PAM for Oil & Gas
Use PHPA and related high-molecular-weight PAM grades in drilling fluid, polymer flooding, and produced-water treatment after matching hydrolysis degree, salinity tolerance, and viscosity target.
PHPA for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR)
In polymer flooding projects, PHPA is evaluated to improve sweep efficiency and mobility control. Grade selection should be based on formation brine salinity, shear stability, make-up water quality, target viscosity, and injection conditions rather than on a generic oilfield claim.
Drilling Fluid Additive
In water-based drilling muds, PHPA is used for shale inhibition, cuttings encapsulation, and fluid-loss control. Check mud system compatibility, hydration speed, and shear resistance during lab work before field use.
Fracturing Fluid
In fracturing systems, high-molecular-weight PAM may be selected as part of a friction-reducer or viscosifier program. Confirm dissolution behavior, friction reduction target, breaker compatibility, and residue requirement with the actual fluid design.
Produced Water Treatment
Anionic PAM can support produced-water clarification where suspended solids or emulsified oil must be controlled. Selection should follow bottle tests or jar tests with the actual produced water, demulsifier program, and disposal or reuse target.
Technical Specifications
| Application | Grade | MW (million Da) | Hydrolysis % |
|---|---|---|---|
| EOR polymer flooding | PHPA | 20-35 | 25-35% |
| Drilling fluid | PHPA | 8-15 | 15-25% |
| Fracturing fluid | HPAM | 15-25 | 20-30% |
| Produced water | Anionic PAM | 12-18 | 30-40% |
Buyer Checklist Before Bulk Order
- Define whether the job is drilling fluid, polymer flooding, fracturing, or produced-water treatment.
- Confirm target viscosity, hydrolysis range, salinity tolerance, and make-up water quality.
- Run compatibility testing with the real brine, mud, or treatment chemical package.
- Request the grade recommendation, sample plan, packing, and batch documents together.
Commercial checks before oilfield supply approval
After lab compatibility work, buyers usually move next to supplier identity, MOQ, sample, and document review rather than broad oilfield content.
MOQ
500 kg standard trial order
Lead time
7-10 days for common grades after confirmation
Documents
TDS, batch COA, and SDS by confirmed grade
Oil & Gas PAM FAQs
What is the difference between PHPA and HPAM in oilfield use?
Both are partially hydrolysed polyacrylamide; the naming follows the application rather than a different chemistry. PHPA usually refers to the drilling-fluid and polymer-flooding grades where hydrolysis is held in a defined range for shale inhibition or mobility control. HPAM is the term more often used for the higher molecular weight friction-reducer and viscosifier grades in fracturing. What matters commercially is the specified molecular weight and hydrolysis degree, not the acronym on the datasheet.
Which molecular weight and hydrolysis degree should be specified?
Representative ranges are 20-35 million Da at 25-35% hydrolysis for EOR polymer flooding, 8-15 million at 15-25% for drilling fluid, 15-25 million at 20-30% for fracturing, and 12-18 million at 30-40% for produced-water clarification. These are starting points for lab work. Formation brine salinity, shear history through the pump and perforations, and make-up water hardness all shift the workable window, so the final specification should come out of testing with the real fluid rather than from a table.
Does PHPA tolerate high-salinity formation brine?
Tolerance is limited and depends on the hydrolysis degree and the divalent cation content, not just total dissolved solids. Calcium and magnesium reduce viscosity far more aggressively than sodium at the same concentration, and a polymer that performs in synthetic brine can lose most of its viscosity in real formation water. For high-salinity or high-hardness systems, run viscosity retention testing with the actual brine before committing to a grade; salt-tolerant grades exist but must be selected against measured water analysis.
What testing should be done before a bulk oilfield order?
Confirm the job type first — drilling fluid, polymer flooding, fracturing, or produced-water treatment — because each has a different target property. Then run compatibility testing with the real brine, mud, or chemical package: dissolution behaviour and hydration time, viscosity at target concentration, shear stability, and for fracturing also breaker compatibility and residue. Produced-water work should be based on bottle or jar tests with the actual water and demulsifier program.
What are ChinaPAM supply terms for oilfield PAM?
The confirmed public baseline is MOQ 500 kg for a trial order, free samples, 7-10 day lead time for common grades after confirmation, T/T and L/C payment, and standard 25 kg kraft paper bags with plastic liner or 25 kg PE bags. TDS, batch COA, and SDS are issued against the confirmed grade. OEM labels are supported once grade, bag type, and artwork scope are agreed.
Oil & Gas Processes in Detail
Process-specific selection, dosage, and parameter guidance for each oil & gas application.
Drilling Fluid Additive
PHPA (partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide) as shale inhibitor and viscosifier in water-based drilling muds. Prevents borehole instability and reduces fluid loss.
Typical challenge: Shale swelling causing borehole collapse
Drilling Fluid Additive dosage & parametersEnhanced Oil Recovery (EOR)
Ultra-high molecular weight PHPA for polymer flooding. Increases sweep efficiency and oil recovery by 8-15% over waterflooding alone.
Typical challenge: Declining production from mature oilfields
Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) dosage & parametersFracturing Fluid
PAM-based friction reducers for slickwater fracturing. Reduces pipe friction by 60-70%, enabling higher pump rates and better proppant placement.
Typical challenge: High friction pressure limiting pump rates
Fracturing Fluid dosage & parametersNeed Oilfield-Grade PHPA?
Share your brine data, target viscosity, and application stage to get a recommended starting grade, sample plan, and supply terms.
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