Experimental Investigation on the Nanosilica-Reinforcing Polyacrylamide/Polyethylenimine Hydrogel for Water Shutoff Treatment

Polyacrylamide hydrogel used in conformance control is subjected to poor stability at an elevated temperature. In this paper, nanosilica has been found to be a very effective stabilizing agent for the polyacrylamide/polyethylenimine hydrogel, and the reinforcing performance of nanosilica on the hydrogel was investigated in detail. The result showed that the strength of hydrogel is enhanced obviously by the nanosilica, and the hydrogel syneresis is also significantly inhibited by the nanosilica, which can increase the hydrogel stability time from 18 to 180 days at 130 degrees C. Besides, nanosilica can increase the shear viscosity and hydrodynamic radius of polyacrylamide, and the bound water in the hydrogel is also grown in the presence of nanosilica. In comparison to the micromorphology of common hydrogel, the dense and strong mesh structure is formed as a result of the reinforcing behavior of nanosilica. According to the above results, it is inferred that the silanol group of nanosilica cross-links with the amidogen of polyacrylamide via the hydrogen bond, which is considered as the primary cause of the reinforcing performance of nanosilica for the hydrogel. In addition, as a result of the improving strength and stability and increasing absorption of the polymer to rock surface, the hydrogel enhanced by nanosilica has a higher water shutoff ratio and residual resistance factor and a longer period of validity.