US6126872A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Microencapsulated drag reducing agents
Assignee: Baker Hughes Holdings LLC
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Filing: 1998-01-27
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Granted: 2000-10-03
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Expires: 2018-01-27
Abstract
Abstract High concentration drag reducing agents may be prepared by microencapsulating polymer drag reducing agent. The microencapsulation may be performed prior to, during, or after the polymerization of monomer into effective drag reducing polymer. If encapsulation is done before or during polymerization, a catalyst may be present, but little or no solvent is required. The result is very small scale bulk polymerization within the microcapsule. The inert capsule or shell may be removed before, during or after introduction of the microencapsulated drag reducer into a flowing liquid. No injection probes or other special equipment is expected to be required to introduce the drag reducing slurry into the liquid stream, nor is grinding (cryogenic otherwise) of the polymer necessary to form a suitable drag reducing agent.
Inventors
- 👤 Nagesh S. Kommareddi
- 👤 Lawrence J. Rzeznik
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 13:44
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/60; C09K8/92; B; B01; B01J; B01J13/00; B01J13/02; B01J13/04; B01J13/06; B01J13/14; B01J13/18; E; E21; E21B; E21B37/00; E21B37/06; E21B41/00; E21B41/02; F; F17; F17D; F17D1/00; F17D1/08; F17D1/16; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/0318; Y10T137/0391
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
58 words
A microencapsulated compound for modifying a characteristic of a fluid, comprising: a core comprising the compound selected from the group consisting of: polymers formed within the shell; and monomers which are polymerized within the shell, where the shell is inert to the monomer polymerization; and a shell encapsulating the core, where the shell is inert to the core.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
58 words
A microencapsulated compound for modifying a characteristic of a fluid, comprising: a core comprising the compound selected from the group consisting of: polymers formed within the shell; and monomers which are polymerized within the shell, where the shell is inert to the monomer polymerization; and a shell encapsulating the core, where the shell is inert to the core.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
The microencapsulated compound of claim 1 where the compound is selected from the group consisting of: compounds for modifying physical characteristics of the fluid, where the physical characteristics are selected from the group consisting of: viscosity; flow resistance (drag); and surface activity; and compounds for modifying chemical characteristics of the fluid, where the chemical characteristics are selected from the group consisting of: corrosivity; scale formation; polymerization; inhibition of polymerization; and pH.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The microencapsulated compound of claim 1 where the compound is a drag reducing agent that modifies the flow resistance of the fluid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The microencapsulated compound of claim 1 where the greatest outside dimension thereof is about 1000 microns or less.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
142 words
A microencapsulated compound for modifying a characteristic of a fluid, comprising: a core comprising the compound, where the compound is selected from the group consisting of polymers formed within the shell; and monomers which are polymerized within the shell, where the shell is inert to the monomer polymerization; and where the compound is further selected from the group consisting of compounds for modifying physical characteristics of the fluid, where the physical characteristics are selected from the group consisting of: viscosity; flow resistance (drag); and surface activity; and compounds for modifying chemical characteristics of the fluid, where the chemical characteristics are selected from the group consisting of: corrosivity; scale formation; polymerization; inhibition of polymerization; and pH; a shell encapsulating the core, where the shell is inert to the core, where the greatest outside dimension of the shell is about 1000 microns or less.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
142 words
A microencapsulated compound for modifying a characteristic of a fluid, comprising: a core comprising the compound, where the compound is selected from the group consisting of polymers formed within the shell; and monomers which are polymerized within the shell, where the shell is inert to the monomer polymerization; and where the compound is further selected from the group consisting of compounds for modifying physical characteristics of the fluid, where the physical characteristics are selected from the group consisting of: viscosity; flow resistance (drag); and surface activity; and compounds for modifying chemical characteristics of the fluid, where the chemical characteristics are selected from the group consisting of: corrosivity; scale formation; polymerization; inhibition of polymerization; and pH; a shell encapsulating the core, where the shell is inert to the core, where the greatest outside dimension of the shell is about 1000 microns or less.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
A microencapsulated drag reducing agent (MDRA) for reducing drag in a liquid stream comprising: a core reaction material comprising a monomer; and a shell encapsulating the core reaction material, where the shell is inert to the monomer polymerization; where the diameter of the MDRA is 1000 microns or less, and where the monomer is polymerized within the shell.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
A microencapsulated drag reducing agent (MDRA) for reducing drag in a liquid stream comprising: a core reaction material comprising a monomer; and a shell encapsulating the core reaction material, where the shell is inert to the monomer polymerization; where the diameter of the MDRA is 1000 microns or less, and where the monomer is polymerized within the shell.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The MDRA of claim 6 where the monomer is an alpha-olefin.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The MDRA of claim 6 where the core reaction material has an absence of solvent for the monomer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The MDRA of claim 6 where the core reaction material further comprises a catalyst to polymerize the monomer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The MDRA of claim 9 where the monomer is an alpha-olefin, and the catalyst is a Ziegler-Natta catalyst.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The MDRA of claim/where the shell is coated with an anti-agglomeration agent.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
The MDRA of claim 6 where the core reaction material is encapsulated by the shell using a microencapsulation process selected from the group consisting of stationary extrusion, centrifugal extrusion, vibrating nozzle, submerged nozzle extrusion, rotating disk, interfacial polymerization, complex coacervation, suspension polymerization, and in situ polymerization.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The MDRA of claim 6 where the shell is soluble in a delivery medium to be introduced into the liquid stream.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The MDRA of claim 6 where the shell is selected from the group of materials consisting of polybutylene, polymethacrylates, waxes, polyethylene glycol (PEG), methoxylated PEG, polyethylene oxide, stearic acid, and polyethylene waxes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The MDRA of claim 6 where the monomer is polymerized using UV radiation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
87 words
A microencapsulated drag reducing agent (MDRA) for reducing drag in a liquid stream, where the MDRA is produced by a process comprising: providing a slurry of drag reducing polymer particles in a liquid which is a non-solvent for the polymer particles; adding to the slurry a shell material for which the liquid is also a non-solvent; forming shells around the polymer particles using the shell material; and removing at least a portion of the non-solvent liquid; where the diameter of the MDRA is 1000 microns or less.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
87 words
A microencapsulated drag reducing agent (MDRA) for reducing drag in a liquid stream, where the MDRA is produced by a process comprising: providing a slurry of drag reducing polymer particles in a liquid which is a non-solvent for the polymer particles; adding to the slurry a shell material for which the liquid is also a non-solvent; forming shells around the polymer particles using the shell material; and removing at least a portion of the non-solvent liquid; where the diameter of the MDRA is 1000 microns or less.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The MDRA of claim 16 where the core material comprises from about 80 to 100% polymer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
10 words
The MDRA of claim 16 where the polymer is polyalpha-olefin.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The MDRA of claim 16 where the shell is coated with an anti-agglomeration agent.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The MDRA of claim 16 where the microencapsulation process to make the MDRA is selected from the group consisting of rotating disk, interfacial polymerization, complex coacervation, and suspension polymerization.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The MDRA of claim 16 where the shell is soluble in a delivery medium.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
The MDRA of claim 16 where the shell is select from the group of materials consisting of polybutylene, polymethacrylates, waxes, polyethylene glycol (PEG), methoxylated PEG, polyethylene oxide, stearic acid, and polyethylene waxes.
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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) | 2003-10-03 | 2004-04-03 | 2004-10-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-10-03 | 2008-04-03 | 2008-10-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-10-03 | 2012-04-03 | 2012-10-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |