{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,21]],"date-time":"2026-08-21T12:20:05Z","timestamp":1787314805770,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":45,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,3,25]],"date-time":"2024-03-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1711324800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"China National Petroleum Corporation","award":["2021DQ06"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2021DQ06"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Gels"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The problem of wellbore leakage is a key challenge in the petroleum industry, limiting drilling progress and increasing drilling costs. Plugging agents play a role in repairing leaks and fractures; however, traditional plugging materials generally have low mechanical strength, poor adaptability to permeable strata, limited water absorption and expansion capabilities, and poor temperature and salt resistance. To address these limitations, a pioneering polyacrylic acid-polyacrylamide (PAA\/PAM) double-network hydrogel was synthesized through aqueous solution polymerization in this study. Its strength, water absorption, expansion, temperature resistance, salt resistance, and plugging effectiveness were comprehensively evaluated. The results demonstrate that good mechanical performance is exhibited by the synthesized hydrogel, capable of withstanding a maximum stress of approximately 3.5 MPa at a 90% strain. Excellent water absorption and expansion are observed in the synthesized double-network hydrogel, with a maximum expansion of 6 times within 30 min and 8 times after 2 h. Test results show that the hydrogel had good temperature resistance and salt resistance, maintaining a strength grade E within the experimental range. The simulated evaluation of the plugging experiment indicates that, under conditions of 130 \u00b0C and 6 MPa, the leakage rate of the drilling fluid is maintained below 5 mL\/min when the double-network hydrogel is utilized. From the above experimental results, it can be illustrated that excellent mechanical properties, impressive water absorption, and expansion capabilities are exhibited by the synthesized double-network hydrogel. Furthermore, the high-temperature resistance and salt resistance of the double-network hydrogel were also demonstrated. Therefore, In comparison to traditional plugging materials, significant promise is held by this newly synthesized double-network hydrogel material as a plugging agent in drilling fluids.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/gels10040224","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,3,25]],"date-time":"2024-03-25T12:32:36Z","timestamp":1711369956000},"page":"224","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":10,"title":["An Innovative High-Strength Double-Network Hydrogel for Use as a Drilling Fluid Plugging Agent"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"10","author":[{"given":"Yanfeng","family":"He","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jing","family":"Guo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jinmei","family":"Bai","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Le","family":"Hua","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yisong","family":"Zhang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zhiqiang","family":"Huang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Letian","family":"Pan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zhan","family":"Hong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,3,25]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Feng, Y., Li, G., Meng, Y., and Guo, B. (2018). A novel approach to investigating transport of lost circulation materials in rough fracture. Energies, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/en11102572"},{"key":"ref_2","first-page":"79","article-title":"Analysis of leakage prevention and plugging technology in drilling engineering","volume":"30","author":"Li","year":"2023","journal-title":"Petrochem. Technol."},{"key":"ref_3","first-page":"140","article-title":"Discussion on the cause of well loss and prevention and plugging technology","volume":"43","author":"Wang","year":"2023","journal-title":"China Pet. Chem. Ind. Stand. Qual."},{"key":"ref_4","first-page":"39","article-title":"Research on bridge plugging technology and plugging agent","volume":"28","author":"Guo","year":"2000","journal-title":"Pet. Drill. Tech."},{"key":"ref_5","first-page":"182","article-title":"Applicasis of leakage prevention and plugging technology in drilling engineering","volume":"40","author":"Xue","year":"2020","journal-title":"China Pet. Chem. Stand. Qual."},{"key":"ref_6","unstructured":"Chen, H., and Chen, X. (2018). Measures to prevent leakage in drilling process. Chem. Eng. Equip., 278\u2013279."},{"key":"ref_7","first-page":"16","article-title":"Evaluation and research on properties of water-absorbing and swelling plugging materials","volume":"29","author":"Jia","year":"2012","journal-title":"Drill. Fluid Complet. Fluids"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"133","DOI":"10.1038\/nature11409","article-title":"Highly stretchable and tough hydrogels","volume":"489","author":"Sun","year":"2012","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"ref_9","first-page":"8","article-title":"Preparation of cellulose hydrogel from pineapple pulp and its inclusion and sustained-release analysis of probiotics","volume":"42","author":"Hang","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Food Sci."},{"key":"ref_10","first-page":"21","article-title":"Recent research progress of hydrogels","volume":"40","author":"Yin","year":"2012","journal-title":"New Chem. Mater."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"569","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijbiomac.2016.12.058","article-title":"Injectable photo crosslinked enhanced double-network hydrogels from modified sodium alginate and gelatin","volume":"96","author":"Yuan","year":"2017","journal-title":"Int. J. Biol. Macromol."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"95","DOI":"10.1016\/j.foodhyd.2018.10.028","article-title":"Interpenetrating network gels composed of gelatin and soluble dietary fibers from tomato peels","volume":"89","author":"Niu","year":"2019","journal-title":"Food Hydrocoll."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"155","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jcis.2019.12.048","article-title":"An adhesive and injectable nanocomposite hydrogel of thiolated gelatin\/gelatin methacrylate\/Laponite\u00ae as a potential surgical sealant","volume":"564","author":"Rajabi","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Colloid Interface Sci."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"28","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cossms.2009.08.005","article-title":"Slide-ring materials using topological supramolecular architecture","volume":"14","author":"Ito","year":"2010","journal-title":"Curr. Opin. Solid State Mater. Sci."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1155","DOI":"10.1002\/adma.200304907","article-title":"Double-network hydrogels with Extremely high mechanical strength","volume":"15","author":"Gong","year":"2003","journal-title":"Adv. Mater."},{"key":"ref_16","first-page":"174","article-title":"Research progress of hydrogels with high mechanical strength","volume":"28","author":"Qin","year":"2012","journal-title":"Polym. Mater. Sci. Eng."},{"key":"ref_17","first-page":"859","article-title":"High strength dual-network polymer hydrogels: Properties, progress and prospects","volume":"42","author":"Chen","year":"2012","journal-title":"Sci. China Tech. Sci."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"131410","DOI":"10.1016\/j.colsurfa.2023.131410","article-title":"A physically cross-linked double network polysaccharides\/Ca2+ hydrogel scaffold for skeletal muscle tissue engineering","volume":"668","author":"Wei","year":"2023","journal-title":"Colloids Surf. A Physicochem. Eng. Asp."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"111807","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eurpolymj.2022.111807","article-title":"Double-network hydrogels for biomaterials: Structure-property relationships and drug delivery","volume":"185","author":"Zhang","year":"2023","journal-title":"Eur. Polym. J."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"105865","DOI":"10.1016\/j.foodhyd.2020.105865","article-title":"Corn fiber gum-soybean protein isolate double network hydrogel as oral delivery vehicles for thermosensitive bioactive compounds","volume":"107","author":"Yan","year":"2020","journal-title":"Food Hydrocoll."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"131900","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cej.2021.131900","article-title":"Double-network hydrogel adsorbents for environmental applications","volume":"426","author":"Yu","year":"2021","journal-title":"Chem. Eng. J."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"142226","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cej.2023.142226","article-title":"Anisotropic double-network hydrogels integrated superior performance of strength, toughness and conductivity for flexible multi-functional sensors","volume":"462","author":"Gen","year":"2023","journal-title":"Chem. Eng. J."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"436","DOI":"10.1002\/adma.201303387","article-title":"Proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans improve toughness of biocompatible double network hydrogels","volume":"26","author":"Zhao","year":"2014","journal-title":"Adv. Mater."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8003","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.macromol.5b01938","article-title":"Simultaneous Enhancement of Stiffness and Toughness in Hybrid Double-Network Hydrogels via the First, Physically Linked Network","volume":"48","author":"Chen","year":"2015","journal-title":"Macromolecules"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"167","DOI":"10.1016\/j.polymertesting.2018.05.025","article-title":"Fully physical double network hydrogels with high strength, rapid self-recovery and self-healing performances","volume":"69","author":"Wei","year":"2018","journal-title":"Polym. Test."},{"key":"ref_26","first-page":"32","article-title":"Construction and application of cellulose based high strength hydrogels based on bimolecular networks","volume":"36","author":"Jiang","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Shenyang Univ. Chem. Technol."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6273","DOI":"10.1039\/C6CC02472F","article-title":"A self-healing hydrogel formation strategy via exploiting endothermic interactions between polyelectrolytes","volume":"52","author":"Ren","year":"2016","journal-title":"Chem. Commun."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"102757","DOI":"10.1016\/j.mtcomm.2021.102757","article-title":"Research progress on double-network hydrogels","volume":"29","author":"Huang","year":"2021","journal-title":"Mater. Today Commun."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3654","DOI":"10.1039\/C5TB00123D","article-title":"Fundamentals of double network hydrogels","volume":"3","author":"Chen","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Mat. Chem. B"},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ma, Y., Ma, L., Guo, J., Lai, J., Zhou, H., and Li, J. (2019, January 8\u20139). A High Temperature and Salt Resistance Supramolecular Thickening System. Proceedings of the SPE International Conference on Oilfield Chemistry, Galveston, TX, USA.","DOI":"10.2118\/193549-MS"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1714","DOI":"10.2118\/191697-PA","article-title":"A Recrosslinkable Preformed Particle Gel for Conformance Control in Heterogeneous Reservoirs Containing Linear-Flow Features","volume":"24","author":"Pu","year":"2019","journal-title":"SPE J."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3598","DOI":"10.2118\/209451-PA","article-title":"Evaluation of a Novel Recrosslinkable Hyperbranched Preformed Particle Gel for the Conformance Control of High-Temperature Reservoirs with Fractures","volume":"27","author":"Song","year":"2022","journal-title":"SPE J."},{"key":"ref_33","first-page":"3778","article-title":"A Novel Double-Group Crosslinked Hydrogel with High Thixotropy for Water Control in Horizontal Wells","volume":"26","author":"Li","year":"2021","journal-title":"SPE J."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Almubarak, T., Ng, J.H., Sokhanvarian, K., AlKhaldi, M., and Nasr-El-Din, H. (2018, January 24\u201326). Improving Hydraulic Fracturing Fluids Through Dual Polymer Technology. Proceedings of the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Dallas, TX, USA.","DOI":"10.2118\/191580-PA"},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3297","DOI":"10.2118\/210586-PA","article-title":"Use of a Polymer Gel for Killing a High-Temperature and High-Pressure Gas Well","volume":"27","author":"Bai","year":"2022","journal-title":"SPE J."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2853","DOI":"10.2118\/201090-PA","article-title":"Development of a Highly Elastic Composite Gel through Novel Intercalated Crosslinking Method for Wellbore Temporary Plugging in High-Temperature Reservoirs","volume":"25","author":"Jia","year":"2020","journal-title":"SPE J."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"105","DOI":"10.2118\/206742-PA","article-title":"A Novel Branched Polymer Gel System with Delayed Gelation Property for Conformance Control","volume":"27","author":"Song","year":"2021","journal-title":"SPE J."},{"key":"ref_38","unstructured":"Liu, D.M. (2023). Preparation and Properties of Silicone Modified Polyacrylic Acid Hydrogels, Qingdao University of Science and Technology."},{"key":"ref_39","first-page":"872","article-title":"Preparation and Properties of Polyacrylamide\/Basalt Fiber Composite Hydrogel","volume":"31","author":"Bai","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Synth. Chem."},{"key":"ref_40","first-page":"1360","article-title":"Preparation of Water-soluble Janus POSS and its effect on the properties of PAA\/PAM hydrogels","volume":"39","author":"Zhang","year":"2022","journal-title":"Fine Chem. Ind."},{"key":"ref_41","first-page":"9","article-title":"Preparation and Properties of high strength and self-healing PAA-co-PAM\/Gelatin double physical network hydrogels","volume":"40","author":"Cheng","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Xi\u2019an Technol. Univ."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Qin, M., Yuan, W., Zhang, X., Cheng, Y., Xu, M., Wei, Y., Chen, W., and Huang, D. (2022). Preparation of PAA\/PAM\/MXene\/TA hydrogel with antioxidant, healable ability as strain sensor. Colloids Surf. B Biointerfaces, 214.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.colsurfb.2022.112482"},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"107289","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jenvrad.2023.107289","article-title":"Synthesis and performance study of PAM-g-PAA\/PHEA and its application in purifying tellurium aerosol","volume":"270","author":"Xiao","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Environ. Radioact."},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sydansk, R.D. (1988, January 16\u201321). A new conformance-improvement-chromium(III) gel technology. Proceedings of the SPE Enhanced Oil Recovery Symposium, Tulsa, OK, USA.","DOI":"10.2523\/17329-MS"},{"key":"ref_45","first-page":"84","article-title":"Preparation and strength study of PAMPS\/PAA interpenetrating double network hydrogel","volume":"40","author":"Wang","year":"2012","journal-title":"New Chem. Mater."}],"container-title":["Gels"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2310-2861\/10\/4\/224\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T14:18:30Z","timestamp":1760105910000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2310-2861\/10\/4\/224"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,3,25]]},"references-count":45,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,4]]}},"alternative-id":["gels10040224"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/gels10040224","relation":{},"ISSN":["2310-2861"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2310-2861","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,3,25]]}}}