Optimization of Swelling Percentage of Poly(AAm-co-AA) in BaCl2 Salt Solution Using Response Surface Methodology (RSM)

Unwanted water production from oil and gas reservoirs is a crucial problem for producers. Preformed particle gel (PPG) treatment is a benefit approach to control excess water production. Swelling percentage of PPG samples in saline water is a key factor affecting the efficiency of water conformance process. In this study, an efficient set of PPGs was synthesized and their swelling behavior was assessed. The design of experiments (DOE) software was used to design a minimum number of synthesis experiments with the aim of optimum swelling percentage of PPGs in BaCl2 salt solution. The optimum ranges of acrylamide (AAm) to acrylic acid (AA) mole ratio, mole percentage of N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) and swelling time were found to be 6.8 to 7.4, 4.2 to 4.5% and 179.8 to 180 min, respectively; this leads to obtain the swelling percentage of the synthesized PPGs in BaCl2 salt solution up to 529%. Finally, an empirical correlation was proposed to predict the swelling percentage of the PPGs in BaCl2 salt solution.