Methods of using water-superabsorbent polymers to reduce heat transfer
AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated
InventorsCristian A. Lopez, Xiaolan Wang, Qi Qu, Paul H. Javora
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Abstract
A thermal insulating packer fluid contains at least one water superabsorbent polymer and optionally water and/or brine, and a viscosifying polymer. The composition is capable of inhibiting unwanted heat loss from production tubing or uncontrolled heat transfer to outer annuli. The viscosity of the composition is sufficient to reduce the convection flow velocity within the annulus.
Claims24
A method for enhancing the thermal insulation of a production tubing or transfer pipe surrounded by at least one annuli, comprising:
- adding to the at least one annuli a composition comprising at least one crosslinked water-superabsorbent polymer capable of absorbing a minimum of its own weight in water;
- and
- maintaining the composition in contact with the at least one annuli to at least partially immobilize the composition.
A method for enhancing the thermal insulation of a production tubing or transfer pipe surrounded by at least one annuli, comprising:
- (1) adding to the at least one annuli a composition comprising at least one water-superabsorbent polymer capable of absorbing a minimum of its own weight in water, wherein the at least one water-superabsorbent polymer is selected from the group consisting of:
- (a) an alkali metal salt of an aqueous alcoholic alkali saponified cross-linked homopolymer of acrylonitrile or methacrylonitrile;
- (b) an alkali metal salt of an aqueous alcoholic saponified crosslinked polymer of 2-propenenitrile or 2-methyl-2-propenenitrile;
- (c) starch-grafted polyacrylates;
- (d) acrylamide/acrylic acid copolymers and salts thereof;
- (e) starch-grafted acrylamide/acrylic acid and salts thereof;
- (f) isobutylene/maleic anhydride copolymers;
- (g) sodium and potassium salts of carboxymethylcellulose;
- (h) crosslinked salts of polyaspartic acid;
- and
- (i) chitosan/polyvinylpyrrolidone and chitosan/polyethyleneimine combinations;
- and
- (2) maintaining the composition in contact with the at least one annuli to at least partially immobilize the composition.
A method of controlling the heat transfer from a production tubing or transfer pipe to one or more surrounding annuli and the environment, comprising:
- adding to the one or more surrounding annuli a composition comprising at least one crosslinked water-superabsorbent polymer capable of absorbing a minimum of its own weight in water;
- and
- maintaining the composition in contact with the at least one annuli to prevent heat transfer or build-up in the one or more surrounding annuli.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.