated conditions.Practical applicationThe studies revealed that foam mat drying is suitable for the pomegranate juice which has high moisture and sugar content. It requires shorter drying time of 180 min. for drying up to moisture content of 4% (db). The foam mat dried juice powder obtained at optimum drying conditions has retained higher bioactive compounds and has higher sensorial acceptability when compared with the other treatment combinations. This drying process requires low initial investment and can easily be scaled up to the commercial level thus making it profitable business venture. Further, higher storage stability up to 8 months, low volume and consequent low transport cost improves the technical and financial viability of the process in industrial application. The Foam mat dried pomegranate juice developed can be used in many food products such as reconstituted beverages, ice creams, confectioneries, etc.

New exact solutions of the conformable space-time two-mode foam drainage equation by two effective methods

In this article, the two-mode foam drainage equation in terms of time and space conformable sense has been investigated. Two effective methods, the generalized exponential rational function method (GERFM) and the improved version of the Bernoulli sub-equation function method (IBSEFM), are used to get new solutions of underlying equation. The fractional travelling wave transformation is applied to convert nonlinear partial differential equations to nonlinear ordinary differential equations. Proposed methods successfully extract trigonometric, hyperbolic and exponential solutions. Some of the obtained solutions are visualized to understand the effect of fractional orders of time and space derivatives on the wave profile and the dynamic behavior of the solutions.

Foam drainage agent with enhanced foam stability through modified Fe3O4 nanoparticles

A nanofoam drainage agent was developed to address the challenges of inadequate foam stability and foaming efficiency in the gas recovery process of foam drainage. The formulation of the primary foam drainage agent was obtained by screening and combining conventional anionic and amphoteric surfactants. Experimental results revealed a synergistic interaction between α-olefin sulfonate (AOS) and lauramidopropyl betaine (LAB-35). Specifically, when a mixture of 0.4 wt.% AOS and 0.1 wt.% LAB-35 was used, the surface tension of the primary foam drainage agent was measured to be 23.32 mN/m. Furthermore, modification of Fe3O4 nanoparticles with the silane coupling agent γ-(methacryloxy)propyl trimethoxysilane (KH-570) was performed to improve the dispersibility in aqueous solutions and enhance foam stability. The results of infrared spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and contact angle measurements revealed the effective bonding of KH-570 to the surface of Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Additionally, the particle size distribution in the aqueous solution showed the excellent dispersion of the modified Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Through the incorporation of the modified Fe3O4 nanoparticles into the primary foam drainage agent, a nanofoam drainage agent with a half-life of 989 ± 6.5 s was developed. Microscopic observations of foam coarsening behavior revealed the mechanism behind foam stability. Performance testing of the foam drainage agent demonstrated the agent’s outstanding resistance against salinity, temperature, and oil and its remarkable liquid-carrying capacity.

Study on Foaming Agent Foam Composite Index (FCI) Correlation with High Temperature and High Pressure for Unconventional Oil and Gas Reservoirs

In the process of unconventional oil and gas reservoir exploitation, it is difficult to reduce drilling fluid lost in natural fractures, enhance the CO2 displacement effect and reduce foam drainage gas recovery costs. In most cases, foaming agents can solve these problems in a low-cost way in a short period of time. Foaming agent screening and evaluation is the key to this technology. However, there are few experimental tests used in the evaluation of foaming agent properties that match the actual unconventional oil or gas well conditions of high temperature and high pressure. Using the actual temperature and pressure conditions of a wellbore, the foaming capacity and half-life of two common foaming agents were systematically evaluated by using the high-temperature and high-pressure visual foam properties evaluation device (UPMX-500), in which the foaming agent’s volume concentration was 3‰ in a simulated formation water with a pH of 6 and salinity of 9 × 104 mg/L. The high-temperature (40 °C, 60 °C, 80 °C, 100 °C) and high-pressure (0.1 MPa, 6.0 MPa, 8.0 MPa, 10.0 MPa) effect on the foaming capacity and half-life was analyzed. Binary linear regression of pressure and temperature was carried out, taking the foam composite index as the target and using a formula with high correlation. The results showed that the foam composite index (FCI) of the two foaming agents was positively correlated with pressure and temperature. The correlation of UT-7 was FCI = 64.1196T + 735.713p − 2066.2, the correlation of HY-3K was FCI = 62.5523T + 7220.391p − 2415.6, and the coefficients of determination were 0.9799 and 0.9895, respectively, with an error of less than 10%. This correlation equation can provide a reference for accurately predicting the foaming capacity of foaming agents under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions and can also be used to optimize foaming agents or to qualitatively evaluate results for the efficient exploitation of unconventional oil and gas reservoirs.

Solution of the foam-drainage equation with cubic B-spline hybrid approach

This work presents a robust and efficient numerical stratagem for the study of integer and fractional order non-linear Foam-Drainage (FD) model. The scheme first uses, usual forward difference and the L 1 formula, in integer and fractional cases, respectively. Then, the collocation approach together with cubic B-splines (CBS) basis are employed to estimate the unknown solution and its derivatives. With the help of these discretizations and Quasi-linearization, solving non-linear FD model transforms to the system of linear algebraic equations. The solution of the linear system approximates the CBS coefficients which further leads to the numerical solutions. Moreover, by Von Neumann stability it is proved that the proposed scheme is unconditionally stable. To evaluate the performance and accuracy of the technique, absolute error (AE), L 2, and L ∞ norms are presented. The obtained outcomes are also matched with some existing results in literature. It is noted from simulations that the proposed method gives quite accurate solutions.

Assessment of forecasting hydrate blockage in foam drainage gas recovery wellbore

Assessment of forecasting hydrate blockage in foam drainage gas recovery wellbore

One-step construction of light-responsive intelligent foam by the Hoffmeister effect and 2D black phosphorus: High stability and on-demand degradation

Stimulus-responsive liquid foams have gained much attention for use in various industrial applications. However, it remains challenging to construct such systems with integrated functionality of easy preparation, high stability, high foaming ability, and rapid on-demand degradation. Herein, by combining the Hofmeister effect and nanotechnology, a promising ultrastable and photoresponsive liquid foam was prepared that had a lifetime of several months and could be destroyed on demand in a few minutes. Specifically, the system was prepared by simply mixing a gelatine solution containing black phosphorus nanosheets (BPNs) and kosmotropic anions in the Hofmeister series with air in one step using only two syringes, and there were no chemical modifications or crosslinking agents required. The kosmotropic anions induced stronger hydrophobic interactions, bundling within molecular chains, and blockage of foam drainage channels, which significantly improved the foaming ability and the lifetime and mechanical properties of the foam. Moreover, rational structure design realized a promising on-demand degradation mechanism via a cascading “light trigger–heat generation–Marangoni flow generation” process occurring on the bubble surfaces. On this basis, the BPNs converted light into thermal energy, which induced Marangoni flow driven by surface tension gradients along the gas‒liquid interfaces, and the bubble film ruptured within seconds upon light illumination. The designed stimulus‒response systems combined stable, fast and repeatable processes without sacrificing the foaming abilities, thus providing a general way to control the stabilities of foams, bubbles and films.

Investigating the foaming behavior of a soybean derived surfactant for gas well deliquification in a sparger setup

Surfactant injection is one of the common gas-well deliquification techniques to enhance gas productivity. However, most traditional chemical-based surfactants are often nonbiodegradable, toxic, and lead to environmental and potential health risks. There is a need to investigate surfactants of natural origins, soybean derived surfactants (SODS) offer promising eco-friendly alternatives. It is crucial to understand the foaming behavior of the biosurfactant and its effectiveness in the deliquification process. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to carry out a comprehensive analysis of the foaming characteristics of SODS and correlate its dynamic surface tension to the foaming properties of other known surfactant solutions using a sparger setup.The results showed that the SODS can generate stable foams and have the potential to mitigate liquid loading problems in gas wells. The bubble formation at the tip of the sparger is highly dependent on the bubble size and foam drainage, so, the surface tension reduction rate (R1/2) is inversely proportional to the bubble radius (R‾) for all the surfactants under study. Consequently, the total foam weight and foam density of SODS are determined at the top of the production column of the experimental setup, hence the liquid content of the foam (∅l) determines the foam formation for the biosurfactant. Also, the foaming qualities in terms of foamability and foam stability increase with maximum R1/2 for the all the surfactants used. The sparger configuration agrees with the Ross-Miles test for ∅l and R1/2 with the R2 value of 0.91. The study offers a novel strategy for effective gas well deliquification using surfactants with natural origins, furthering sustainable practices in the oil and gas production sector.

Experimental and model research on judging liquid accumulation in pipelines under the action of surfactant

Foam drainage gas extraction is applied in various natural gas extraction scenarios, such as water-bearing gas wells, gas fields with high water content, and wet natural gas pipeline transport, with the goal of enhancing extraction efficiency and lowering production costs. A common issue in foam-carrying liquid gas wells and wet natural gas pipelines is the large errors observed in the prediction model for liquid accumulation onset, derived using ellipsoidal droplets. Additionally, this model is only applicable to a single surfactant type and concentration. To investigate the effects of different types and concentrations of surfactants on the onset of liquid accumulation. This paper re-establishes the critical foam-carrying flow rate model for spherical cap-shaped foam droplets using Newton's laws of motion, through an analysis of their motion state within the air core. Through the critical foam-carrying flow rate test experiments and foam droplet deformation test experiments to obtain critical foam-carrying flow rate model in the surface tension, foam density, Weber number, drag coefficient and other parameters of the change rule and calculation method. The model's validity was further confirmed using field-measured production data from foam-carrying liquid gas wells, demonstrating accurate validation results. Compared to the previous model, this new model treats foam droplets as spherical cap-shape and introduces a dimensionless scaling factor and foaming capacity to quantify the impact of surfactant types and concentrations on foam droplet surface tension and density. This enhances the model's applicability across different types and concentrations of surfactants with greater accuracy. This offers an efficient, precise, and versatile method for predicting liquid accumulation in foam-carrying liquid gas fields, thereby enhancing the efficiency and safety of gas extraction.

Modified optimal auxiliary functions method for approximate-analytical solutions in fractional order nonlinear Foam Drainage equations

The study aims to obtain new approximate analytical solutions for the fractional order nonlinear Foam Drainage equation through a novel modification of the well-known Optimal Auxiliary Functions Method (OAFM). This method systematically constructs auxiliary functions, and by optimizing their parameters, it provides approximate solutions closely mirroring the original behavior of the problem. Numerical simulations, presented in tabular form, demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Graphical representations of the solutions are utilized to further validate the applicability and accuracy of the suggested technique. Additionally, the results affirm that the modified OAFM stands out as one of the most effective tools for addressing nonlinear problems in the field of science and technology, thereby contributing valuable addition to the field.

Foam drainage modeling of vertical foam column and validation with experimental results

The understanding of the mechanisms behind foam generation and the structure of foam itself form the basis of foam-related experiments for its application in Enhanced Oil Recovery and overcoming gas injection limitations. Novel insights in this paper towards the theory of foam generation can help explain experimental results and lead to improved formulas of the applied substances and concentrations. This study aims to investigate the mechanisms behind foam generation and the structure of foam by specific laboratory experiments and theoretical analyses. The liquid drainage through interconnected Plateau borders was found to be the most critical foam decay mechanism for this particular research. The justification of the foam drainage equation was demonstrated by comparing the numerical solution with the outcome of a few bulk experiments. The discrepancies were described according to the limitations of both the theory and the experimental settings. Foam modelling gives more profound knowledge in more detail of the different stages in foam drainage than experimental data can deliver, which is because of the lack of continuous measurement of foam conductivity for the foam bulk test. Therefore, a comprehension of foam modelling investigation and comparison is required to gain a deeper understanding of foam behaviour.

Modeling of Biofoam Destabilization by Biodefoamers in Poultry Slaughterhouse Wastewater Treatment Activated Sludge

Biofoam formation in wastewater treatment is a challenge globally. Previously, we successfully proposed the use of biodefoamers instead of synthetic defoamers for environmental protection. In this study, we report on biodefoamation modeling using activated sludge organisms. Overall, the rate law model was determined to adequately describe foam drainage including collapse while applying biodefoamers. The target industry is the poultry processing industry whereby foam formation during wastewater treatment is an ongoing challenge.

Fractional-order view analysis of Fisher’s and foam drainage equations within Aboodh transform

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to solve two unique but difficult partial differential equations: the foam drainage equation and the nonlinear time-fractional fisher’s equation. Through our methods, we aim to provide accurate solutions and gain a deeper understanding of the intricate behaviors exhibited by these systems.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, we use a dual technique that combines the Aboodh residual power series method and the Aboodh transform iteration method, both of which are combined with the Caputo operator.FindingsWe develop exact and efficient solutions by merging these unique methodologies. Our results, presented through illustrative figures and data, demonstrate the efficacy and versatility of the Aboodh methods in tackling such complex mathematical models.Originality/valueOwing to their fractional derivatives and nonlinear behavior, these equations are crucial in modeling complex processes and confront analytical complications in various scientific and engineering contexts.