Rapidly inverting water-in-oil polymer emulsions

A method for reducing friction of a fluid material flowing in a conduit, comprising:

• providing a formulation comprising an inversion facilitator additive and a water-in-oil emulsion comprising a friction-reducing polymer in an aqueous phase;
• and
• adding the formulation to the fluid material, thereby reducing friction in the fluid material flowing in the conduit.

A method for improving separation of a solid phase from a liquid phase in a fluid stream, comprising:

• providing a formulation comprising an inversion facilitator additive and a water-in-oil emulsion comprising an active emulsion polymer in an aqueous phase, wherein the active emulsion polymer improves separation of the solid phase from the liquid phase;
• and
• adding the formulation to the fluid stream, thereby improving separation of the solid phase from the liquid phase.

A method for facilitating the inversion of a water-in-oil emulsion, comprising:

• adding an inversion facilitator additive to the water-in-oil emulsion, wherein the contact of the inversion facilitator additive with a discontinuous phase of the water-in-oil emulsion facilitates the inversion of the water-in-oil emulsion;
• and
• dispersing the inversion facilitator additive within the water-in-oil emulsion to effect contact between the inversion facilitator additive and the discontinuous phase, thereby facilitating the inversion of the water-in-oil emulsion.