Patent US3922173A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3922173A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Temperature-stable aqueous gels
Assignee: Halliburton Co
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Filing: 1974-07-22
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Granted: 1975-11-25
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Expires: 1994-07-22
Abstract
Abstract A process for producing a controlled reduction in viscosity of aqueous gels at elevated temperatures is disclosed wherein tbutyl hydroperoxide is utilized as a chemical breaker. A gel structure having improved temperature stability properties which is useful for fracturing subterranean formations is disclosed wherein the gel comprises an aqueous liquid, a gelling agent, and t-butyl hydroperoxide.
Inventors
- 👤 Marvin D Misak
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 12:40
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/60; C09K8/62; C09K8/70; C09K8/66; C09K8/68; C09K8/685; E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/25; E21B43/26; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S507/00; Y10S507/921; Y10S507/922
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A METHOD FOR PRODUCING A GRADUAL REDUCTION IN VISCOSITY OF AN AQUEOUS GEL SAID METHOD CONSISTING ESSENTIALLU OF INCORPORATING T-BUTYL HYDROPEROXIDE IN SAID AQUEOUS GEL IN A CONCENTRATION SUFFICIENT TO PRODUCE A COMPLETE BREAK OF SAID GEL WITHIN ABOUT 24 HOURS AT A TEMPERATURE OF UP TO ABOUT 300*F, WHEREIN SAID AQUEOUS GEL CONSISTS ESSENTIALLY OF AN AQUEOUS LIQUID, COMPRISING A WATER-ALCOHOL SOLUTION HAVING IN THE RANGE OF ABOUT 0 TO 100 PERCENT ALCOHOL BY VOLUME OF SOLUTION; A GELLING AGENT SELECTED FROM GALACTOMANNAN GUMS AND DERIVATIVES THEREOF, GLUCOMANNAN GUMS AND DERIVATIVES THEREOF, AND CELLULOSE DERIVATIVES HAVING MOLECULAR WEIGHTS OF AT LEAST ABOUT 100,000; AND OPTIONALLY, A SUITABLE CROSSLINKING AGENT PRESENT IN A CONCENTRATION IN THE RANGE OF 0 TO ABOUT 0.5 PERCENT BY WEIGHT OF SAID AQUEOUS LIQUID.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
129 words
A METHOD FOR PRODUCING A GRADUAL REDUCTION IN VISCOSITY OF AN AQUEOUS GEL SAID METHOD CONSISTING ESSENTIALLU OF INCORPORATING T-BUTYL HYDROPEROXIDE IN SAID AQUEOUS GEL IN A CONCENTRATION SUFFICIENT TO PRODUCE A COMPLETE BREAK OF SAID GEL WITHIN ABOUT 24 HOURS AT A TEMPERATURE OF UP TO ABOUT 300*F, WHEREIN SAID AQUEOUS GEL CONSISTS ESSENTIALLY OF AN AQUEOUS LIQUID, COMPRISING A WATER-ALCOHOL SOLUTION HAVING IN THE RANGE OF ABOUT 0 TO 100 PERCENT ALCOHOL BY VOLUME OF SOLUTION; A GELLING AGENT SELECTED FROM GALACTOMANNAN GUMS AND DERIVATIVES THEREOF, GLUCOMANNAN GUMS AND DERIVATIVES THEREOF, AND CELLULOSE DERIVATIVES HAVING MOLECULAR WEIGHTS OF AT LEAST ABOUT 100,000; AND OPTIONALLY, A SUITABLE CROSSLINKING AGENT PRESENT IN A CONCENTRATION IN THE RANGE OF 0 TO ABOUT 0.5 PERCENT BY WEIGHT OF SAID AQUEOUS LIQUID.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said temperature is in the range of about 140*F to about 260*F.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said gelling agent is present in a concentration in the range of about 10 to about 150 pounds per 1,000 gallons of said aqueous liquid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said t-butyl hydroperoxide is present in the range of about 0.0007 to about 50 gallons per 1000 gallons of said aqueous liquid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said alcohol is an alkanol having 1 to 5 carbon atoms and further wherein said alkanol is present in said solution in the range of about 0 to 40 percent by volume.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said crosslinking agent is a compound capable of providing metal ions selected from aluminum(III), boron(III), antimony(III), antimony(V), titanium(II), titanium(IV), chromium(VI), chromium(III), iron(II), iron(III), nickel(II), niobium(V), manganese(VII), arsenic(III), arsenic(V), tantalum(V), tin(II), and lead(II), wherein said compound is present in a concentration in the range of about 0.001 to about 0.5 percent by weight of said aqueous liquid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said crosslinking agent is a compound capable of providing metal ions selected from aluminum(III), boron(III), antimony(V), titanium(IV), and chromium(III), wherein said compound is present in a concentration in the range of about 0.006 to about 0.25 percent by weight of said aqueous liquid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said gelling agent is present in the range of about 25 to 120 pounds per 1,000 gallons of said aqueous liquid and is selected from guar gum, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylhydroxyethylguar and hydroxyethylcellulose.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said t-butyl hydroperoxide is present in the range of about 0.0035 to about 35 gallons per 1, 000 gallons of said aqueous liquid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
The aqueous gel of claim 9 wherein said alkanol is methanol.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said crosslinking agent is a compound selected from potassium pyroantimonate, sodium dichromate, ammonium tetralactotitanate(IV), and bis(triethanolamine)bis(isopropo)-titanium(IV), wherein said compound is present in a concentration in the range of about 0.009 to about 0.1 percent by weight of said aqueous liquid.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-24 | 1979-05-26 | 1979-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-24 | 1983-05-26 | 1983-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-24 | 1987-05-26 | 1987-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |