US4582614A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Compositions and method for thickening aqueous brines
Assignee: Baroid Technology Inc
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Filing: 1983-04-11
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Granted: 1986-04-15
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Expires: 2003-04-11
Abstract
Abstract A polymeric composition useful in the thickening of aqueous brines comprising hydroxyethyl cellulose, a water miscible organic liquid and an aqueous liquid.
Inventors
- 👤 Roy F. House
- 👤 Lonnie D. Hoover
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 21:31
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08L; C08L1/00; C08L1/08; C08L1/26; C08L1/28; C08L1/284; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/02; C09K8/04; C09K8/06; C09K8/08; C09K8/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A polymeric composition useful for thickening aqueous brines comprising from about 5 to about 30% by weight of hydroxyethyl cellulose, a water soluble organic liquid in an amount of at least about 40% by weight, and from about 3 to about 40% by weight of an aqueous solution or suspension of a basic material selected from the group consisting of alkali metal hydroxides, ammonium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, magnesium oxide and mixtures therof, the concentration of the basic material dissolved in said solution or suspension being less than about 3.0N, wherein said organic liquid, when uniformly mixed with said hydroxyethyl cellulose in a weight ratio of hydroxyethyl cellulose to organic liquid of 1:2, produces a mixture with free liquid present after remaining quiescent for one week at ambient temperature in a sealed container.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
A polymeric composition useful for thickening aqueous brines comprising from about 5 to about 30% by weight of hydroxyethyl cellulose, a water soluble organic liquid in an amount of at least about 40% by weight, and from about 3 to about 40% by weight of an aqueous solution or suspension of a basic material selected from the group consisting of alkali metal hydroxides, ammonium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, magnesium oxide and mixtures therof, the concentration of the basic material dissolved in said solution or suspension being less than about 3.0N, wherein said organic liquid, when uniformly mixed with said hydroxyethyl cellulose in a weight ratio of hydroxyethyl cellulose to organic liquid of 1:2, produces a mixture with free liquid present after remaining quiescent for one week at ambient temperature in a sealed container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The composition of claim 1 wherein said organic liquid has a carbon to oxygen ratio of less than about 6.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The composition of claim 1 wherein said organic liquid comprises isopropanol.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The composition of claim 1 wherein said organic liquid is soluble in a brine having a density of at least 11.7 ppg.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
136 words
A well servicing fluid comprising: an aqueous brine; and a polymeric composition comprising from about 5 to about 30% by weight of hydroxyethyl cellulose, a water soluble organic liquid in an amount of at least about 40% by weight, and from about 3 to about 40% by weight of an aqueous solution or suspension of a basic material selected from the group consisting of alkali metal hydroxides, ammonium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, magnesium oxide and mixtures therof, the concentration of the basic material dissolved in said solution or suspension being less than about 3.0N, wherein said organic liquid, when uniformly mixed with said hydroxyethyl cellulose in a weight ratio of hydroxyethyl cellulose to organic liquid of 1:2, produces a mixture with free liquid present after remaining quiescent for one week at ambient temperature in a sealed container.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
136 words
A well servicing fluid comprising: an aqueous brine; and a polymeric composition comprising from about 5 to about 30% by weight of hydroxyethyl cellulose, a water soluble organic liquid in an amount of at least about 40% by weight, and from about 3 to about 40% by weight of an aqueous solution or suspension of a basic material selected from the group consisting of alkali metal hydroxides, ammonium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, magnesium oxide and mixtures therof, the concentration of the basic material dissolved in said solution or suspension being less than about 3.0N, wherein said organic liquid, when uniformly mixed with said hydroxyethyl cellulose in a weight ratio of hydroxyethyl cellulose to organic liquid of 1:2, produces a mixture with free liquid present after remaining quiescent for one week at ambient temperature in a sealed container.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The fluid of claim 5 wherein said aqueous brine comprises a solution of at least one water soluble salt of a multivalent metal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The fluid of claim 5 wherein said aqueous brine has a density greater than about 11.7 ppg.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The fluid of claim 6 wherein said water soluble salt is selected from the group consisting of calcium chloride, calcium brommide, zinc chloride, zinc bromide, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The fluid of claim 5 wherein the density of said aqueous brine is from about 12.0 ppg to about 19.2 ppg.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The composition of claim 5 wherein said organic liquid has a carbon to oxygen ratio of less than about 6.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
11 words
The composition of claim 5 wherein said organic liquid comprises isopropanol.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The composition of claim 9 wherein said organic liquid is soluble in a brine solution having a density of at least 11.7 ppg.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
149 words
A method of preparing a well servicing fluid comprising: forming a generally uniform polymeric composition by admixing from about 5 to about 30% by weight of hydroxyethyl cellulose, a water soluble organic liquid in an amount of at least about 40% by weight, and from about 3 to about 40% by weight of an aqueous solution or suspension of a basic material selected from the group consisting of alkali metal hydroxides, ammonium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, magnesium oxide and mixtures therof, the concentration of said basic material dissolved in said solution or suspension being less than about 3.0N, wherein said organic liquid, when uniformly mixed with said hydroxyethyl cellulose in a weight ratio of hydroxyethyl cellulose to organic liquid of 1:2, produces a mixture with free liquid present after remaining quiescent for one week at ambient temperature in a sealed container; and admixing said polymeric composition with an aqueous brine.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
149 words
A method of preparing a well servicing fluid comprising: forming a generally uniform polymeric composition by admixing from about 5 to about 30% by weight of hydroxyethyl cellulose, a water soluble organic liquid in an amount of at least about 40% by weight, and from about 3 to about 40% by weight of an aqueous solution or suspension of a basic material selected from the group consisting of alkali metal hydroxides, ammonium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, magnesium oxide and mixtures therof, the concentration of said basic material dissolved in said solution or suspension being less than about 3.0N, wherein said organic liquid, when uniformly mixed with said hydroxyethyl cellulose in a weight ratio of hydroxyethyl cellulose to organic liquid of 1:2, produces a mixture with free liquid present after remaining quiescent for one week at ambient temperature in a sealed container; and admixing said polymeric composition with an aqueous brine.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said polymeric composition is aged prior to admixing with said aqueous brine.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The fluid of claim 13 wherein said aqueous brine comprises a solution of at least one water soluble salt of a multivalent metal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The fluid of claim 15 wherein said aqueous brine has a density greater than about 11.7 ppg.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The fluid of claim 16 wherein said water soluble salt is selected from the group consisting of calcium chloride, calcium bromide, zinc chloride, zinc bromide, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The fluid of claim 13 wherein the density of said aqueous brine is from about 12.0 ppg to about 19.2 ppg.
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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) | 1989-04-14 | 1989-10-14 | 1990-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-04-14 | 1993-10-14 | 1994-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-04-14 | 1997-10-14 | 1998-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |