Method of using water-superabsorbent polymer in production tubing and pipes
AssigneeBJ Services Company
InventorsCristian Lopez, Xiaolan Wang, Qi Qu, Paul Javora
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Abstract
A thermal insulating packer fluid contains at least one water superabsorbent polymer and optionally water and/or brine, and a viscosifying polymer. The composition is capable of inhibiting unwanted heat loss from production tubing or uncontrolled heat transfer to outer annuli. The viscosity of the composition is sufficient to reduce the convection flow velocity within the annulus.
Claims51
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A method for enhancing the thermal insulation of a production tubing or transfer pipe surrounded by at least one annuli, comprising:
- adding to the at least one annuli a composition comprising at least one water-superabsorbent polymer capable of absorbing a minimum of its own weight in water;
- and
- maintaining the fluid in contact with the at least one annuli to at least partially immobilize the fluid composition.
A method for reducing convection flow velocity in at least one annuli surrounding a production tubing or transfer pipe, comprising:
- introducing into the at least one annuli an insulating packer or riser fluid comprising a composition comprising at least one water-superabsorbent polymer capable of absorbing a minimum of its own weight in water;
- and
- maintaining the fluid in the at least one annuli until the convection flow velocity is reduced.
The method of claim 39, wherein the viscosifying polymer is a polysaccharide or a homo-, block or random polymer containing vinyl alcohol, acrylate, pyrrolidone, 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonate, or acrylamide units.
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A method of controlling the heat transfer from a production tubing or transfer pipe to one or more surrounding annuli and the environment, comprising:
- adding to the one or more surrounding annuli a composition comprising at least one water-superabsorbent polymer capable of absorbing a minimum of its own weight in water;
- and
- maintaining the fluid in contact with the at least one annuli to prevent heat transfer or build-up in the one or more surrounding annuli.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.