Polymeric earth support fluid compositions and method for their use
AssigneeKB Technologies, Ltd.
InventorsK. Gifford Goodhue, Jr., Max M. Holmes
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention relates to an earth stabilization fluid and to a method for using such an earth stabilization fluid. This invention uses a continuous phase that has been added to a borehole and a polymer material that forms gel masses having desired functional properties when added to the continuous phase.
Claims61
An earth stabilization fluid for use in excavating earth cavities, comprising an aqueous continuous phase, said aqueous phase containing a combination of one or more polymers, said combination of polymers containing anionic functional groups and cationic functional groups, said earth stabilization fluid being characterized by a Marsh Funnel viscosity greater than 35 seconds per quart and being effective to form a functional network at the interface of an excavation cavity and said earth stabilization fluid.
An earth stabilization fluid for use in excavating earth cavities comprising, an aqueous continuous phase containing a combination of one or more polymers, said combination of polymers containing anionic functional groups and cationic functional groups, said earth stabilization fluid being characterized by a Marsh Funnel viscosity greater than 35 seconds per quart and being effective to form a plurality of functional elements in said earth stabilization fluid.
An earth stabilization fluid for use in excavating earth cavities comprising an aqueous continuous phase, said phase containing a combination of one or more polymers, said combination of polymers containing anionic functional groups, wherein one of said polymers includes an associative monomer capable of copolymerization by a free-radical mechanism, said earth stabilization fluid being characterized by a Marsh Funnel viscosity greater than 35 seconds per quart and being effective to form a functional network at the interface of an excavation cavity and said earth stabilization fluid.
An earth stabilization fluid for use in excavating earth cavities comprising an aqueous continuous phase, said phase containing a combination of one or more polymers, said combination of polymers containing anionic functional groups, wherein one of said polymers includes an associative monomer capable of copolymerization by a free-radical mechanism, said earth stabilization fluid being characterized by a Marsh Funnel viscosity greater than 35 seconds per quart and being effective to form a plurality of functional elements in said earth stabilization fluid.
A method for the preparation and use of an earth stabilization fluid in the formation of an earth cavity comprising:
- (a) adding an aqueous-based continuous phase to an earth cavity;
- (b) adding to said continuous phase a combination of one or more polymers, said combination of polymers containing anionic functional groups and cationic functional groups said earth stabilization fluid being characterized by a Marsh Funnel viscosity greater than 35 seconds per quart and being effective to form a functional network at the interface of an excavation cavity and said aqueous continuous phase;
- and,
- (c) excavating to form or enlarge said earth cavity.
A method for the preparation and use of an earth stabilization fluid in the formation of an earth cavity comprising:
- (a) adding an aqueous-based continuous phase to an earth cavity;
- (b) adding to said continuous phase a combination of one or more polymers, said combination of polymers containing anionic functional groups and cationic functional groups said earth stabilization fluid being characterized by a Marsh Funnel viscosity greater than 35 seconds per quart and being effective to form a plurality of functional elements;
- and,
- (c) excavating to form or enlarge said earth cavity.
A method for the preparation and use of an earth stabilization fluid in the formation of an earth cavity comprising:
- (a) adding an aqueous-based continuous phase to an earth cavity;
- (b) adding to said continuous phase a combination of one or more polymers, said combination of polymers containing anionic functional groups and nonionic functional groups, at least some of said anionic groups being deactivated;
- (c) adding a soluble hydroxide to said continuous phase to reactivate said anionic functional groups and,
- (d) excavating to form or enlarge said earth cavity.
A method for removing solids from an earth stabilization fluid used in the formation of an earth cavity comprising:
- (a) adding an aqueous-based continuous phase to an earth cavity;
- (b) adding to said continuous phase a combination of one or more polymers, said combination of polymers containing anionic functional groups;
- (c) adding to said continuous phase sufficient quantifies of a combination of one or more polymers, said combination of polymers containing cationic functional groups, so as to agglomerate said solids;
- and,
- (d) removing said agglomerated solids from said earth stabilization fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.