In-situ poly(hexahydrotriazine) gels temporary plugging agent suitable for high-temperature reservoirs: Regulation by inorganic chloride salts

A new acid-soluble in-situ temporary plugging agent suitable for high-temperature reservoirs was developed. By regulating the aldehyde-amine condensation reaction using inorganic chlorine salts, the poly(hexahydrotriazine) gels (PHT gels) exhibit good plugging performance and high-temperature resistance and can be degraded in weak acid solutions without residue. Results show that inorganic chlorine salts have a regulating effect on the gelling time of the gelant. Without the salt or the addition of monovalent chlorine salt, the gelant gels at room temperature but does not form a gel at high temperatures. After adding divalent or trivalent inorganic salts, PHT gels are formed at high temperatures, and their gelling time increases with the increase in salt content. Mechanical compression experiments show that the compression resistance of PHT gels is almost unchanged after exposure to high temperature (140 °C) and high salt (200 g/L NaCl and 10 g/L CaCl2). Displacement experiments show that PHT gels have excellent plugging performance with a plugging rate of more than 98.50% and a maximum plugging pressure of 5.34 MPa under the high temperature and high-salt conditions mentioned above. In addition, a hydrochloric acid solution with pH ≤ 5 can achieve residue-free breakage of PHT gels. The gel-breaking fluid has a high surface activity to facilitate flowback and a core unblocking rate of more than 100% after gel-breaking, making the reservoir permeability recoverable. The plugging and acidolysis ability of PHT gels make them excellent in-situ temporary plugging agents. This study aims to provide insights into the preparation of PHT gels and their use in high-temperature reservoirs.