What is the temporary plugging agent for oil fields used for?

A temporary wellbore plugging agent is a substance used to temporarily reduce the permeability of the formation or temporarily block high-permeability oil layers.

The temporary plugging agent for oil fields, when mixed with water-soluble polymers and injected into the well, can rapidly form a thin and dense oil layer temporary plugging zone under the action of pressure difference. After a certain period of time, it can be unplugged either automatically or manually. It is a commonly used chemical agent in oil field development, primarily used to address issues such as well fluid loss caused by the decline in formation pressure, as well as damage to the reservoir and reduced development effectiveness.

Based on their solubility and mechanism of action, oil field temporary plugging agents can be categorized into types such as acid-soluble, oil-soluble, water-soluble, and unidirectional pressure temporary plugging agents. For instance, during acidification, solid particles like paraffin, naphthalene powder, or silicon powder can be added to the acid solution as temporary plugging agents. As the acid solution infiltrates into high-permeability sections, these solid particles are filtered out, blocking the pores of the high-permeability layer and allowing most of the acid to enter the medium and low-permeability sections. After acidification, the paraffin and naphthalene particles are dissolved by oil, while the silicon powder is carried to the surface with the oil and gas flow, thereby achieving the purpose of temporary plugging and subsequent unblocking.

Additionally, with technological advancements, oilfield temporary plugging agents are continuously being upgraded and improved. For instance, the green, intelligent, broad-spectrum self-degradable temporary plugging agent is a new type of oilfield temporary plugging agent that can degrade completely on its own without the need for chemical additives, making it environmentally friendly and non-polluting. This temporary plugging agent also features adjustable system strength and degradation time, a wide range of applicable temperatures and salinities, ease of construction, high plugging rates, and good permeability recovery after degradation, catering to various operational requirements.

In summary, the oilfield temporary plugging agent plays a crucial role in oilfield development, serving as a vital chemical for ensuring normal production of oil wells and enhancing development efficiency.