US4236545A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Use of radiation-induced polymers as friction reducing agents
Assignee: Hercules LLC
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Filing: 1977-12-30
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Granted: 1980-12-02
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Expires: 1997-12-30
Abstract
Abstract Drag reduction of fluids containing a water phase, e.g. hydrocarbon-in-water mixture, flowing through a conduit, is reduced by incorporating within the water phase a polymer obtained by radiation-induced polymerization of acrylamide, methacrylamide, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, alkali metal salts thereof, or mixtures thereof. The polymerization is preferably carried out in 10-60% aqueous monomer solution with gamma radiation. The mixture of monomers, before radiation, preferably contains 25-99% acrylamide and 75-1% sodium acrylate. The polymer preferably shows viscoelastic effects at high concentrations in a solvent. Concentrations of about 1-10,000 ppm of the polymer in the water phase is desired. Examples of fluids useful with this invention include hydrocarbon-in-water and water-in-hydrocarbon slurries, the hydrocarbon is preferably comminuted oil shale or coal, congealed particles of crude oil and/or wax, viscous crude oil, etc.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce L. Knight
- 👤 John S. Rhudy
- 👤 William B. Gogarty
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 22:45
CPC Classifications
F; F17; F17D; F17D1/00; F17D1/08; F17D1/16; F17D1/17; C; C09; C09K; C09K3/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/0318; Y10T137/0391
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A process for reducing the fluid flow friction loss of a fluid comprised of a water phase being transported through a conduit, the process comprising admixing with the water phase a polymer obtained as a product of high energy ionization radiation polymerication of an adqeous solution consisting essentially of about 40 to about 90% of water and about 10 to about 60% by weight of at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylamide, methacrylamide, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, alkali metal acrylate, alkali metal methacrylate and mixtures thereof, the radiation intensity being about 250 to about 1,000,000 rads/hr and the radiation dose being about 500 rads to about 300,000 rads, the polymer being present in sufficient concentration and having sufficient property to reduce the fluid flow friction loss, and thereafter transporting the fluid in the conduit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
A process for reducing the fluid flow friction loss of a fluid comprised of a water phase being transported through a conduit, the process comprising admixing with the water phase a polymer obtained as a product of high energy ionization radiation polymerication of an adqeous solution consisting essentially of about 40 to about 90% of water and about 10 to about 60% by weight of at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylamide, methacrylamide, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, alkali metal acrylate, alkali metal methacrylate and mixtures thereof, the radiation intensity being about 250 to about 1,000,000 rads/hr and the radiation dose being about 500 rads to about 300,000 rads, the polymer being present in sufficient concentration and having sufficient property to reduce the fluid flow friction loss, and thereafter transporting the fluid in the conduit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the polymer is present in concentrations of about 1 to about 10,000 ppm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the polymer is a homopolymer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the polymer is a copolymer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 4 wherein one of the monomers used to obtain the copolymer is sodium acrylate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 4 wherein one of the monomers used to obtain the copolymer is acrylamide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
10 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the fluid contains hydrocarbon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 7 wherein the hydrocarbon is comminuted oil shale, comminuted coal, crude oil, congealed wax, congealed wax and a partially refined fraction of crude oil, or a combination thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the polymer is a copolymer obtained by copolymerizing acrylamide and sodium acrylate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the radiation intensity is within the range of about 1,000 to about 300,000 rads/hr.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the radiation dose is within the range of about 1,000 to about 100,000 rads.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the aqueous medium is at a pH within the range of about 3 to about 13.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the pH of the aqueous medium is within the range of about 8 to about 11.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the fluid is transported in the conduit under substantially turbulent flow.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the external phase is used as a veneer around a viscous fluid.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the concentration of the water phase in the fluid is at least 20% by volume.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the fluid is transported in the conduit under flow conditions characterized by a Reynolds Number of at least 2,000.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the water phase is the internal phase of the fluid.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the water phase is the external phase of the fluid.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
146 words
A process of reducing the fluid flow friction loss of a water and hydrocarbon mixture containing at least 20% by volume water being transported in a conduit under substantially turbulent flow conditions, the process comprising admixing with the water phase about 1 to about 10,000 ppm of at least a substantially water-soluble copolymer obtained as a product of radiation polymerization of an aqueous solution consisting essentially of about 40% to about 90% water and about 10% to about 60% of a mixture of about 25 to about 99% acrylamide and about 75% to about 1% sodium acrylate, the radiation intensity being within the range of about 250 to about 1,000,000 rads/hr and the dosage being within the range of about 500 to about 300,000 rads, the copolymer having sufficient property to reduce the fluid flow friction loss, and thereafter transporting the crude oil in the conduit.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
146 words
A process of reducing the fluid flow friction loss of a water and hydrocarbon mixture containing at least 20% by volume water being transported in a conduit under substantially turbulent flow conditions, the process comprising admixing with the water phase about 1 to about 10,000 ppm of at least a substantially water-soluble copolymer obtained as a product of radiation polymerization of an aqueous solution consisting essentially of about 40% to about 90% water and about 10% to about 60% of a mixture of about 25 to about 99% acrylamide and about 75% to about 1% sodium acrylate, the radiation intensity being within the range of about 250 to about 1,000,000 rads/hr and the dosage being within the range of about 500 to about 300,000 rads, the copolymer having sufficient property to reduce the fluid flow friction loss, and thereafter transporting the crude oil in the conduit.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 20 wherein the radiation is gamma radiation.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 20 wherein the water phase is the external phase of the mixture.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
161 words
A process for reducing the fluid flow friction loss in the transportation of a water-external slurry containing hydrocarbon and wherein the slurry is transported in a conduit at a Reynolds Number of at least 2,000, the process comprising incorporating into the water phase of the slurry about 1 to about 10,000 ppm of a water-soluble polymer obtained as a product of high energy ionization radiation polymerization of an aqueous solution consisting essentially of about 40 to about 90% water and about 10 to about 60% by weight of at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylamide, methacrylamide, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, alkali metal acrylate, alkali metal methacrylate, and mixtures thereof, the radiation intensity being about 250 to about 1,000,000 rads/hr and the radiation dose being about 500 rads to about 300,000 rads, the polymer being present in sufficient concentration and having sufficient property to reduce the fluid flow friction loss, and thereafter transporting the fluid in the conduit.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
161 words
A process for reducing the fluid flow friction loss in the transportation of a water-external slurry containing hydrocarbon and wherein the slurry is transported in a conduit at a Reynolds Number of at least 2,000, the process comprising incorporating into the water phase of the slurry about 1 to about 10,000 ppm of a water-soluble polymer obtained as a product of high energy ionization radiation polymerization of an aqueous solution consisting essentially of about 40 to about 90% water and about 10 to about 60% by weight of at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylamide, methacrylamide, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, alkali metal acrylate, alkali metal methacrylate, and mixtures thereof, the radiation intensity being about 250 to about 1,000,000 rads/hr and the radiation dose being about 500 rads to about 300,000 rads, the polymer being present in sufficient concentration and having sufficient property to reduce the fluid flow friction loss, and thereafter transporting the fluid in the conduit.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 23 wherein the polymer is a copolymer obtained by copolymerizing acrylamide and sodium acrylate.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 23 wherein the aqueous medium is at a pH within the range of about 3 to about 13.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 23 wherein the hydrocarbon is comminuted oil shale.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 23 wherein the hydrocarbon is comminuted coal.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 23 wherein the hydrocarbon is a viscous crude oil having a pour point above about 50° F.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 23 wherein the hydrocarbon is congealed wax.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3472769A
Cited
US3681215A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-12-02 | 1984-06-02 | 1984-12-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-12-02 | 1988-06-02 | 1988-12-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-12-02 | 1992-06-02 | 1992-12-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |