Engineered Nano-Modified Methyl Methacrylate Polymer for Repair of 30 microM Microcracks

Abstract

A method and sealant to seal microcracks as small as 50 μm by causing methyl methacrylate combined with one or more nanoparticles to flow into the microcrack to be sealed.

1 . A method of using a sealant to seal microcracks in a wellbore comprising the steps of:
 1) filling a bottom hole of the wellbore with filler solution to an area below the area to be repaired;   2) mixing a polymer sealant comprising methyl methacrylate with one or more nanoparticles in order to increase the degree of polymer crystallization, wherein said methyl methacrylate contains sufficient nanoparticles by weight to change the ductility and/or control the hardening time of said methyl methacrylate to create a nano-modified polymer prior to placement of said nano-modified polymer in the microcracks to be sealed;   3) filling a portion of the casing with said nano-modified polymer sealant, said nano-modified polymer sealant is positioned above and below the area to be repaired;   4) subjecting said nano-modified polymer sealant to pressure to cause said nano-modified polymer sealant to flow into the microcrack to be sealed;   5) adding an anti-hardening agent to maintain said nano-modified polymer sealant in fluid form; and   6) removing any remaining nano-modified polymer sealant.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said nanoparticles are metallic nanoparticles. 
     
     
         3 . The sealant of  claim 1  wherein the nanoparticles are carbon nanotubes (CNTs). 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the nanoparticles are graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs). 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the nanoparticles are microcapsules filled with ANPs, CNTs, GNPs, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said nanoparticles are metallic nanoparticles. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said sealant is used to seal microcracks as small as 30 μm. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2  wherein said sealant is used to seal microcracks as small as 30 μm. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said sealant is used to seal microcracks as small as 30 μm. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said sealant is used to seal microcracks as small as 30 μm. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5  wherein said sealant is used to seal microcracks as small as 30 μm. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said sealant is used to seal microcracks as small as 30 μm.