Modified polyacrylamide containing phenylsulfonamide and betaine sulfonate with excellent viscoelasticity for EOR

Abstract

ABSTRACT The monomers containing phenylsulfonamide N ‐allyl‐4‐methylbenzenesulfonamide (TCAP) and N , N ‐diallyl‐4‐methyl benzenesulfonamide (TCDAP) were copolymerized with acrylamide (AM), acrylic acid (AA), and 3‐(3‐methacrylamidopropyl‐dimethylammonio)‐propane‐1‐sulfonate (MDPS), respectively, through free‐radical micellar copolymerization in deionized water for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Then, the effect of the synthesis conditions was investigated simultaneously; the copolymers were characterized by Fourier transform infraredFTIR, nuclear magnetic resonance, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. It was found that the thickening function, high‐temperature resistance (120 °C), and anti‐shear ability were improved significantly. It was also found that the copolymers had excellent viscoelasticity at the lower shear frequencies. When the copolymers were dissolved in 10,000 mg L −1 NaCl, 2000 mg L −1 CaCl 2 , and 2000 mg L −1 MgCl 2 solutions, the viscosity retention rates of AM/AA/TCAP/MDPS and AM/AA/TCDAP/MDPS were 13.3, 11.1, 10.6% and 18.6, 15.2, 11.7%, respectively. In addition, the copolymers for EOR at 60 °C were 11.4 and 13.8%, respectively, which demonstrated that the copolymers possessed excellent performance for potential application in EOR. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136 , 47971.