Drilling fluids based on powdered sulfonated thermoplastic polymers

Patent · Tue Jan 10 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:6269997

Turner, S R; Lundberg, R D; Walker, T O; Peiffer, D G

Powdered sulfonated thermoplastic polymers function as viscosification agents when added to oil-based drilling muds used to maintain pressure, cool drill bits and lift cuttings from the holes in the drilling operation for oil and gas wells. The powdered sulfonated thermoplastic polymer has 5 to 100 meq. of sulfonate groups per 100 grams of the sulfonated thermoplastic polymer. The sulfonated groups are neutralized with a metallic cation or an amine or ammonium counterion. The powdered sulfonated thermoplastic polymers are prepared by spray drying an emulsion of the sulfonated thermoplastic polymer which has been prepared by free radical copolymerization of styrene and sodium styrene sulfonate. A polar cosolvent such as alcohol can be added to the mixture of oil drilling mud and sulfonated polymer to increase the solubility of the sulfonated polymer in the oil drilling mud. 14 claims.

• Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Co.
• Patent Number(s): US 4425455
• OSTI ID: 6269997
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
03 NATURAL GAS
030300 -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
ADDITIVES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMICAL PREPARATION
DRILLING
DRILLING FLUIDS
FLUIDS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
POLYMERS
SULFONATES
SYNTHESIS
VISCOSITY
WELL DRILLING
WELLS