# US 2013/0157901 A1 · High Molecular Weight Low Polydispersity Polymers

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- Number: US 2013/0157901 A1
- Document ID: US20130157901A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/331,441
- Filed: 2011-12-20
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2011-12-20
- Assignees: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
- Inventors: James W. Ogle; Charm Boontheung; Rajesh K. Saini
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130157901A1

## CPC

- C08F 220/56: Acrylamide; Methacrylamide
- C08F 2/38: Polymerisation using regulators, e.g. chain terminating agents {, e.g. telomerisation}
- C09K 8/64: Oil-based compositions
- C09K 8/68: containing organic compounds
- C09K 8/685: {containing cross-linking agents}
- C09K 8/80: Compositions for reinforcing fractures, e.g. compositions of proppants used to keep the fractures open
- C09K 8/882: {obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds}
- C08F: MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING CARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS
- C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE

## Abstract

The present invention relates to synthetic polymers having high molecular weight and low polydispersities, and methods of synthesis thereof. One embodiment of the present invention provides a method of polymerizing that includes dissolving acrylate monomers in a fluid media having an olefin-containing polyalcohol amide surfactant; and initiating a polymerization reaction of the acrylate monomers with a polymerization initiator to produce a polymer having a molecular weight of at least about 500,000 and a polydispersity index of about 1.25 or less.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
dissolving acrylate monomers in a fluid media comprising an olefin-containing polyalcohol amide surfactant; and
reacting the acrylate monomers with a polymerization initiator to produce a polymer having a molecular weight of at least about 500,000 and a polydispersity index of about 1.25 or less.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the molecular weight of the polymer is no more than about 5,000,000.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the acrylate monomers comprise an acrylate monomer or an acrylate-based monomer selected from the group consisting of: an acrylamide, an acrylic acid, a methacrylic acid, an ethacrylic acid, a methyl methacrylate, a methacrylate, an acrylonitrile, a methyl acrylate, an ethyl acrylate, a 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, a hydroxyethyl methacrylate, a butyl acrylate, a butyl methacrylate, an acrylate ester, an acrylamide amide, a styrene, a vinyl, an olefin, any derivative thereof, and any combination thereof.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the fluid media is aqueous or multi-phased.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the olefin-containing polyalcohol amide surfactant comprises a surfactant selected from the group consisting of: amide with an N-alkyl alcohol or two N-alkyl alcohols, sorbitan trioleate, sorbitan mono-oleate, and any combination thereof.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the polymerization initiator comprises an initiator selected from the group consisting of: an azo initiator, a persulfate initiator, a peroxide initiator, a hydroperoxide initiator, a redox initiator, a photoinitiator, and any combination thereof.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the olefin-containing polyalcohol amide surfactant is present in an amount of about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the fluid media.

### Claim 8 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3 wherein the polymer is a copolymer derived from two or more monomers.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein reacting the acrylate monomers with a polymerization initiator takes place at about 20° C. to about 80° C.

### Claim 10

A method comprising:
providing a treatment fluid comprising:
a base fluid; and
a polyacrylate polymer having a molecular weight of at least 500,000 and a polydispersity index of about 1.25 or less; and
placing the treatment fluid in a subterranean formation.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein the molecular weight of the polyacrylate polymer is no more than about 5,000,000.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein the subterranean fluid is a fracturing fluid, a drilling fluid, or a cementing fluid.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein the base fluid is aqueous, oil-based, or synthetic.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein the treatment fluid further comprises an additive selected from the group consisting of: a fluid loss control agent, a clay inhibitor, a lubricant, a weighting agent, a bentonite-based viscosifier, and any combination thereof.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein the polyacrylate polymer is a polymer formed by a polymerization reaction of monomers comprising an acrylate monomer or an acrylate-based monomer selected from the group consisting of: an acrylamide, an acrylic acid, a methacrylic acid, an ethacrylic acid, a methyl methacrylate, a methacrylate, an acrylonitrile, a methyl acrylate, an ethyl acrylate, a 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, a hydroxyethyl methacrylate, a butyl acrylate, a butyl methacrylate, an acrylate ester, an acrylamide amide, a styrene, a vinyl, an olefin, any derivative thereof, and any combination thereof.

### Claim 16

A method comprising:
providing a fracturing fluid comprising:
a base fluid;
a polyacrylate polymer having a molecular weight of at least 500,000 and a polydispersity index of about 1.25 or less; and
introducing the fracturing fluid in a subterranean formation at a rate sufficient to create or enhance at least one fracture in the subterranean formation.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16 wherein the molecular weight is no more than about 5,000,000.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16 wherein the polyacrylate polymer is a polymer formed by a polymerization reaction of monomers comprising an acrylate monomer or an acrylate-based monomer selected from the group consisting of: an acrylamide, an acrylic acid, a methacrylic acid, an ethacrylic acid, a methyl methacrylate, a methacrylate, an acrylonitrile, a methyl acrylate, an ethyl acrylate, a 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, a hydroxyethyl methacrylate, a butyl acrylate, a butyl methacrylate, an acrylate ester, an acrylamide amide, a styrene, a vinyl, an olefin, any derivative thereof, and any combination thereof.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16 wherein the proppant comprises a proppant selected from the group consisting of: sand, bauxite, ceramic materials, glass materials, polymer materials, polytetrafluoroethylene materials, nut shell pieces, cured resinous particulates comprising nut shell pieces, seed shell pieces, cured resinous particulates comprising seed shell pieces, fruit pit pieces, cured resinous particulates comprising fruit pit pieces, wood, composite particulates, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16 wherein the fracturing fluid further comprises an additive selected from the group consisting of: an acid, a biocide, a breaker, a clay stabilizer, a corrosion inhibitor, a crosslinker, a friction reducer, a gelling agent, an iron control agent, a scale inhibitor, a surfactant, and any combination thereof.