Category 1: Drilling Chemicals (Drilling Fluid Treatment Agents, Cement Additives)
Category 2: Fracturing/acidizing chemicals (core of reservoir modification)
Category 3: Chemical agents for oil recovery (enhanced oil recovery)
Category 4: Chemical agents for oil and gas gathering and transportation (demulsification, pour point reduction, drag reduction)
Category 5: Chemical agents for oilfield water treatment (water injection/environmental protection)
Oilfield chemicals are an important branch of fine chemicals, widely used in various processes such as drilling, completion, oil recovery, gathering and transportation, and oilfield water treatment. With the expansion of oil and gas extraction to deeper and unconventional areas (shale oil, tight oil), the role of chemical agents is becoming increasingly prominent. This article systematically reviews the chemical system of oil fields, covering five categories: drilling chemicals, fracturing/acidizing chemicals, oil displacement chemicals, oil and gas gathering and transportation chemicals, and oil field water treatment chemicals.
Category 1: Drilling Chemicals (Drilling Fluid Treatment Agents, Cement Additives) (1-20)
1. Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (Na CMC)
Chemical type: Cellulose derivatives
Core feature: Form a dense filter cake through adsorption, control the filtration loss, and keep the API filtration loss within 15ml.
Main use: As a filtrate reducer, it is used in water-based drilling fluids to reduce filtrate and protect reservoirs.
2. Polyanionic Cellulose (PAC)
Chemical type: Cellulose derivatives
Core features: Better temperature resistance and stronger salt resistance than CMC.
Main purpose: to reduce filtration/increase viscosity, used for seawater drilling fluid and saturated saltwater drilling fluid.
3. Partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM)
Chemical type: synthetic polymer
Core characteristics: high molecular weight, good thickening effect, and certain flocculation ability.
Main use: thickening agent/flocculant, used for thickening drilling fluid and removing drilling cuttings.
4. Sulfonated lignite (SMC)
Chemical Type: Natural Modified
Core characteristics: Made from sulfonated lignite, it has good filtration and dilution effects, and good temperature resistance.
Main use: Filter loss reducer, used in deep well high-temperature drilling fluid systems.
5. Sulfonated Phenolic Resin (SMP)
Chemical type: synthetic resin
Core features: High temperature resistance (above 200 ℃), strong salt and calcium resistance.
Main use: High temperature filtrate reducer, used for deep and ultra deep drilling fluids.
6. Sulfonated asphalt
Chemical Type: Natural Modified
Core feature: Forming an isolation film on the surface of the wellbore, reducing the friction coefficient, and sealing micro cracks.
Main use: anti collapse agent/lubricant, used in shale formations to prevent wellbore collapse.
7. Lignosulfonate
Chemical Type: Natural Modified
Core feature: Extracted from papermaking waste liquid, it has good dilution and dispersion effects.
Main use: Diluent, reducing drilling fluid viscosity, improving rheological properties.
8. Iron chromium lignosulfonate (FCLS)
Chemical type: Metal complex
Core characteristics: Temperature and salt resistance, better dilution effect than ordinary lignin.
Main application: High efficiency diluent, used for deep well saltwater drilling fluid.
9. Lignite resin
Chemical type: Natural synthetic composite
Core feature: A composite of lignite and phenolic resin, combining the advantages of both.
Main application: Fluid loss reducer, used in complex formation drilling fluid systems.
10. Graphite powder
Chemical type: Mineral
Core characteristics: Layered structure, good lubricity, chemical inertness.
Main use: Solid lubricant, reduces drilling tool torque, and prevents drill jamming.
11. Polyalcohol
Chemical type: Polyol
Core feature: Cloud point effect, forming a hydrophobic film on the wellbore when the temperature is above the cloud point.
Main use: anti collapse agent/lubricant, used to replace oil-based drilling fluid with water-based drilling fluid.
12. Polyethylene glycol (PEG)
Chemical type: Polyether
Core characteristics: Different molecular weights can be selected, with good lubrication and sealing effects.
Main application: Lubricant/shale inhibitor, used for water-based drilling fluids.
13. Potassium chloride (KCl)
Chemical type: Inorganic salt
Core feature: Potassium ions can inhibit the hydration expansion of clay.
Main use: Shale inhibitor, used to inhibit the hydration and dispersion of shale.
14. Barite
Chemical type: Barium sulfate mineral
Core characteristics: High density (4.2-4.5), chemically inert.
Main use: weighting agent, increasing drilling fluid density, balancing formation pressure.
15. Calcium carbonate (ultrafine)
Chemical type: Mineral
Core feature: Acid soluble, can be dissolved by hydrochloric acid.
Main use: Temporary plugging agent, used to seal reservoir pores, and can be acid resolved after well completion.
16. Oil well cement
Chemical type: silicate
Core feature: Special cement, suitable for high-temperature and high-pressure environments underground.
Main applications: cementing materials, sealing formations, supporting casing.
17. High temperature retarder
Chemical type: synthetic polymer/organic acid
Core feature: Delaying the thickening time of cement slurry, suitable for high-temperature wells.
Main use: Cement admixture, ensuring sufficient time for the cement slurry to be pumped into place.
18. Dispersant (for cement)
Chemical type: sulfonated polymer
Core features: Reduce the viscosity of cement slurry and improve fluidity.
Main use: Cement admixture, improving the pumpability of cement slurry.
19. Water loss reducing agent (for cement)
Chemical type: synthetic polymer
Core feature: Control the filtration loss of cement slurry to prevent rapid dehydration of cement.
Main use: Cement admixture, protecting reservoirs and improving cementing quality.
20. Anti oil and gas channeling agent
Chemical Type: Polymer/Latex
Core feature: Fill the micro pores of cement stone to prevent oil and gas from channeling.
Main use: Cement admixture, improving the quality of cementing and isolation.
Category 2: Fracturing/acidizing chemicals (core of reservoir modification) (21-40)
21. Guar gum/hydroxypropyl guar gum (HPG)
Chemical type: Natural plant gum
Core features: Good water solubility, strong viscosity increasing ability, and easy to break glue.
Main applications: Thickener for fracturing fluids, sand carrier, and support for fractures.
22. Carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl guar gum (CMHPG)
Chemical type: Modified guar gum
Core features: Better temperature resistance and lower residue than HPG.
Main use: Thickener for high-temperature fracturing fluid, used for deep well high-temperature fracturing.
23. Polyacrylamide (PAM)
Chemical type: synthetic polymer
Core characteristics: high molecular weight, good viscosity enhancement, low residue.
Main use: Synthetic fracturing fluid thickener, used for cleaning fracturing fluid systems.
24. Anionic polyacrylamide
Chemical type: synthetic polymer
Core characteristics: Partial hydrolysis, high negative charge density.
Main use: Fracturing fluid drag reducer, reduces friction, and improves pumping efficiency.
25. Integrated Pressure Drive Agent (HDFD)
Chemical type: maleic anhydride+polyoxyethylene ether+polyacrylamide complex
Core features: drag reduction rate>70%, interface tension as low as 5 × 10 ⁻ mN/m, oil displacement efficiency increased by 40%.
Main application: Shale oil fracturing, integrating fracturing drag reduction and oil displacement to increase single well production.
26. Ammonium persulfate
Chemical type: Inorganic peroxide
Core feature: High temperature decomposition generates free radicals and degrades polymer chains.
Main uses: Gel breaker, degradation of guar gum/polyacrylamide after hydraulic fracturing, and backflow of liquids.
27. Capsule breaker
Chemical type: Coated persulfate
Core features: slow release, delayed gel breaking time.
Main purpose: Delaying gel breakage, breaking gel after crack closure, reducing reservoir damage.
28. Crosslinking agent (borax/organic boron)
Chemical type: Boron compound
Core feature: Crosslinking with cis adjacent hydroxyl groups in guar gum to form a three-dimensional network structure.
Main application: Crosslinking of fracturing fluid, significantly increasing viscosity and enhancing sand carrying capacity.
29. Organic zirconium crosslinking agent
Chemical type: Organic zirconium compound
Core feature: Better temperature resistance than boron crosslinker, suitable for high-temperature wells.
Main application: High temperature fracturing fluid cross-linking, used for deep wells above 150 ℃.
30. Clay stabilizer (potassium chloride)
Chemical type: Inorganic salt
Core feature: Potassium ions inhibit clay hydration expansion.
Main use: fracturing fluid additive to prevent damage to water sensitive reservoirs.
31. Organic cationic clay stabilizer
Chemical type: Quaternary ammonium salt
Core feature: Adsorption on clay surface, long-term inhibition of hydration.
Main application: Long term clay stabilization, used for strong water sensitive reservoirs.
32. Drainage aid (fluorocarbon/non-ionic)
Chemical type: Fluorocarbon/polyoxyethylene ether
Core features: Reduce surface tension, decrease capillary force, and promote backflow.
Main use: fracturing fluid additive, improving fracturing fluid backflow rate.
33. demulsifier (for hydraulic fracturing)
Chemical type: polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene ether
Core feature: Prevent the formation of emulsions between fracturing fluid and crude oil.
Main use: fracturing fluid additive to prevent emulsion from blocking pores.
34. Corrosion inhibitor (imidazoline quaternary ammonium salt)
Chemical type: Imidazoline derivatives
Core feature: Forming an adsorption film on the metal surface to isolate acid corrosion.
Main use: Acidizing additive, protecting tubing and downhole tools.
35. Iron ion stabilizer (citric acid/EDTA)
Chemical type: Organic acid/chelating agent
Core feature: Complex Fe ⁺ to prevent the formation of Fe (OH) ∝ precipitation.
Main use: Acidizing additive to prevent secondary precipitation from damaging the reservoir.
36. Anti emulsifier
Chemical type: Surfactant
Core feature: prevent acid from emulsifying with crude oil.
Main use: Acidizing additive to prevent emulsion from blocking pores.
37. Hydrochloric acid (HCl)
Chemical type: Inorganic acid
Core characteristics: Dissolve carbonate rocks and unclog pores.
Main application: Acidizing the main body, used for the transformation of carbonate reservoirs.
38. Hydrofluoric acid (HF)
Chemical type: Inorganic acid
Core characteristics: Dissolve silicate minerals (clay, quartz).
Main application: Acidizing agent, used for acidizing sandstone reservoir soil (HCl+HF).
39. Polyhydrogen acid
Chemical type: organic acid+fluoride salt
Core characteristics: slow generation of HF, deep action, low corrosiveness.
Main applications: sandstone acidification, deep unblocking, and protection of pipe columns.
40. Proppant (ceramic particles/quartz sand)
Chemical type: Ceramic/Mineral
Core features: High strength particles, supporting compression cracks.
Main use: Fracturing material, keeping cracks open, forming oil and gas channels.
Category 3: Chemical agents for oil recovery (enhancing oil recovery) (41-53)
41. Partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM)
Chemical type: synthetic polymer
Core features: Increase water phase viscosity, improve flowability ratio, suitable for sandstone reservoirs with permeability of 50-500mD.
Main application: Polymer flooding, expanding the affected volume, and increasing the recovery rate by 8% -12%.
42. Xanthan gum
Chemical type: Biopolymer
Core characteristics: Good pseudoplasticity, strong salt resistance, but sensitive to biodegradation.
Main application: Polymer flooding, used for polymer flooding in high salt oil reservoirs.
43. Hydrophobic binding polyacrylamide
Chemical type: Modified polyacrylamide
Core characteristics: hydrophobic intermolecular association, better temperature and salt resistance than HPAM.
Main application: High temperature and high salt oil recovery, used for polymer flooding in harsh oil reservoirs.
44. Alkylbenzene sulfonate
Chemical type: Anionic surfactant
Core feature: It can reduce the interfacial tension of crude oil to the order of 10 ⁻ mN/m.
Main application: surfactant flooding, reducing oil-water interfacial tension, and activating residual oil.
45. Petroleum sulfonate
Chemical type: Anionic surfactant
Core feature: The raw material comes from petroleum fractions, with low cost.
Main application: Surfactant flooding, used in composite flooding systems.
46. Lignosulfonate
Chemical Type: Natural Anion
Core features: Wide range of sources, low price, but low interface activity.
Main use: Sacrificial agent/auxiliary surfactant, reducing the adsorption loss of the main surfactant.
47. Alkyl Glycosides (APG)
Chemical type: Non ionic surfactant
Core features: environmentally friendly and biodegradable, with good salt resistance.
Main application: Green oil displacement agent, used for tertiary oil recovery in environmentally sensitive areas.
48. Betaine type amphoteric surfactant
Chemical type: zwitterionic
Core features: Temperature and salt resistance, high interfacial activity.
Main application: High temperature and high salt oil displacement, used for surfactant flooding in complex oil reservoirs.
49. Alkali (NaOH/Na ₂ CO ∝/Na ₂ SiO ∝)
Chemical type: Inorganic base
Core feature: Reacts with organic acids in crude oil to generate in-situ surfactants.
Main applications: Alkali flooding/composite flooding, reducing interfacial tension, emulsifying crude oil.
50. Polymer surfactant binary composite system
Chemical type: HPAM+surfactant
Core feature: Collaborative efficiency, with both flow control and interface tension reduction functions.
Main application: Binary composite flooding, increasing oil recovery by 8% -12%.
51. Alkali surfactant polymer ternary composite system (ASP)
Chemical type: Alkali+Surfactant+Polymer
Core feature: The synergistic effect of three components results in the highest oil displacement efficiency.
Main application: Three element composite drive, used for high residual oil saturation blocks.
52. Foaming agent for foam flooding
Chemical type: alpha olefin sulfonate/sodium dodecyl sulfate
Core characteristics: produce stable foam and selectively plug the high permeability layer.
Main application: foam flooding, improving mobility ratio and expanding swept volume.
53. gel crosslinker (aluminum citrate/phenolic)
Chemical type: metal salt/organic crosslinking agent
Core characteristics: cross-linking with polymer to form gel and block large pores.
Main purpose: profile control and water plugging, adjusting water absorption profile, and improving water drive efficiency.
Category 4: Chemical agents for oil and gas gathering and transportation (demulsification, pour point reduction, drag reduction) (54-64)
54. Crude oil demulsifier (polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene ether)
Chemical type: EO/PO block polyether
Core features: low dosage, high dehydration rate, smooth oil-water interface, dehydration rate greater than 96% of the standard sample.
Main use: dehydration of produced liquid, destruction of oil-water lotion, and realization of oil-water separation.
55. Reverse demulsifier (cationic polymer)
Chemical type: Polyamine/Polyquaternary ammonium salt
Core feature: Connect oil droplets dispersed in water, gather and float, with a relative oil removal rate of ≥ 80%.
Main application: Wastewater treatment, removing emulsified oil from extracted wastewater.
56. Nano crude oil viscosity reducer
Chemical type: Nanomaterials+Surfactants
Core feature: Adsorption on the surface of wax crystals, preventing wax crystal aggregation, significantly reducing solidification point and viscosity.
Main application: viscosity reduction of heavy oil, achieving normal temperature transportation, recommended dosage of 100-400ppm.
57. Wax cleaning and anti waxing agent
Chemical type: water-based/oil-based polymer
Core features: fast wax removal speed and good wax prevention effect.
Main use: for wax containing oil wells, to remove wax deposits from oil pipes and prevent wax blockage.
58. Asphalt dispersant
Chemical type: Aromatic hydrocarbon+dispersant
Core characteristics: dispersing gum and asphaltene to prevent molecular aggregation and deposition.
Main application: heavy oil extraction/transportation, extending pipeline cleaning cycle.
59. Sulfur remover (triazine)
Chemical type: triazine derivatives
Core features: Selective removal of H ₂ S, rapid reaction, good low-temperature performance.
Main application: desulfurization of crude oil/natural gas, removal of H ₂ S and low molecular weight thiols.
60. Crude oil flow improver
Chemical type: Ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA)
Core feature: Change wax crystal morphology and reduce crude oil pour point.
Main application: High wax crude oil transportation, reducing pipeline transportation pressure.
61. Oil soluble drag reducer
Chemical type: Ultra high molecular weight poly (alpha olefin)
Core characteristics: Long chain polymer, capable of suppressing vortices under turbulent conditions.
Main application: Product oil/crude oil pipeline, improving pipeline transportation capacity.
62. Water soluble drag reducer
Chemical type: ultra-high molecular weight polyacrylamide
Core feature: soluble in water phase, reducing water flow friction.
Main application: Water injection system, reducing water injection pressure and saving energy consumption.
63. Hydrate inhibitor (kinetic type)
Chemical type: Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)
Core feature: Inhibits the growth of natural gas hydrate crystal nuclei.
Main purpose: natural gas gathering and transportation, to prevent pipeline blockage caused by hydrate formation.
64. Hydrate inhibitor (thermodynamic type)
Chemical type: methanol/ethylene glycol
Core feature: Reduce the formation temperature of hydrates.
Main application: natural gas gathering and transportation, traditional hydrate suppression method.
Category 5: Chemical agents for oilfield water treatment (water injection/environmental protection) (65-77)
65. Corrosion inhibitor (imidazoline)
Chemical type: Imidazoline derivatives
Core feature: Adsorb on the metal surface to form a protective film.
Main purpose: Anti corrosion of water injection system: to protect pipelines and equipment.
66. Scale inhibitor (organic phosphonate)
Chemical type: HEDP/ATMP/EDTMP
Core characteristics: Chelate calcium and magnesium ions, inhibit scale crystal growth.
Main purpose: Anti scaling of water injection system: to prevent pipeline scaling.
67. Polymer scale inhibitor
Chemical Type: Polyacrylic Acid (PAA)/Hydrolyzed Polymaleic Anhydride (HPMA)
Core feature: dispersing effect, preventing the aggregation of scale crystals.
Main application: Scale prevention for water injection systems: used in high-temperature and high salt systems.
68. Fungicide (1227, benzalkonium chloride)
Chemical type: Quaternary ammonium salt
Core characteristics: Broad spectrum sterilization, effective against sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB).
Main purpose: Water injection sterilization: to prevent bacteria from blocking the formation.
69. Double chain quaternary ammonium salt
Chemical type: Double decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DDAC)
Core feature: The bactericidal effect is stronger than that of single chain quaternary ammonium salts.
Main purpose: efficient sterilization: used in water injection systems with severe SRB.
70. Isothiazolinone
Chemical type: Heterocyclic compound
Core features: Efficient and broad-spectrum sterilization, effective at low concentrations.
Main application: Water injection sterilization: used for continuous or impact sterilization.
71. Glutaraldehyde
Chemical type: Aldehydes
Core features: Fast sterilization speed, good compatibility with multiple drugs.
Main application: Water injection sterilization: used for strong sterilization demand systems.
72. coagulants (polyaluminum chloride, PAC)
Chemical type: Inorganic polymer
Core characteristics: Neutralizing charges and condensing suspended solids.
Main application: Sewage treatment: removal of suspended solids and oil.
73. coagulants (polyacrylamide, PAM)
Chemical type: Organic polymer
Core features: bridging adsorption, accelerating floc settling.
Main purpose: Sludge dewatering: Improve dewatering efficiency.
74. Cationic Polyacrylamide (CPAM)
Chemical type: synthetic polymer
Core characteristics: High positive charge density, good effect on negatively charged sludge.
Main application: Sludge dewatering: used for the treatment of oily sludge in oil fields.
75. Oil remover (reverse demulsifier)
Chemical type: cationic polymer
Core characteristics: demulsification and flocculation, removal of emulsified oil.
Main application: oily wastewater treatment: oil removal rate ≥ 80%.
76. Deoxidizer (sodium sulfite)
Chemical type: Sodium sulfite
Core feature: Reacts with dissolved oxygen in water, consuming oxygen.
Main purpose: Water injection deoxygenation: reduce dissolved oxygen corrosion.
77. Iron remover
Chemical type: oxidant/chelating agent
Core feature: Oxidation of Fe ² ⁺ to Fe ³ ⁺ precipitation or complexation.
Main purpose: Water injection treatment: to remove iron ions from water.
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Quick Reference Table for Classification and Application of Oilfield Chemicals
Production process: Drilling
Core functions: stabilizing wellbore, controlling filtration, lubricating and cooling
Representative products: CMC/PAC, sulfonated asphalt, sulfonated phenolic resin, barite
Market characteristics: Large conventional consumption, high added value of deep well high-temperature products
Production process: cementing
Core function: Seal the formation, support the casing
Representative products: oil well cement, retarder, fluid loss agent, dispersant
Market characteristics: Must be used in every well, and cement additives are sold in combination
Production process: hydraulic fracturing
Core function: Creating fractures, carrying sand, and transforming reservoirs
Representative products: Guar gum/HPG, polyacrylamide, crosslinking agent, demulsifier, pressure drive integrated agent
Market characteristics: Shale oil and gas development drives explosive demand
Production process: acidification
Core function: Dissolve minerals, unblock pores
Representative products: Hydrochloric acid/hydrofluoric acid, corrosion inhibitor, iron stabilizer
Market characteristics: Conventional operations in carbonate reservoirs
Production process: Oil displacement
Core Function: Improve Recovery Efficiency
Representative products: HPAM, alkylbenzene sulfonate, alkali, surfactant
Market characteristics: High demand in the later stage of oilfield development, good ASP composite flooding effect
Production process: gathering and transportation
Core functions: demulsification and dehydration, pour point reduction and drag reduction, desulfurization
Representative products: demulsifiers, pour point depressants, drag reducers, sulfur removers
Market characteristics: Throughout the entire process of oil and gas production, with stable demand
Production process: Water treatment
Core functions: corrosion and scale inhibition, sterilization, flocculation
Representative products: Imidazoline, Organophosphonate, 1227 PAC/PAM
Market characteristics: stricter environmental requirements and rigid growth in demand
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Industry Trends and Market Characteristics
1, Three Latest Trends
Shale oil drives demand for 'miracle drugs'
Deep and shale oil development requires products that are more heat-resistant and salt resistant, such as sulfonated phenolic resins and organic zirconium crosslinkers.
Fracturing chemicals have the fastest growth rate, and "one agent multi energy" (such as fracturing+oil displacement integration) products are highly sought after.
Environmental protection drives' green 'innovation
Regulations are becoming stricter, and low toxicity, biodegradable products (such as alkyl glucoside APG) have become mainstream.
Technology is developing towards "less dosage, better effect" (such as capsule demulsifiers, nano viscosity reducers).
Aging of oil fields drives demand for 'post operation and maintenance'
The produced fluids from old oil fields have high water content, and pipelines are prone to corrosion and blockage, leading to a rigid increase in demand for demulsifiers, corrosion inhibitors, and scale inhibitors.
Under environmental protection requirements, water treatment agents (coagulants, fungicides) have become essential.
2, Two major factors affecting prices
Crude oil prices determine costs
Crude oil price increases → basic raw materials (aromatics, olefins) increase → production costs of polyacrylamide, surfactants, and demulsifiers increase accordingly.
Technology determines premium
Ordinary products: price competition, subject to significant fluctuations in supply and demand.
Special products (high temperature resistance, nano, slow-release): high technical barriers, few competitors, strong bargaining power, and more firm prices.
Category 1: Drilling Chemicals (Drilling Fluid Treatment Agents, Cement Additives)
Category 2: Fracturing/acidizing chemicals (core of reservoir modification)
Category 3: Chemical agents for oil recovery (enhanced oil recovery)
Category 4: Chemical agents for oil and gas gathering and transportation (demulsification, pour point reduction, drag reduction)
Category 5: Chemical agents for oilfield water treatment (water injection/environmental protection)
Oilfield chemicals are an important branch of fine chemicals, widely used in various processes such as drilling, completion, oil recovery, gathering and transportation, and oilfield water treatment. With the expansion of oil and gas extraction to deeper and unconventional areas (shale oil, tight oil), the role of chemical agents is becoming increasingly prominent. This article systematically reviews the chemical system of oil fields, covering five categories: drilling chemicals, fracturing/acidizing chemicals, oil displacement chemicals, oil and gas gathering and transportation chemicals, and oil field water treatment chemicals.
Category 1: Drilling Chemicals (Drilling Fluid Treatment Agents, Cement Additives) (1-20)
1. Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (Na CMC)
Chemical type: Cellulose derivatives
Core feature: Form a dense filter cake through adsorption, control the filtration loss, and keep the API filtration loss within 15ml.
Main use: As a filtrate reducer, it is used in water-based drilling fluids to reduce filtrate and protect reservoirs.
2. Polyanionic Cellulose (PAC)
Chemical type: Cellulose derivatives
Core features: Better temperature resistance and stronger salt resistance than CMC.
Main purpose: to reduce filtration/increase viscosity, used for seawater drilling fluid and saturated saltwater drilling fluid.
3. Partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM)
Chemical type: synthetic polymer
Core characteristics: high molecular weight, good thickening effect, and certain flocculation ability.
Main use: thickening agent/flocculant, used for thickening drilling fluid and removing drilling cuttings.
4. Sulfonated lignite (SMC)
Chemical Type: Natural Modified
Core characteristics: Made from sulfonated lignite, it has good filtration and dilution effects, and good temperature resistance.
Main use: Filter loss reducer, used in deep well high-temperature drilling fluid systems.
5. Sulfonated Phenolic Resin (SMP)
Chemical type: synthetic resin
Core features: High temperature resistance (above 200 ℃), strong salt and calcium resistance.
Main use: High temperature filtrate reducer, used for deep and ultra deep drilling fluids.
6. Sulfonated asphalt
Chemical Type: Natural Modified
Core feature: Forming an isolation film on the surface of the wellbore, reducing the friction coefficient, and sealing micro cracks.
Main use: anti collapse agent/lubricant, used in shale formations to prevent wellbore collapse.
7. Lignosulfonate
Chemical Type: Natural Modified
Core feature: Extracted from papermaking waste liquid, it has good dilution and dispersion effects.
Main use: Diluent, reducing drilling fluid viscosity, improving rheological properties.
8. Iron chromium lignosulfonate (FCLS)
Chemical type: Metal complex
Core characteristics: Temperature and salt resistance, better dilution effect than ordinary lignin.
Main application: High efficiency diluent, used for deep well saltwater drilling fluid.
9. Lignite resin
Chemical type: Natural synthetic composite
Core feature: A composite of lignite and phenolic resin, combining the advantages of both.
Main application: Fluid loss reducer, used in complex formation drilling fluid systems.
10. Graphite powder
Chemical type: Mineral
Core characteristics: Layered structure, good lubricity, chemical inertness.
Main use: Solid lubricant, reduces drilling tool torque, and prevents drill jamming.
11. Polyalcohol
Chemical type: Polyol
Core feature: Cloud point effect, forming a hydrophobic film on the wellbore when the temperature is above the cloud point.
Main use: anti collapse agent/lubricant, used to replace oil-based drilling fluid with water-based drilling fluid.
12. Polyethylene glycol (PEG)
Chemical type: Polyether
Core characteristics: Different molecular weights can be selected, with good lubrication and sealing effects.
Main application: Lubricant/shale inhibitor, used for water-based drilling fluids.
13. Potassium chloride (KCl)
Chemical type: Inorganic salt
Core feature: Potassium ions can inhibit the hydration expansion of clay.
Main use: Shale inhibitor, used to inhibit the hydration and dispersion of shale.
14. Barite
Chemical type: Barium sulfate mineral
Core characteristics: High density (4.2-4.5), chemically inert.
Main use: weighting agent, increasing drilling fluid density, balancing formation pressure.
15. Calcium carbonate (ultrafine)
Chemical type: Mineral
Core feature: Acid soluble, can be dissolved by hydrochloric acid.
Main use: Temporary plugging agent, used to seal reservoir pores, and can be acid resolved after well completion.
16. Oil well cement
Chemical type: silicate
Core feature: Special cement, suitable for high-temperature and high-pressure environments underground.
Main applications: cementing materials, sealing formations, supporting casing.
17. High temperature retarder
Chemical type: synthetic polymer/organic acid
Core feature: Delaying the thickening time of cement slurry, suitable for high-temperature wells.
Main use: Cement admixture, ensuring sufficient time for the cement slurry to be pumped into place.
18. Dispersant (for cement)
Chemical type: sulfonated polymer
Core features: Reduce the viscosity of cement slurry and improve fluidity.
Main use: Cement admixture, improving the pumpability of cement slurry.
19. Water loss reducing agent (for cement)
Chemical type: synthetic polymer
Core feature: Control the filtration loss of cement slurry to prevent rapid dehydration of cement.
Main use: Cement admixture, protecting reservoirs and improving cementing quality.
20. Anti oil and gas channeling agent
Chemical Type: Polymer/Latex
Core feature: Fill the micro pores of cement stone to prevent oil and gas from channeling.
Main use: Cement admixture, improving the quality of cementing and isolation.
Category 2: Fracturing/acidizing chemicals (core of reservoir modification) (21-40)
21. Guar gum/hydroxypropyl guar gum (HPG)
Chemical type: Natural plant gum
Core features: Good water solubility, strong viscosity increasing ability, and easy to break glue.
Main applications: Thickener for fracturing fluids, sand carrier, and support for fractures.
22. Carboxymethyl hydroxypropyl guar gum (CMHPG)
Chemical type: Modified guar gum
Core features: Better temperature resistance and lower residue than HPG.
Main use: Thickener for high-temperature fracturing fluid, used for deep well high-temperature fracturing.
23. Polyacrylamide (PAM)
Chemical type: synthetic polymer
Core characteristics: high molecular weight, good viscosity enhancement, low residue.
Main use: Synthetic fracturing fluid thickener, used for cleaning fracturing fluid systems.
24. Anionic polyacrylamide
Chemical type: synthetic polymer
Core characteristics: Partial hydrolysis, high negative charge density.
Main use: Fracturing fluid drag reducer, reduces friction, and improves pumping efficiency.
25. Integrated Pressure Drive Agent (HDFD)
Chemical type: maleic anhydride+polyoxyethylene ether+polyacrylamide complex
Core features: drag reduction rate>70%, interface tension as low as 5 × 10 ⁻ mN/m, oil displacement efficiency increased by 40%.
Main application: Shale oil fracturing, integrating fracturing drag reduction and oil displacement to increase single well production.
26. Ammonium persulfate
Chemical type: Inorganic peroxide
Core feature: High temperature decomposition generates free radicals and degrades polymer chains.
Main uses: Gel breaker, degradation of guar gum/polyacrylamide after hydraulic fracturing, and backflow of liquids.
27. Capsule breaker
Chemical type: Coated persulfate
Core features: slow release, delayed gel breaking time.
Main purpose: Delaying gel breakage, breaking gel after crack closure, reducing reservoir damage.
28. Crosslinking agent (borax/organic boron)
Chemical type: Boron compound
Core feature: Crosslinking with cis adjacent hydroxyl groups in guar gum to form a three-dimensional network structure.
Main application: Crosslinking of fracturing fluid, significantly increasing viscosity and enhancing sand carrying capacity.
29. Organic zirconium crosslinking agent
Chemical type: Organic zirconium compound
Core feature: Better temperature resistance than boron crosslinker, suitable for high-temperature wells.
Main application: High temperature fracturing fluid cross-linking, used for deep wells above 150 ℃.
30. Clay stabilizer (potassium chloride)
Chemical type: Inorganic salt
Core feature: Potassium ions inhibit clay hydration expansion.
Main use: fracturing fluid additive to prevent damage to water sensitive reservoirs.
31. Organic cationic clay stabilizer
Chemical type: Quaternary ammonium salt
Core feature: Adsorption on clay surface, long-term inhibition of hydration.
Main application: Long term clay stabilization, used for strong water sensitive reservoirs.
32. Drainage aid (fluorocarbon/non-ionic)
Chemical type: Fluorocarbon/polyoxyethylene ether
Core features: Reduce surface tension, decrease capillary force, and promote backflow.
Main use: fracturing fluid additive, improving fracturing fluid backflow rate.
33. demulsifier (for hydraulic fracturing)
Chemical type: polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene ether
Core feature: Prevent the formation of emulsions between fracturing fluid and crude oil.
Main use: fracturing fluid additive to prevent emulsion from blocking pores.
34. Corrosion inhibitor (imidazoline quaternary ammonium salt)
Chemical type: Imidazoline derivatives
Core feature: Forming an adsorption film on the metal surface to isolate acid corrosion.
Main use: Acidizing additive, protecting tubing and downhole tools.
35. Iron ion stabilizer (citric acid/EDTA)
Chemical type: Organic acid/chelating agent
Core feature: Complex Fe ⁺ to prevent the formation of Fe (OH) ∝ precipitation.
Main use: Acidizing additive to prevent secondary precipitation from damaging the reservoir.
36. Anti emulsifier
Chemical type: Surfactant
Core feature: prevent acid from emulsifying with crude oil.
Main use: Acidizing additive to prevent emulsion from blocking pores.
37. Hydrochloric acid (HCl)
Chemical type: Inorganic acid
Core characteristics: Dissolve carbonate rocks and unclog pores.
Main application: Acidizing the main body, used for the transformation of carbonate reservoirs.
38. Hydrofluoric acid (HF)
Chemical type: Inorganic acid
Core characteristics: Dissolve silicate minerals (clay, quartz).
Main application: Acidizing agent, used for acidizing sandstone reservoir soil (HCl+HF).
39. Polyhydrogen acid
Chemical type: organic acid+fluoride salt
Core characteristics: slow generation of HF, deep action, low corrosiveness.
Main applications: sandstone acidification, deep unblocking, and protection of pipe columns.
40. Proppant (ceramic particles/quartz sand)
Chemical type: Ceramic/Mineral
Core features: High strength particles, supporting compression cracks.
Main use: Fracturing material, keeping cracks open, forming oil and gas channels.
Category 3: Chemical agents for oil recovery (enhancing oil recovery) (41-53)
41. Partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM)
Chemical type: synthetic polymer
Core features: Increase water phase viscosity, improve flowability ratio, suitable for sandstone reservoirs with permeability of 50-500mD.
Main application: Polymer flooding, expanding the affected volume, and increasing the recovery rate by 8% -12%.
42. Xanthan gum
Chemical type: Biopolymer
Core characteristics: Good pseudoplasticity, strong salt resistance, but sensitive to biodegradation.
Main application: Polymer flooding, used for polymer flooding in high salt oil reservoirs.
43. Hydrophobic binding polyacrylamide
Chemical type: Modified polyacrylamide
Core characteristics: hydrophobic intermolecular association, better temperature and salt resistance than HPAM.
Main application: High temperature and high salt oil recovery, used for polymer flooding in harsh oil reservoirs.
44. Alkylbenzene sulfonate
Chemical type: Anionic surfactant
Core feature: It can reduce the interfacial tension of crude oil to the order of 10 ⁻ mN/m.
Main application: surfactant flooding, reducing oil-water interfacial tension, and activating residual oil.
45. Petroleum sulfonate
Chemical type: Anionic surfactant
Core feature: The raw material comes from petroleum fractions, with low cost.
Main application: Surfactant flooding, used in composite flooding systems.
46. Lignosulfonate
Chemical Type: Natural Anion
Core features: Wide range of sources, low price, but low interface activity.
Main use: Sacrificial agent/auxiliary surfactant, reducing the adsorption loss of the main surfactant.
47. Alkyl Glycosides (APG)
Chemical type: Non ionic surfactant
Core features: environmentally friendly and biodegradable, with good salt resistance.
Main application: Green oil displacement agent, used for tertiary oil recovery in environmentally sensitive areas.
48. Betaine type amphoteric surfactant
Chemical type: zwitterionic
Core features: Temperature and salt resistance, high interfacial activity.
Main application: High temperature and high salt oil displacement, used for surfactant flooding in complex oil reservoirs.
49. Alkali (NaOH/Na ₂ CO ∝/Na ₂ SiO ∝)
Chemical type: Inorganic base
Core feature: Reacts with organic acids in crude oil to generate in-situ surfactants.
Main applications: Alkali flooding/composite flooding, reducing interfacial tension, emulsifying crude oil.
50. Polymer surfactant binary composite system
Chemical type: HPAM+surfactant
Core feature: Collaborative efficiency, with both flow control and interface tension reduction functions.
Main application: Binary composite flooding, increasing oil recovery by 8% -12%.
51. Alkali surfactant polymer ternary composite system (ASP)
Chemical type: Alkali+Surfactant+Polymer
Core feature: The synergistic effect of three components results in the highest oil displacement efficiency.
Main application: Three element composite drive, used for high residual oil saturation blocks.
52. Foaming agent for foam flooding
Chemical type: alpha olefin sulfonate/sodium dodecyl sulfate
Core characteristics: produce stable foam and selectively plug the high permeability layer.
Main application: foam flooding, improving mobility ratio and expanding swept volume.
53. gel crosslinker (aluminum citrate/phenolic)
Chemical type: metal salt/organic crosslinking agent
Core characteristics: cross-linking with polymer to form gel and block large pores.
Main purpose: profile control and water plugging, adjusting water absorption profile, and improving water drive efficiency.
Category 4: Chemical agents for oil and gas gathering and transportation (demulsification, pour point reduction, drag reduction) (54-64)
54. Crude oil demulsifier (polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene ether)
Chemical type: EO/PO block polyether
Core features: low dosage, high dehydration rate, smooth oil-water interface, dehydration rate greater than 96% of the standard sample.
Main use: dehydration of produced liquid, destruction of oil-water lotion, and realization of oil-water separation.
55. Reverse demulsifier (cationic polymer)
Chemical type: Polyamine/Polyquaternary ammonium salt
Core feature: Connect oil droplets dispersed in water, gather and float, with a relative oil removal rate of ≥ 80%.
Main application: Wastewater treatment, removing emulsified oil from extracted wastewater.
56. Nano crude oil viscosity reducer
Chemical type: Nanomaterials+Surfactants
Core feature: Adsorption on the surface of wax crystals, preventing wax crystal aggregation, significantly reducing solidification point and viscosity.
Main application: viscosity reduction of heavy oil, achieving normal temperature transportation, recommended dosage of 100-400ppm.
57. Wax cleaning and anti waxing agent
Chemical type: water-based/oil-based polymer
Core features: fast wax removal speed and good wax prevention effect.
Main use: for wax containing oil wells, to remove wax deposits from oil pipes and prevent wax blockage.
58. Asphalt dispersant
Chemical type: Aromatic hydrocarbon+dispersant
Core characteristics: dispersing gum and asphaltene to prevent molecular aggregation and deposition.
Main application: heavy oil extraction/transportation, extending pipeline cleaning cycle.
59. Sulfur remover (triazine)
Chemical type: triazine derivatives
Core features: Selective removal of H ₂ S, rapid reaction, good low-temperature performance.
Main application: desulfurization of crude oil/natural gas, removal of H ₂ S and low molecular weight thiols.
60. Crude oil flow improver
Chemical type: Ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA)
Core feature: Change wax crystal morphology and reduce crude oil pour point.
Main application: High wax crude oil transportation, reducing pipeline transportation pressure.
61. Oil soluble drag reducer
Chemical type: Ultra high molecular weight poly (alpha olefin)
Core characteristics: Long chain polymer, capable of suppressing vortices under turbulent conditions.
Main application: Product oil/crude oil pipeline, improving pipeline transportation capacity.
62. Water soluble drag reducer
Chemical type: ultra-high molecular weight polyacrylamide
Core feature: soluble in water phase, reducing water flow friction.
Main application: Water injection system, reducing water injection pressure and saving energy consumption.
63. Hydrate inhibitor (kinetic type)
Chemical type: Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)
Core feature: Inhibits the growth of natural gas hydrate crystal nuclei.
Main purpose: natural gas gathering and transportation, to prevent pipeline blockage caused by hydrate formation.
64. Hydrate inhibitor (thermodynamic type)
Chemical type: methanol/ethylene glycol
Core feature: Reduce the formation temperature of hydrates.
Main application: natural gas gathering and transportation, traditional hydrate suppression method.
Category 5: Chemical agents for oilfield water treatment (water injection/environmental protection) (65-77)
65. Corrosion inhibitor (imidazoline)
Chemical type: Imidazoline derivatives
Core feature: Adsorb on the metal surface to form a protective film.
Main purpose: Anti corrosion of water injection system: to protect pipelines and equipment.
66. Scale inhibitor (organic phosphonate)
Chemical type: HEDP/ATMP/EDTMP
Core characteristics: Chelate calcium and magnesium ions, inhibit scale crystal growth.
Main purpose: Anti scaling of water injection system: to prevent pipeline scaling.
67. Polymer scale inhibitor
Chemical Type: Polyacrylic Acid (PAA)/Hydrolyzed Polymaleic Anhydride (HPMA)
Core feature: dispersing effect, preventing the aggregation of scale crystals.
Main application: Scale prevention for water injection systems: used in high-temperature and high salt systems.
68. Fungicide (1227, benzalkonium chloride)
Chemical type: Quaternary ammonium salt
Core characteristics: Broad spectrum sterilization, effective against sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB).
Main purpose: Water injection sterilization: to prevent bacteria from blocking the formation.
69. Double chain quaternary ammonium salt
Chemical type: Double decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DDAC)
Core feature: The bactericidal effect is stronger than that of single chain quaternary ammonium salts.
Main purpose: efficient sterilization: used in water injection systems with severe SRB.
70. Isothiazolinone
Chemical type: Heterocyclic compound
Core features: Efficient and broad-spectrum sterilization, effective at low concentrations.
Main application: Water injection sterilization: used for continuous or impact sterilization.
71. Glutaraldehyde
Chemical type: Aldehydes
Core features: Fast sterilization speed, good compatibility with multiple drugs.
Main application: Water injection sterilization: used for strong sterilization demand systems.
72. coagulants (polyaluminum chloride, PAC)
Chemical type: Inorganic polymer
Core characteristics: Neutralizing charges and condensing suspended solids.
Main application: Sewage treatment: removal of suspended solids and oil.
73. coagulants (polyacrylamide, PAM)
Chemical type: Organic polymer
Core features: bridging adsorption, accelerating floc settling.
Main purpose: Sludge dewatering: Improve dewatering efficiency.
74. Cationic Polyacrylamide (CPAM)
Chemical type: synthetic polymer
Core characteristics: High positive charge density, good effect on negatively charged sludge.
Main application: Sludge dewatering: used for the treatment of oily sludge in oil fields.
75. Oil remover (reverse demulsifier)
Chemical type: cationic polymer
Core characteristics: demulsification and flocculation, removal of emulsified oil.
Main application: oily wastewater treatment: oil removal rate ≥ 80%.
76. Deoxidizer (sodium sulfite)
Chemical type: Sodium sulfite
Core feature: Reacts with dissolved oxygen in water, consuming oxygen.
Main purpose: Water injection deoxygenation: reduce dissolved oxygen corrosion.
77. Iron remover
Chemical type: oxidant/chelating agent
Core feature: Oxidation of Fe ² ⁺ to Fe ³ ⁺ precipitation or complexation.
Main purpose: Water injection treatment: to remove iron ions from water.
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Quick Reference Table for Classification and Application of Oilfield Chemicals
Production process: Drilling
Core functions: stabilizing wellbore, controlling filtration, lubricating and cooling
Representative products: CMC/PAC, sulfonated asphalt, sulfonated phenolic resin, barite
Market characteristics: Large conventional consumption, high added value of deep well high-temperature products
Production process: cementing
Core function: Seal the formation, support the casing
Representative products: oil well cement, retarder, fluid loss agent, dispersant
Market characteristics: Must be used in every well, and cement additives are sold in combination
Production process: hydraulic fracturing
Core function: Creating fractures, carrying sand, and transforming reservoirs
Representative products: Guar gum/HPG, polyacrylamide, crosslinking agent, demulsifier, pressure drive integrated agent
Market characteristics: Shale oil and gas development drives explosive demand
Production process: acidification
Core function: Dissolve minerals, unblock pores
Representative products: Hydrochloric acid/hydrofluoric acid, corrosion inhibitor, iron stabilizer
Market characteristics: Conventional operations in carbonate reservoirs
Production process: Oil displacement
Core Function: Improve Recovery Efficiency
Representative products: HPAM, alkylbenzene sulfonate, alkali, surfactant
Market characteristics: High demand in the later stage of oilfield development, good ASP composite flooding effect
Production process: gathering and transportation
Core functions: demulsification and dehydration, pour point reduction and drag reduction, desulfurization
Representative products: demulsifiers, pour point depressants, drag reducers, sulfur removers
Market characteristics: Throughout the entire process of oil and gas production, with stable demand
Production process: Water treatment
Core functions: corrosion and scale inhibition, sterilization, flocculation
Representative products: Imidazoline, Organophosphonate, 1227 PAC/PAM
Market characteristics: stricter environmental requirements and rigid growth in demand
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Industry Trends and Market Characteristics
1, Three Latest Trends
Shale oil drives demand for 'miracle drugs'
Deep and shale oil development requires products that are more heat-resistant and salt resistant, such as sulfonated phenolic resins and organic zirconium crosslinkers.
Fracturing chemicals have the fastest growth rate, and "one agent multi energy" (such as fracturing+oil displacement integration) products are highly sought after.
Environmental protection drives' green 'innovation
Regulations are becoming stricter, and low toxicity, biodegradable products (such as alkyl glucoside APG) have become mainstream.
Technology is developing towards "less dosage, better effect" (such as capsule demulsifiers, nano viscosity reducers).
Aging of oil fields drives demand for 'post operation and maintenance'
The produced fluids from old oil fields have high water content, and pipelines are prone to corrosion and blockage, leading to a rigid increase in demand for demulsifiers, corrosion inhibitors, and scale inhibitors.
Under environmental protection requirements, water treatment agents (coagulants, fungicides) have become essential.
2, Two major factors affecting prices
Crude oil prices determine costs
Crude oil price increases → basic raw materials (aromatics, olefins) increase → production costs of polyacrylamide, surfactants, and demulsifiers increase accordingly.
Technology determines premium
Ordinary products: price competition, subject to significant fluctuations in supply and demand.
Special products (high temperature resistance, nano, slow-release): high technical barriers, few competitors, strong bargaining power, and more firm prices.
