US5067508A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Activation of water-in-oil emulsions of friction reducing polymers for use in saline fluids
Assignee: ConocoPhillips Co
•
Filing: 1990-11-16
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Granted: 1991-11-26
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Expires: 2010-11-16
Abstract
Abstract Friction loss in a saline liquid flowing through a conduit is reduced by combining fresh water and a water-in-oil emulsion of a water soluble friction reducing polymer, subjecting the combined material to mixing to invert the emulsion and introducing the inverted emulsion directly into the flowing saline liquid. In one aspect the water-in-oil emulsion is combined with saline water containing a surfactant to effect inversion prior to introduction of the combination into the flowing saline liquid.
Inventors
- 👤 Yung N. Lee
- 👤 Fred R. Wiggins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 22:33
CPC Classifications
F; F17; F17D; F17D1/00; F17D1/08; F17D1/16; F17D1/17; C; C09; C09K; C09K2208/00; C09K2208/28; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/0318; Y10T137/0391; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/87571; Y10T137/87652
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
A process for reducing the fluid flow friction loss of a fluid comprising a saline liquid which is being transported through a conduit which comprises: (a) combining a water-in-oil emulsion of a water soluble friction reducing polymer with water; (b) subjecting the combination of water and emulsion to mixing to invert the emulsion; and (c) introducing the inverted emulsion and water directly and continuously into the transported fluid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
68 words
A process for reducing the fluid flow friction loss of a fluid comprising a saline liquid which is being transported through a conduit which comprises: (a) combining a water-in-oil emulsion of a water soluble friction reducing polymer with water; (b) subjecting the combination of water and emulsion to mixing to invert the emulsion; and (c) introducing the inverted emulsion and water directly and continuously into the transported fluid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 1 in which the water soluble polymer is a polyacrylamide polymer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 2 in which the fluid includes hydrocarbon oil.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 3 in which the fluid contains at least 20 percent by volume of saline liquid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 2 in which the aqueous phase of the polymer containing water-in-oil emulsion contains from about 10 to about 50 percent polymer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 5 in which the polymer containing water-in-oil emulsion contains from about 30 to about 95 percent aqueous phase and from about 5 to about 70 percent hydrophobic liquid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
77 words
A process for reducing the fluid flow friction loss of a fluid comprising a saline liquid which is being transported through a conduit which comprises: (a) combining a water-in-oil emulsion of a water soluble friction reducing polymer with between about 2 and about 20 volumes of fresh water; (b) subjecting the combination of water and emulsion to mixing to invert the emulsion; and (c) introducing the inverted emulsion and water directly and continuously into the transported fluid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
77 words
A process for reducing the fluid flow friction loss of a fluid comprising a saline liquid which is being transported through a conduit which comprises: (a) combining a water-in-oil emulsion of a water soluble friction reducing polymer with between about 2 and about 20 volumes of fresh water; (b) subjecting the combination of water and emulsion to mixing to invert the emulsion; and (c) introducing the inverted emulsion and water directly and continuously into the transported fluid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 7 in which the water soluble polymer is a polyacrylamide polymer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 8 in which the fluid includes hydrocarbon oil.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 9 in which the fluid contains at least 20 percent by volume of saline liquid.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 8 in which the aqueous phase of the polymer containing water-in-oil emulsion contains from about 10 to about 50 weight percent polymer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process of claim 11 in which the polymer containing emulsion water-in-oil contains from about 30 to about 95 weight percent aqueous phase and from about 5 to about 70 weight percent hydrophobic liquid.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
79 words
Process for reducing the fluid flow friction loss of a fluid comprising a saline liquid which is being transported through a conduit which comprises: (a) combining saline water with a surfactant; (b) combining a water-in-oil emulsion of a water soluble friction reducing polymer with the combined saline water and surfactant; (c) subjecting the combination of (b) to mixing to invert the emulsion; and (d) introducing the inverted emulsion, surfactant and saline water directly and continuously into the transported fluid.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
79 words
Process for reducing the fluid flow friction loss of a fluid comprising a saline liquid which is being transported through a conduit which comprises: (a) combining saline water with a surfactant; (b) combining a water-in-oil emulsion of a water soluble friction reducing polymer with the combined saline water and surfactant; (c) subjecting the combination of (b) to mixing to invert the emulsion; and (d) introducing the inverted emulsion, surfactant and saline water directly and continuously into the transported fluid.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
The process of claim 13 in which the saline water varies from about 2 to about 20 volumes per volume of emulsion and the amount of surfactant varies from about 2 to about 10 percent by weight based on the saline water.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 13 in which the water soluble polymer is a polyacrylamide polymer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 15 in which the fluid contains hydrocarbon oil.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 16 in which the fluid contains at least 20 percent by volume of saline liquid.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 15 in which the aqueous phase of the polymer containing water-in-oil emulsion contains from about 10 to about 50 weight percent polymer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 18 in which the polymer containing water-in-oil emulsion contains from about 30 to about 95 weight percent aqueous phase and from about 5 to about 70 percent weight percent hydrophobic liquid.
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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) | 1994-11-25 | 1995-05-27 | 1995-11-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-11-25 | 1999-05-27 | 1999-11-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-11-25 | 2003-05-27 | 2003-11-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |