Synthesis and Rheological Properties of Polyacrylamide Nanospheres and SiO 2 /PAM Composite Nanospheres

Abstract Polyacrylamide nanospheres are a kind of polymer material that can improve the development effect of oilfield water flooding and realize reservoir stimulation. However, due to its good water absorption, the strength cannot well meet the needs of practical production, and is forced to be limited to application on oil displacement. Therefore, in this paper, SiO 2 /PAM composite nanospheres were synthesized by the inverse microemulsion method to meet the needs of profile control and water shutoff in oilfields. The structure, oil displacement effect and rheological properties of polyacrylamide nanospheres and SiO 2 /PAM composite nanospheres were comparatively studied. The results show that both nanospheres are viscoelastic nanospheres. Since the elastic response is greater than the viscous response in SiO 2 /PAM composite nanospheres, and the polymer nanospheres do the opposite, there are significant differences in various rheological properties, such as variation of apparent viscosity with shear rate, creep recovery characteristics, viscoelasticity etc. This work provides a basis for the practical application of SiO 2 /PAM composite nanospheres in oilfields.