Reaction Kinetics of the Uptake of Chromium(III) Acetate by Polyacrylamide

Abstract

Summary Gelled polymer treatments applied in injection and production wells are used to alter fluid flow in oil reservoirs so that oil production is increased and water production is decreased. A common gel used in field treatments is made by crosslinking partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) with chromium acetate. The initial step of the crosslink is the uptake of chromium acetate by a carboxyl group on the HPAM. The kinetics of the uptake reaction was studied as functions of the concentrations of chromium, HPAM, and hydrogen ions. The data were regressed to derive a rate expression for the disappearance of unreacted Cr(III) in the gelant.