The development of micro cracks in shale formations can easily lead to wellbore instability caused by liquid phase invasion. In order to effectively seal the shale micropores, the surface treatment of nano-SiO2 particles was developed using the silicane coupling agent A-1891. Then, the temperature-sensitive polypenic acrylamide polymer was modified onto the surface of the nanoprocal particle through reaction to obtain the nanosomal blocking agent ASN. The infrared spectrum shows that there are chemical bonds between the generated polymer chains, rather than simple physical composites, indicating the successful synthesis of the temperature-responsive nanosealing agent ASN. The particle size analysis showed that the synthesized nanoparticles in ASN have a uniform particle size distribution and display no agglomeration phenomenon. Applying ASN as a sealing agent in drilling fluid effectively fills the nanoscale micropores and microcracks in shale, making shale denser and significantly improving the wellbore stability of shale formations. In addition, it has good temperature resistance, can adapt to reservoirs at different temperatures, is non-toxic and environmentally friendly, and has good prospects for stable applications in shale formation wellbore.
To meet the escalating demand for oil and gas exploration in microporous reservoirs, it has become increasingly crucial to develop high-performance plugging materials. Through free radical grafting polymerization technology, a carboxymethyl chitosan grafted poly (oligoethylene glycol) methyl ether methyl methacrylate acrylic acid copolymer (CCMMA) was successfully synthesized. The resulting CCMMA exhibited thermoresponsive self-assembling behavior. When the temperature was above its lower critical solution temperature (LCST), the nanomicelles began to aggregate, forming mesoporous aggregated structures. Additionally, the electrostatic repulsion of AA chains increased the value of LCST. By precisely adjusting the content of AA, the LCST of CCMMA could be raised from 84.7 to 122.9 °C. The rheology and filtration experiments revealed that when the temperature surpassed the switching point, CCMMA exhibited a noteworthy plugging effect on low-permeability cores. Furthermore, it could be partially released as the temperature decreased, exhibiting temperature-switchable and self-adaptive plugging properties. Meanwhile, CCMMA aggregates retained their reversibility, along with thermal thickening behavior in the pores. However, more detailed experiments and analysis are needed to validate these claims, such as a comprehensive study of the CCMMA copolymer’s physical properties, its interaction with the reservoir environment, and its performance under various conditions. Additionally, further studies are required to optimize its synthesis process and improve its efficiency as a plugging material for oil and gas recovery in microporous reservoirs.