Upstream oil and gas operations utilize settable polymeric gels for a variety of applications including sealing of downhole fissures, and blocking of water production zones.  Most of these gels consist of polyacrylamide co-polymers crosslinked with either organic or metallic crosslinkers.In this work we present the synthesis and characterization of tough, elastic, and highly adhesive hydrogels obtained from mixtures of partially-hydrolized polyacrylamide (PHPA) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). Gelation can be induced by increasing either the pH or the temperature of the polymer mixture. The influence of the pH and temperature on the rheological properties of the gel is discussed. Comparative experiments suggest that a transamidation process between ring-opened PVP and the amide groups in PHPA contributes to the gel formation.

Tough polyacrylamide-polyvinylpyrrolidone hydrogels formed by thermal and/or pH triggered gelation

247th National Meeting (2014)

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