Synthesis of P(AM/AA/SSS/DMAAC-16) and Studying Its Performance as a Fracturing Thickener in Oilfields

In order to solve the problems of long dissolution and preparation time, cumbersome preparation, and easy moisture absorption and deterioration during storage or transportation, acrylamide (AM), acrylic acid (AA), sodium p-styrene sulfonate (SSS), and cetyl dimethylallyl ammonium chloride (DMAAC-16) were selected as raw materials, and the emulsion thickener P(AM/AA/SSS), which can be instantly dissolved in water and rapidly thickened, was prepared by the reversed-phase emulsion polymerization method. DMAAC-16, the influence of emulsifier dosage, oil–water ratio, monomer molar ratio, monomer dosage, aqueous pH, initiator dosage, reaction temperature, reaction time, and other factors on the experiment was explored by a single-factor experiment, and the optimal process was determined as follows: the oil–water volume ratio was 0.4, the emulsifier dosage was 7% of the oil phase mass, the initiator dosage was 0.03% of the total mass of the reaction system, the reaction time was 4 h, the reaction temperature was 50 °C, the aqueous pH was 6.5, and the monomer dosage was 30% of the total mass of the reaction system (monomeric molar ratio n(AM):n(AA):n(SSS):n(DMAAC-16) = 79.2:20:0.5:0.3). X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy analysis were carried out on the polymerization products. At the same time, a series of performance test experiments such as thickening performance, temperature and shear resistance, salt resistance, sand suspension performance, core damage performance, and fracturing fluid flowback fluid reuse were carried out to evaluate the comprehensive effect and efficiency of the synthetic products, and the results show that the P(AM/AA/SSS/DMAAC-16) polymer had excellent solubility and excellent properties such as temperature and shear resistance.