EP0115836A2 — Polymeres useful in the recovery and processing o…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 56 words

A process comprising introducing a polymer produced from a monomer mixture comprising an N-vinyl lactam, an unsaturated amide and, optionally, up to about 10 weight percent of a termonomer,into a subterranean well bore so that said polymer is exposed to a hostile environment at a temperature of at least about 49°C, preferably at least about 66°C.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 56 words

A process comprising introducing a polymer produced from a monomer mixture comprising an N-vinyl lactam, an unsaturated amide and, optionally, up to about 10 weight percent of a termonomer,into a subterranean well bore so that said polymer is exposed to a hostile environment at a temperature of at least about 49°C, preferably at least about 66°C.

Claim 3

Independent Claim 48 words

A method comprising polymerizing an N-vinyl lactam and, optionally, an unsaturated amide and up to about 10 weight percent of a termonomer, by free radical initiation employing an aqueous polymerization medium comprising at least one alkali metal salt electrolyte and at least one alkaline earth metal salt electrolyte.

Claim 4

Independent Claim 48 words

A method comprising polymerizing an N-vinyl lactam and, optionally, an unsaturated amide and up to about 10 weight percent of a termonomer, by free radical initiation employing an aqueous polymerization medium comprising at least one alkali metal salt electrolyte and at least one alkaline earth metal salt electrolyte.

Claim 5

Independent Claim 37 words

A method comprising polymerizing an N-vinyl lactam and, optionally, an unsaturated amide and up to about 10 weight percent of a termonomer, in a medium consisting essentially of at least one tertiary alkanol by free radical initiation.

Claim 6

Independent Claim 37 words

A method comprising polymerizing an N-vinyl lactam and, optionally, an unsaturated amide and up to about 10 weight percent of a termonomer, in a medium consisting essentially of at least one tertiary alkanol by free radical initiation.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 70 words

A process comprising employing a polymer prepared in accordance with claim 2 or 3 for enhanced oil recovery, the drilling, workover and completion of wells for the recovery of natural resources, thickening and/or treatment of water, or minerals beneficiation; in particular wherein said polymer is contacted with a composition selected from the group consisting of bases, surfactants, cosurfactants, polymeric viscosifiers, and fluids for the drilling, completion and workover of wells.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 42 words

A flocculating process comprising adding a polymer of an N-vinyl lactam and an unsaturated amide and, optionally, up to about 10 weight percent of a termonomer, to a liquid containing solids, wherein the temperature of the liquid is at least about 66°C.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 42 words

A flocculating process comprising adding a polymer of an N-vinyl lactam and an unsaturated amide and, optionally, up to about 10 weight percent of a termonomer, to a liquid containing solids, wherein the temperature of the liquid is at least about 66°C.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 65 words

A flocculating process comprising adding a polymer of an N-vinyl lactam and an unsaturated amide and, optionally, up to about 10 weight percent of a termonomer, to a liquid containing solids, wherein said liquid has a salinity of at least about 10 grams per kilogram of solution; in particular wherein said liquid has a salinity of at least about 100 grams per kilogram of solution.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 65 words

A flocculating process comprising adding a polymer of an N-vinyl lactam and an unsaturated amide and, optionally, up to about 10 weight percent of a termonomer, to a liquid containing solids, wherein said liquid has a salinity of at least about 10 grams per kilogram of solution; in particular wherein said liquid has a salinity of at least about 100 grams per kilogram of solution.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 146 words

A process comprising: (a) introducing into a subterranean formation having zones of varying permeability, a composition which is a polymerization inhibitor for subsequently injected monomers; (b) thereafter introducing into said formation a fluid flush material under conditions so as to selectively remove said polymerization inhibitor from the more permeable zones of said formation; and (c) thereafter introducing into said formation monomers and a free radical initiator, together or independently, so that in the absence of said polymerization inhibitor said monomers polymerize to produce a polymer which at least partially restricts the more permeable zones of said formation, wherein said monomers comprise a mixture of N-vinyl lactams and unsaturated amides, and, optionally, a minor portion of a termonomer; in particular wherein said formation has a temperature of at least about 66°C and/or formation water with a salinity of at least about 10 grams per kilogram of solution.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 146 words

A process comprising: (a) introducing into a subterranean formation having zones of varying permeability, a composition which is a polymerization inhibitor for subsequently injected monomers; (b) thereafter introducing into said formation a fluid flush material under conditions so as to selectively remove said polymerization inhibitor from the more permeable zones of said formation; and (c) thereafter introducing into said formation monomers and a free radical initiator, together or independently, so that in the absence of said polymerization inhibitor said monomers polymerize to produce a polymer which at least partially restricts the more permeable zones of said formation, wherein said monomers comprise a mixture of N-vinyl lactams and unsaturated amides, and, optionally, a minor portion of a termonomer; in particular wherein said formation has a temperature of at least about 66°C and/or formation water with a salinity of at least about 10 grams per kilogram of solution.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 43 words

A method comprising polymerizing a monomer mixture comprising N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone and acrylamide by free radical initiation which is at least partially carried out by the introduction of electromagnetic or nuclear radiation; in particular wherein said monomer mixture is polymerized in an aqueous polymerization medium.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 43 words

A method comprising polymerizing a monomer mixture comprising N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone and acrylamide by free radical initiation which is at least partially carried out by the introduction of electromagnetic or nuclear radiation; in particular wherein said monomer mixture is polymerized in an aqueous polymerization medium.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 70 words

A method comprising introducing a water soluble polymer, produced from a monomer composition comprising at least one of a hydrophilic N-vinyl lactam and a hydrophilic vinyl-containing sulfonate salt or sulfonic acid and, optionally, a hydrophilic unsaturated amide as termonomer, into a subterranean formation so that said polymer is exposed to a hostile environment defined as having a temperature and multivalent cation concentration above the infinite days line of Fig. 14.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 70 words

A method comprising introducing a water soluble polymer, produced from a monomer composition comprising at least one of a hydrophilic N-vinyl lactam and a hydrophilic vinyl-containing sulfonate salt or sulfonic acid and, optionally, a hydrophilic unsaturated amide as termonomer, into a subterranean formation so that said polymer is exposed to a hostile environment defined as having a temperature and multivalent cation concentration above the infinite days line of Fig. 14.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 73 words

.A method comprising introducing a polymer produced from a monomer composition comprising at least one of a hydrophilic N-vinyl lactam and a hydrophilic vinyl-containing sulfonate salt or the corresponding acid, into a subterranean formation where said polymer is exposed to a hostile environment defined as including a temperature within the range of 77 to 149°C and a multivalent cation concentration within the range of 500 to 220 000 parts per million by weight.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 73 words

.A method comprising introducing a polymer produced from a monomer composition comprising at least one of a hydrophilic N-vinyl lactam and a hydrophilic vinyl-containing sulfonate salt or the corresponding acid, into a subterranean formation where said polymer is exposed to a hostile environment defined as including a temperature within the range of 77 to 149°C and a multivalent cation concentration within the range of 500 to 220 000 parts per million by weight.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 92 words

A method comprising: injecting a surfactant system into a subterranean formation under hostile conditions defined as having a formation temperature and multivalent cation concentration above the infinite days line of Fig. 14 through an injection well to form a miceller composition or microemulsion in said formation; thereafter injecting a mobility buffer slug comprising a polymer produced from a monomer composition comprising at least one of a hydrophilic N-vinyl lactam and hydrophilic vinyl-containing sulfonate salt or the corresponding acid; thereafter introducing a drive fluid; and recovering oil from a spaced apart production well.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 92 words

A method comprising: injecting a surfactant system into a subterranean formation under hostile conditions defined as having a formation temperature and multivalent cation concentration above the infinite days line of Fig. 14 through an injection well to form a miceller composition or microemulsion in said formation; thereafter injecting a mobility buffer slug comprising a polymer produced from a monomer composition comprising at least one of a hydrophilic N-vinyl lactam and hydrophilic vinyl-containing sulfonate salt or the corresponding acid; thereafter introducing a drive fluid; and recovering oil from a spaced apart production well.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 62 words

A process comprising forming a drilling mud comprising clay and a polymer produced from a monomer composition comprising at least one of a hydrophilic N-vinyl lactam and a hydrophilic vinyl-containing sulfonate, introducing said drilling mud into a bore hole in a formation having hostile conditions as defined by a temperature and divalent ion concentration above the infinite days line of Fig. 14.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 62 words

A process comprising forming a drilling mud comprising clay and a polymer produced from a monomer composition comprising at least one of a hydrophilic N-vinyl lactam and a hydrophilic vinyl-containing sulfonate, introducing said drilling mud into a bore hole in a formation having hostile conditions as defined by a temperature and divalent ion concentration above the infinite days line of Fig. 14.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 64 words

A method comprising introducing a water soluble polymer, which imparts to sea water a viscosity at a 0.25 weight percent concentration at 121°C of less than one-third the viscosity imparted by the same concentration of polyacrylamide under the same conditions, into a subterranean formation under hostile conditions defined as having a temperature and multivalent cation concentration above the infinite days line of Fig. 14.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 64 words

A method comprising introducing a water soluble polymer, which imparts to sea water a viscosity at a 0.25 weight percent concentration at 121°C of less than one-third the viscosity imparted by the same concentration of polyacrylamide under the same conditions, into a subterranean formation under hostile conditions defined as having a temperature and multivalent cation concentration above the infinite days line of Fig. 14.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 63 words

In a process for accelerating the sedimentation of suspended solids in an aqueous suspension by mixing with a flocculating agent, the improvement comprising using as the flocculating agent a water soluble polymer composition produced from a monomer composition comprising at least one of a hydrophilic N-vinyl lactam and a hydrophilic vinyl-containing sulfonate, under hostile environment conditions defined as including a temperature above 77°C.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 63 words

In a process for accelerating the sedimentation of suspended solids in an aqueous suspension by mixing with a flocculating agent, the improvement comprising using as the flocculating agent a water soluble polymer composition produced from a monomer composition comprising at least one of a hydrophilic N-vinyl lactam and a hydrophilic vinyl-containing sulfonate, under hostile environment conditions defined as including a temperature above 77°C.

Polymeres useful in the recovery and processing of natural resources

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