Amphiphilic monomer and hydrophobe associative composition containing a polymer of a water-soluble monomer and said amphiphilic monomer

Abstract

The invention comprises a composition comprising at least one compound defined by the formula ##STR1## wherein R is hydrogen, C.sub.1-4 alkyl or a group ##STR2## wherein G is a divalent hydrocarbyl-linking group and J, D, E and F are hereinafter defined; wherein J and E independently are divalent linking groups selected from ##STR3## wherein R' is hydrogen or C.sub.1-4 alkyl; D is a divalent hydrocarbyl group which lends hydrophobicity to the compound; and F is a monovalent hydrocarbyl group which lends hydrophilicity to the compound. Such compositions are useful as comonomers with water-soluble monomers such as acrylamide and acrylic acid which form water-dispersible thickening agents which are resistant to shear degradation and heat and have a broad range of salt tolerance. Aqueous solutions thickened with such copolymers are useful in enhanced oil recovery processes as fluid mobility control agents, as fracturing fluids and drilling muds as well as hydraulic fluids and lubricants in many applications.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.