Bi-or multi-modal particle size distribution to improve drag reduction polymer dissolution

A method for introducing polymer drag reducing agents into a hydrocarbon fluid, comprising:

• precipitating a first drag reducing agent (DRA) into a slurry comprising a non-solvent for the first DRA and removing solvent for the polymer that is present, the non-solvent comprising a non-solvent selected from the group consisting of an alcohol, a glycol, a glycol ether, a ketone, and an ester, where the first DRA has a particle size distribution ranging from about 100 to about 150 microns;
• preparing a second DRA by a method selected from the group consisting of:
• non-cryogenic grinding of a bulk polymerized polymer, cryogenic grinding of a bulk polymerized polymer, homogenizing a bulk polymerized polymer, and combinations thereof, wherein the bulk polymerized polymers are not microcapsules or macrocapsules of polymers formed within a shell, wherein microcapsules are defined as having a size of 5000 microns or less and wherein macrocapsules are defined as having a size of greater than about 5000 to about 15,000 microns,
• wherein the second DRA has a particle size distribution different from the first particle size distribution, and the second DRA has a particle size distribution ranging from about 100 to about 550 microns;
• and introducing the first DRA and the second DRA into the hydrocarbon fluid essentially simultaneously;
• where the first DRA and the second DRA are polyalpha-olefins.

A multi-modal polymer drag reducing composition produced by the process comprising combining:

• a first drag reducing agent (DRA) prepared by precipitating the DRA into a slurry comprising a non-solvent for the first DRA and removing solvent for the polymer that is present, the non-solvent comprising a non-solvent selected from the group consisting of an alcohol, a glycol, a glycol ether, a ketone, and an ester, where the first DRA has a particle size distribution ranging from about 100 to about 150 microns;
• and
• a second DRA prepared by a method selected from the group consisting of:
• non-cryogenic grinding of a bulk polymerized polymer, cryogenic grinding of a bulk polymerized polymer, homogenizing a bulk polymerized polymer, and combinations thereof, wherein the bulk polymerized polymers are not microcapsules or macrocapsules of polymers formed within a shell, wherein microcapsules are defined as having a size of 5000 microns or less and wherein macrocapsules are defined as having a size of greater than about 5000 to about 15,000 microns,
• wherein the second DRA has a particle size distribution different from the first particle size distribution, and the second DRA has a particle size distribution ranging from about 100 to about 550 microns;
• and
• where both DRAs are polyalpha-olefins.

A fluid having reduced drag comprising:

• a hydrocarbon fluid;
• a first drag reducing agent (DRA) prepared by precipitating the DRA into a slurry comprising a non-solvent for the first DRA and removing solvent for the polymer that is present, the non-solvent comprising a non-solvent selected from the group consisting of an alcohol, a glycol, a glycol ether, a ketone, and an ester, where the first DRA has a particle size distribution ranging from about 100 to about 150 microns;
• and
• a second DRA prepared by a method selected from the group consisting of:
• non-cryogenic grinding of a bulk polymerized polymer, cryogenic grinding of a bulk polymerized polymer, homogenizing a bulk polymerized polymer, and combinations thereof, wherein the bulk polymerized polymers are not microcapsules or macrocapsules of polymers formed within a shell, wherein microcapsules are defined as having a size of 5000 microns or less and wherein macrocapsules are defined as having a size of greater than about 5000 to about 15,000 microns,
• wherein the second DRA has a particle size distribution different from the first particle size distribution, and the second DRA has a particle size distribution ranging from about 100 to about 550 microns;
• and
• where both DRAs are polyalpha-olefins.