Crosslinking a nanocomposite by zirconium sulfate to synthesize a high-durable new-generation polymer gel

Enhancing the stability of polymer gels under harsh conditions is vital for improving enhanced oil recovery (EOR) applications. This study introduces a novel gel synthesized using a MgO-HPAM nanocomposite and zirconium sulfate crosslinker (CL). The gel demonstrates exceptional durability, capable of maintaining its properties under high temperature and salinity, addressing long-standing challenges in EOR. The research involved several key experiments. Initial tests revealed that MgO does not influence gelation time; this is controlled by polymer and CL concentrations. The nanocomposite significantly improved the storage modulus, with increases of 72.47% and 84.52% at 250 and 500 ppm MgO, respectively. Syneresis studies showed that after 50 days, gels with 250 ppm nanocomposite retained 88% of their weight, unlike the nanocomposite-free gels which lost 75%. In core flooding experiments, nanocomposite gels demonstrated higher injection pressure and reduced permeability compared to nano-free gels. SEM imaging confirmed nanoparticle agglomeration in the sand face, enhancing the gel's barrier properties. Over 50 days at 90 °C and 2000 psi, permeability reductions were observed at 58%, 98.1%, and 97.9% across the samples. These findings underscore the potential of this gel in advancing EOR techniques.