Drilling fluids based on powered sulfonated thermoplastic polymers

Patent · Tue Jan 10 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:6987491

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

The present invention relates to powdered sulfonated thermoplastic polymers which function as viscosification agents when added to oil-based drilling muds which are the fluids 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 about 5 to about 100 meq. of sulfonate groups per 100 grams of the sulfonated thermoplastic polymer, wherein the sulfonated groups are neutralized with a metallic cation or an amine or ammonium counterion. The powdered sulfonated thermoplastic polymers have a particle size range of 0.25 ..mu..m to 2.5 ..mu..m and are prepared by spray drying an emulsion of the sulfonated thermoplastic polymer which has been prepared by a free radical copolymerization process. A polar cosolvent can optionally be added to the mixture of oil drilling mud and sulfonated polymer, wherein the polar cosolvent increases the solubility of the sulfonated polymer in the oil drilling mud by decreasing the strong ionic interactions between the sulfonate groups of the sulfonated polymer.

• Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Co.
• Patent Number(s): US 4425455
• OSTI ID: 6987491
• 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
AMMONIA
CATIONS
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMICAL PREPARATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DRILLING FLUIDS
FLUIDS
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
ION EXCHANGE
IONS
MATERIALS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
PARTICLE SIZE
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PLASTICS
POLAR COMPOUNDS
POLYMERIZATION
POLYMERS
POWDERS
SIZE
SOLUBILITY
SULFONATES
SULFONATION
SYNTHESIS
SYNTHETIC MATERIALS
THERMOPLASTICS
VISCOSITY
WELLS