Question: Do you use anionic polyacrylamide or cationic polyacrylamide as additives for oil extraction?

answer:

In oil extraction, cationic polyacrylamide is usually used as an additive. This is because cationic polyacrylamide has a good flocculation effect and can be combined with clay particles, thereby improving mud performance and increasing oil recovery. In addition, cationic polyacrylamide can also effectively reduce the oil-water interfacial tension, making the produced crude oil easier to be separated and dehydrated.

In contrast, anionic polyacrylamides are rarely used in oil extraction, and are mainly used in wastewater treatment and thickeners in papermaking, textiles and other fields. This is because the flocculation effect of anionic polyacrylamide is weak, and its adsorption capacity for clay particles is also poor, so it is not suitable as an additive for oil extraction.

In conclusion, in oil extraction, cationic polyacrylamide is usually used as an additive to improve oil recovery and mud performance.