| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20090029878 | DRILLING FLUID, DRILL-IN FLUID, COMPLETITION FLUID, AND WORKOVER FLUID ADDITIVE COMPOSITIONS CONTAINING THERMOSET NANOCOMPOSITE PARTICLES; AND APPLICATIONS FOR FLUID LOSS CONTROL AND WELLBORE STRENGTHENING - In one aspect, this invention relates to the use of thermoset nanocomposite particles as components of drilling fluid, drill-in fluid, completion fluid, and workover fluid additive packages to reduce fluid losses to a formation and/or to enhance a wellbore strength. In another aspect, this invention relates to the use particles of specific gravity ranging from about 0.75 to about 1.75 as components of drilling fluid, drill-in fluid, completion fluid, and workover fluid additive packages to reduce fluid losses to a formation and/or to enhance a wellbore strength. Using embodiments of the invention, reduction of fluid loss and/or enhancement of wellbore strength may be achieved while working with water-based, oil-based, invert emulsion, or synthetic drilling muds. The currently most preferred embodiments of the invention use substantially spherical thermoset nanocomposite particles, possessing a specific gravity from approximately 1.02 to approximately 1.15 wherein the matrix is a terpolymer of styrene, ethylvinylbenzene and divinylbenzene, and wherein carbon black particles possessing a length that is less than about 0.5 microns in at least one principal axis direction are incorporated as a nanofiller. | 01-29-2009 |
| 20090143544 | INTEGRATED CHEMICAL PROCESSES FOR INDUSTRIAL UTILIZATION OF SEED OILS - Integrated processes of preparing industrial chemicals starting from seed oil feedstock compositions containing one or more unsaturated fatty acids or unsaturated fatty acid esters, which are essentially free of metathesis catalyst poisons, particularly hydroperoxides; metathesis of the feedstock composition with a lower olefin, such as ethylene, to form a reduced chain olefin, preferably, a reduced chain α-olefin, and a reduced chain unsaturated acid or ester, preferably, a reduced chain α,ω-unsaturated acid or ester. The reduced chain unsaturated acid or ester may be (trans)esterified to form a polyester polyolefin, which may be epoxidized to form a polyester polyepoxide. The reduced chain unsaturated acid or ester may be hydroformylated with reduction to produce an α,ω-hydroxy acid or α,ω-hydroxy ester, which may be (trans)esterified with a polyol to form an α,ωpolyester polyol. Alternatively, the reduced chain unsaturated acid or ester may be hydroformylated with reductive amination to produce an α,ω-amino acid or α,ω-amino ester, which may be (trans)esterified to form an α,ω-polyester polyamine. | 06-04-2009 |
| 20090250216 | PROPPANTS CONTAINING DISPERSED PIEZOELECTRIC OR MAGNETOSTRICTIVE FILLERS OR MIXTURES THEREOF, TO ENABLE PROPPANT TRACKING AND MONITORING IN A DOWNHOLE ENVIRONMENT - In one aspect, the invention relates to a method for “tagging” proppants so that they can be tracked and monitored in a downhole environment, based on the use of composite proppant compositions containing dispersed fillers whose electromagnetic properties change at a detectable level under a mechanical stress such as the closure stress of a fracture. In another aspect, the invention relates to composite proppant compositions containing dispersed fillers whose electromagnetic properties change under a mechanical stress such as the closure stress of a fracture. The currently preferred embodiments use substantially spherical thermoset nanocomposite particles where the matrix comprises a terpolymer of styrene, ethylvinylbenzene and divinylbenzene, a PZT alloy manifesting a strong piezoelectric effect or Terfenol-D manifesting giant magnetostrictive behavior is incorporated to provide the ability to track in a downhole environment, and carbon black particles possessing a length that is less than 0.5 microns in at least one principal axis direction may optionally be incorporated as a nanofiller. | 10-08-2009 |
| 20090286698 | THERMOSET NANOCOMPOSITE PARTICLES, PROCESSING FOR THEIR PRODUCTION, AND THEIR USE IN OIL AND NATURAL GAS DRILLING APPLICATIONS - Thermoset polymer particles are used in many applications requiring lightweight particles possessing high stiffness, strength, temperature resistance, and/or resistance to aggressive environments. The present invention relates to the use of two different methods, either each by itself or in combination, to enhance the stiffness, strength, maximum possible use temperature, and environmental resistance of such particles. One method is the application of post-polymerization process steps (and especially heat treatment) to advance the curing reaction and to thus obtain a more densely crosslinked polymer network. In general, its main benefits are the enhancement of the maximum possible use temperature and the environmental resistance. The other method is the incorporation of nanofillers, resulting in a heterogeneous “nanocomposite” morphology. In general, its main benefits are increased stiffness and strength. Nanofiller incorporation and post-polymerization heat treatment can also be combined to obtain the benefits of both methods simultaneously. The present invention relates to the development of thermoset nanocomposite particles. It also relates to the optional further improvement of the heat resistance and environmental resistance of said particles via post-polymerization heat treatment. Furthermore, it also relates to processes for the manufacture of said particles. Finally, it also relates to the use of said particles in the construction, drilling, completion and/or fracture stimulation of oil and natural gas wells; for example, as a proppant partial monolayer, a proppant pack, an integral component of a gravel pack completion, a ball bearing, a solid lubricant, a drilling mud constituent, and/or a cement additive. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20090305044 | THERMOSET NANOCOMPOSITE PARTICLES, PROCESSING FOR THEIR PRODUCTION, AND THEIR USE IN OIL AND NATURAL GAS DRILLING APPLICATIONS - Thermoset polymer particles are used in many applications requiring lightweight particles possessing high stiffness, strength, temperature resistance, and/or resistance to aggressive environments. The present invention relates to the use of two different methods, either each by itself or in combination, to enhance the stiffness, strength, maximum possible use temperature, and environmental resistance of such particles. One method is the application of post-polymerization process steps (and especially heat treatment) to advance the curing reaction and to thus obtain a more densely crosslinked polymer network. In general, its main benefits are the enhancement of the maximum possible use temperature and the environmental resistance. The other method is the incorporation of nanofillers, resulting in a heterogeneous “nanocomposite” morphology. In general, its main benefits are increased stiffness and strength. Nanofiller incorporation and post-polymerization heat treatment can also be combined to obtain the benefits of both methods simultaneously. The present invention relates to the development of thermoset nanocomposite particles. It also relates to the optional further improvement of the heat resistance and environmental resistance of said particles via post-polymerization heat treatment. Furthermore, it also relates to processes for the manufacture of said particles. Finally, it also relates to the use of said particles in the construction, drilling, completion and/or fracture stimulation of oil and natural gas wells; for example, as a proppant partial monolayer, a proppant pack, an integral component of a gravel pack completion, a ball bearing, a solid lubricant, a drilling mud constituent, and/or a cement additive. | 12-10-2009 |
| 20100038083 | PROPPANTS COATED BY PIEZOELECTRIC OR MAGNETOSTRICTIVE MATERIALS, OR BY MIXTURES OR COMBINATIONS THEREOF, TO ENABLE THEIR TRACKING IN A DOWNHOLE ENVIRONMENT - A method for “tagging” proppants so that they can be tracked and monitored in a downhole environment, based on the use of composite proppant compositions comprising a particulate substrate coated by a material whose electromagnetic properties change at a detectable level under a mechanical stress such as the closure stress of a fracture. In another aspect, the invention relates to composite proppant compositions comprising coatings whose electromagnetic properties change under a mechanical stress such as the closure stress of a fracture. The substantially spherical composite proppants may comprise a thermoset nanocomposite particulate substrate where the matrix material comprises a terpolymer of styrene, ethylvinylbenzene and divinylbenzene, and carbon black particles possessing a length that is less than 0.5 microns in at least one principal axis direction incorporated as a nanofiller; upon which particulate substrate is placed a coating comprising a PZT alloy manifesting a strong piezoelectric effect or Terfenol-D manifesting giant magnetostrictive behavior to provide the ability to track in a downhole environment. | 02-18-2010 |
| 20100319916 | THERMOSET NANOCOMPOSITE PARTICLES, PROCESSING FOR THEIR PRODUCTION, AND THEIR USE IN OIL AND NATURAL GAS DRILLING APPLICATIONS - Thermoset polymer particles are used in many applications requiring lightweight particles possessing high stiffness, strength, temperature resistance, and/or resistance to aggressive environments. The present invention relates to the use of two different methods, either each by itself or in combination, to enhance the stiffness, strength, maximum possible use temperature, and environmental resistance of such particles. One method is the application of post-polymerization process steps (and especially heat treatment) to advance the curing reaction and to thus obtain a more densely crosslinked polymer network. In general, its main benefits are the enhancement of the maximum possible use temperature and the environmental resistance. The other method is the incorporation of nanofillers, resulting in a heterogeneous “nanocomposite” morphology. In general, its main benefits are increased stiffness and strength. Nanofiller incorporation and post-polymerization heat treatment can also be combined to obtain the benefits of both methods simultaneously. The present invention relates to the development of thermoset nanocomposite particles. It also relates to the optional further improvement of the heat resistance and environmental resistance of said particles via post-polymerization heat treatment. Furthermore, it also relates to processes for the manufacture of said particles. Finally, it also relates to the use of said particles in the construction, drilling, completion and/or fracture stimulation of oil and natural gas wells; for example, as a proppant partial monolayer, a proppant pack, an integral component of a gravel pack completion, a ball bearing, a solid lubricant, a drilling mud constituent, and/or a cement additive. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20110105367 | THERMOSET NANOCOMPOSITE PARTICLES, PROCESSING FOR THEIR PRODUCTION, AND THEIR USE IN OIL AND NATURAL GAS DRILLING APPLICATIONS - Thermoset polymer particles are used in many applications requiring lightweight particles possessing high stiffness, strength, temperature resistance, and/or resistance to aggressive environments. The present invention relates to the use of two different methods, either each by itself or in combination, to enhance the stiffness, strength, maximum possible use temperature, and environmental resistance of such particles. One method is the application of post-polymerization process steps (and especially heat treatment) to advance the curing reaction and to thus obtain a more densely crosslinked polymer network. In general, its main benefits are the enhancement of the maximum possible use temperature and the environmental resistance. The other method is the incorporation of nanofillers, resulting in a heterogeneous “nanocomposite” morphology. In general, its main benefits are increased stiffness and strength. Nanofiller incorporation and post-polymerization heat treatment can also be combined to obtain the benefits of both methods simultaneously. The present invention relates to the development of thermoset nanocomposite particles. It also relates to the optional further improvement of the heat resistance and environmental resistance of said particles via post-polymerization heat treatment. Furthermore, it also relates to processes for the manufacture of said particles. Finally, it also relates to the use of said particles in the construction, drilling, completion and/or fracture stimulation of oil and natural gas wells; for example, as a proppant partial monolayer, a proppant pack, an integral component of a gravel pack completion, a ball bearing, a solid lubricant, a drilling mud constituent, and/or a cement additive. | 05-05-2011 |
