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US 8,044,002 B2Granted
Solid zirconium-based cross-linking agent and use in oil field applications
AssigneeDorf Ketal Speciality Catalysts, LLC
InventorDonald Edward Putzig
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A solid zirconium cross-linking agent and use in a cross-linking composition in oil field applications such as hydraulic fracturing and plugging of permeable zones. The zirconium cross-linking agent is prepared by a process comprising contacting a zirconium complex with an alkanolamine and water at particular mole ratios of alkanolamine and water to zirconium.
Claims13
A process to prepare a solid zirconium cross-linking agent suitable for use as a cross-linking agent comprising:
- (a) contacting a zirconium complex with an alkanolamine in an alcohol solvent, wherein the zirconium complex is a tetraalkyl zirconate, wherein the alkanolamine is selected from the group consisting of triethanolamine, tri-n-propanolamine, tri-isopropanolamine, and diisopropanolamine, and wherein the mole ratio of alkanolamine to zirconium is 1:1;
- (b) adding water to the product of step (a) in an amount of 0.5 moles of water per mole of zirconium;
- (c) maintaining the product of step (b) for a sufficient period of time for the product to reach equilibrium;
- and (d) removing the solvent from the product of step (c) to form a solid zirconium cross-linking agent.
1 more element
A cross-linking composition comprising (a) an aqueous liquid;
- (b) a buffer;
- (c) a cross-linkable organic polymer;
- and (d) a zirconium cross-linking agent, wherein the cross-linking agent is prepared by process comprising (1) contacting a zirconium complex with an alkanolamine in an alcohol solvent, wherein the zirconium complex is a tetraalkyl zirconate, wherein the alkanolamine is selected from the group consisting of triethanolamine, tri-n-propanolamine, tri-isopropanolamine, and diisopropanolamine, and wherein the mole ratio of alkanolamine to zirconium is 1:1;
- (2) adding water to the product of step (1) in an amount of 0.5 moles of water per mole of zirconium;
- (3) maintaining the product of step (2) for a sufficient period of time for the product to reach equilibrium;
- and (4) removing the solvent from the product of step (3) to form a solid zirconium cross-linking agent.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.