Stabilized polymer drag reducing agent slurries
AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated
InventorsThomas J. Martin, Lu Chien Chou
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for producing a stabilized polymer drag reducing agent slurry comprising combining a fatty acid wax and a liquid carrier to form a dispersion; pre-treating the dispersion by heating to partially dissolve the fatty acid wax in the liquid carrier; and adding the polymer drag reducing agent thereto, to form a stabilized polymer drag reducing agent slurry. The resulting slurry is relatively stable against settling, separation and agglomeration.
Claims29
A method for producing a stabilized polymer drag reducing agent slurry comprising combining a fatty acid wax and a liquid carrier to form a dispersion;
- pre-treating the dispersion by heating to partially dissolve the fatty acid wax in the liquid carrier;
- and combining therewith a particulate polymer drag reducing agent to form a stabilized polymer drag reducing agent slurry.
A stabilized polymer drag reducing agent slurry prepared by a method comprising combining a fatty acid wax and a liquid carrier to form a dispersion;
- pre-treating the dispersion by heating to partially dissolve the fatty acid wax in the liquid carrier where at least about 0.5 percent by weight of the fatty acid is dissolved;
- and combining therewith a particulate polymer drag reducing agent to form a stabilized polymer drag reducing agent slurry.
A method of reducing drag in a hydrocarbon stream comprising incorporating a stabilized polymer drag reducing agent slurry in a hydrocarbon stream, the stabilized polymer drag reducing agent slurry having been prepared by a method comprising combining a fatty acid wax and a liquid carrier to form a dispersion;
- pre-treating the dispersion by heating to partially dissolve the fatty acid wax in the liquid carrier where at least about 0.5 percent by weight of the fatty acid is dissolved;
- and combining therewith a particulate polymer drag reducing agent to form the stabilized polymer drag reducing agent slurry where the stabilized polymer drag reducing agent slurry has increased viscosity as compared to a slurry where no fatty acid wax is dissolved.
A method for producing a stabilized polymer drag reducing agent slurry comprising combining a fatty acid wax selected from the group consisting of stearic acid;
- Groups 1, 2, 12, and 13 metal salts of stearic acid;
- stearic acid amides;
- and stearic acid esters;
- and a liquid carrier selected from water;
- alcohols and fatty alcohols, glycols and diols;
- glycol ethers;
- glycol esters;
- and mixtures thereof;
- to form a dispersion;
- pre-treating the dispersion by heating to partially dissolve the fatty acid wax in the liquid carrier;
- and combining therewith a particulate polymer drag reducing agent to form a stabilized polymer drag reducing agent slurry.
A stabilized polymer drag reducing agent slurry prepared by a method comprising combining a fatty acid wax selected from the group consisting of stearic acid;
- Groups 1, 2, 12, and 13 metal salts of stearic acid;
- stearic acid amides;
- and stearic acid esters;
- and a liquid carrier selected from water;
- alcohols and fatty alcohols, glycols and diols;
- glycol ethers;
- glycol esters;
- and mixtures thereof;
- to form a dispersion;
- pre-treating the dispersion by heating to partially dissolve the fatty acid wax in the liquid carrier where at least about 0.5 percent by weight of the fatty acid is dissolved;
- and combining therewith a particulate polymer drag reducing agent to form a stabilized polymer drag reducing agent slurry, wherein the fatty acid wax is selected from the group consisting of zinc stearate, aluminum stearate, sodium stearate, potassium stearate, ethylene bis-stearamide, stearamide, ethylene glycol monostearate, ethylene glycol distearate, propylene glycol monostearate, propylene glycol distearate, glycerol stearate, glycerol distearate, glycerol tristearate, diethylene glycol distearate, stearic anhydride, and combinations thereof.
A method of reducing drag in a hydrocarbon stream comprising incorporating a stabilized polymer drag reducing agent slurry in a hydrocarbon stream, the stabilized polymer drag reducing agent slurry having been prepared by a method comprising combining a fatty acid wax selected from the group consisting of stearic acid;
- Groups 1, 2, 12, and 13 metal salts of stearic acid;
- stearic acid amides;
- and stearic acid esters;
- and a liquid carrier selected from water;
- alcohols and fatty alcohols, glycols and diols;
- glycol ethers;
- glycol esters;
- and mixtures thereof;
- to form a dispersion;
- pre-treating the dispersion by heating to partially dissolve the fatty acid wax in the liquid carrier where at least about 0.5 percent by weight of the fatty acid is dissolved;
- and combining therewith a particulate polymer drag reducing agent to form a stabilized polymer drag reducing agent slurry where the stabilized polymer drag reducing agent slurry has increased viscosity as compared to a slurry where no fatty acid wax is dissolved.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.