US4442011A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Drilling mud viscosification agents based on sulfonated ionomers
Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Co
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Filing: 1981-12-21
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Granted: 1984-04-10
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Expires: 2001-12-21
Abstract
Abstract A new family of viscosification agents based on sulfonated ionomers is described for oil-based drilling muds. The resultant muds display good viscosity characteristics and good stability when formulated from ionomers having an appropriate sulfonate level, cation type, and cosolvent content.
Inventors
- 👤 Warren A. Thaler
- 👤 Thad O. Walker
- 👤 Robert D. Lundberg
- 👤 Joseph Wagensommer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 11:19
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/02; C09K8/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
An oil based drilling mud which comprises: (a) a liquid hydrocarbon; (b) about 1 to about 10 parts by weight of water per 100 parts by weight of the liquid hydrocarbon; (c) about 20 to about 50 lb/bbl of at least one emulsifier; (d) weighting material of sufficient quantity necessary to achieve the desired density; and (e) about 0.25 to about 2 lb/bbl of a neutralized sulfonated ethylene/propylene/5-phenyl-2-norbornene terpolymer, said neutralized sulfonated polymer having about 5 to about 30 meq. of sulfonate groups per 100 grams of the neutralized sulfonated polymer, said terpolymer having about 0.5 to about 20 wt.% of said 5-phenyl-2-norbornene and said terpolymer having a number average molecular weight of about 5,000 to 300,000.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
An oil based drilling mud which comprises: (a) a liquid hydrocarbon; (b) about 1 to about 10 parts by weight of water per 100 parts by weight of the liquid hydrocarbon; (c) about 20 to about 50 lb/bbl of at least one emulsifier; (d) weighting material of sufficient quantity necessary to achieve the desired density; and (e) about 0.25 to about 2 lb/bbl of a neutralized sulfonated ethylene/propylene/5-phenyl-2-norbornene terpolymer, said neutralized sulfonated polymer having about 5 to about 30 meq. of sulfonate groups per 100 grams of the neutralized sulfonated polymer, said terpolymer having about 0.5 to about 20 wt.% of said 5-phenyl-2-norbornene and said terpolymer having a number average molecular weight of about 5,000 to 300,000.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
An oil-based drilling mud according to claim 1 wherein said emulsifier is a magnesium or calcium soap of a fatty acid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
An oil-based drilling mud according to claim 1 further including a wetting agent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
An oil-based drilling mud according to claim 3 wherein said wetting agent is an alkylaryl sulfonate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
An oil-based drilling mud according to claim 1 wherein said weighting material is barite or barium sulfate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
An oil-based drilling mud according to claims 1 or 5 wherein said sulfonate groups are neutralized with a counterion selected from the group consisting of ammonium, amines, antimony, iron, aluminum, lead and Groups I-A, II-A, I-B and II-B of the Periodic Table of Elements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
An oil-based drilling mud according to claims 1 or 5 further including a polar cosolvent having a solubility parameter of at least 8.5.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
An oil-based drilling mud according to claim 7, wherein said cosolvent is an aliphatic alcohol.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
An oil-based drilling mud according to claim 1 or 5 further including a polar cosolvent having a solubility parameter of at least 9.0.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-04-10 | 1987-10-10 | 1988-04-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-04-10 | 1991-10-10 | 1992-04-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-04-10 | 1995-10-10 | 1996-04-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |