Viscoelastic surfactant fluids and related methods of use
AssigneeRhodia Operations
InventorsManilal S. Dahayanake, Jiang Yang, Joseph H. Y. Niu, Paul-Joel Derian, Ruoxin Li, David Dino
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Abstract
Viscoelastic surfactant based aqueous fluid systems useful as thickening agents in various applications, e.g. to suspend particles produced during the excavation of geologic formations. The surfactants are zwitterionic/amphoteric surfactants such as dihydroxyl alkyl glycinate, alkyl ampho acetate or propionate, alkyl betaine, alkyl amidopropyl betaine and alkylimino mono- or di-propionates derived from certain waxes, fats and oils. The thickening agent is used in conjunction with an inorganic water-soluble salt or organic additive such as phthalic acid, salicylic acid or their salts.
Claims9
A viscoelastic fluid, comprising:
- (1) water;
- (2) erucyl amidopropyl betaine present at about 0.5 wt % to about 10 wt % by weight of the fluid;
- and
- (3) a member, different from erucyl amidopropyl betaine, selected from the group consisting of organic acids, organic acid salts, inorganic salts, a combination of an organic acid with an inorganic salt, and a combination of an organic acid salt with an inorganic salt;
- wherein the fluid exhibits viscoelasticity, wherein the fluid includes a major amount of water by weight of the fluid, and wherein the fluid includes about 1% to less than about 20% by weight of the member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.