US5539044A — Slurry drag reducer

Claim 1

Independent Claim 183 words

A process for improving flow of a flowing stream comprised of hydrocarbons comprising: introducing into the stream a stable nonagglomerating suspension which comprises: (a) water, (b) dispersed in the water, and insoluble therein, a finely divided, non-crystalline, ultra-high molecular weight, hydrocarbon soluble, polyalkene having 2 to about 30 carbon atoms per alkene precursor and an inherent viscosity of at least about 20 dL/g, and (c) surfactant having a HLB of at least about 9 in a concentration of from about 0.05 to about 1 percent by weight based on total suspension weight; wherein the finely divided polyalkene is prepared by: (d) combining at least one alkene containing from 2 to about 30 carbon atoms with a polymerization catalyst in the substantially complete absence of oxygen and water, (e) polymerizing the alkene at a temperature suitable for production of non-crystalline, ultra-high molecular weight polyalkene for a time sufficient to obtain such polyalkene, (f) cooling the obtained polyalkene to a cryogenic temperature, and (g) reducing the obtained polyalkene to a finely divided state at a cryogenic temperature below the glass transition temperature of the polyalkene.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 183 words

A process for improving flow of a flowing stream comprised of hydrocarbons comprising: introducing into the stream a stable nonagglomerating suspension which comprises: (a) water, (b) dispersed in the water, and insoluble therein, a finely divided, non-crystalline, ultra-high molecular weight, hydrocarbon soluble, polyalkene having 2 to about 30 carbon atoms per alkene precursor and an inherent viscosity of at least about 20 dL/g, and (c) surfactant having a HLB of at least about 9 in a concentration of from about 0.05 to about 1 percent by weight based on total suspension weight; wherein the finely divided polyalkene is prepared by: (d) combining at least one alkene containing from 2 to about 30 carbon atoms with a polymerization catalyst in the substantially complete absence of oxygen and water, (e) polymerizing the alkene at a temperature suitable for production of non-crystalline, ultra-high molecular weight polyalkene for a time sufficient to obtain such polyalkene, (f) cooling the obtained polyalkene to a cryogenic temperature, and (g) reducing the obtained polyalkene to a finely divided state at a cryogenic temperature below the glass transition temperature of the polyalkene.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 13 words

The process of claim 1 wherein the polyalkene is prepared by bulk polymerization.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 16 words

The process of claim 1 wherein the polyalkene is prepared by solution polymerization followed by drying.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 13 words

The process of claim 1 wherein the stream comprised of hydrocarbons is petroleum.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 36 words

The process of claim 1 wherein the polyalkene comprises from about 10 to about 40 percent of the total suspension weight and the surfactant comprises about 0.05 to about 1 percent of the total suspension weight.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 31 words

The process of claim 1 wherein the suspension also comprises from about 0.5 to about 30 percent by weight of a mono- or multi-hydroxy alcohol which is substantially soluble in water.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 35 words

The process of claim 6 wherein the alcohol has the formula R(OH)n, wherein R is an alkyl radical having 1 to about 6 carbon atoms and n is an integer of 1 to about 4.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 18 words

The process of claim 5 wherein the surfactant has an HLB of from about 9 to about 15.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 40 words

The process of claim 8 wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of organic ammonium phosphates, ethylene oxide condensates, ethoxylated alcohols, alkyl aryl polyetheralcohols, alkylphenol hydroxypolyoxyethylenes, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate, polyethylene glycol ethers of linear alcohols and octylphenoxy polyethoxyethanol.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 14 words

The process of claim 8 wherein the suspension additionally contains a polymeric thickening agent.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 39 words

The process of claim 10 wherein the polymeric thickening agent is a water soluble polymeric thickening agent selected from the group consisting of guar gum, guar gum derivatives, hydroxymethyl cellulose, xanthan gums, polyacrylamides, hydroxypropyl cellulose, modified starches, and polysaccharides.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 169 words

A stable nonagglomerating suspension suitable for improving flow of a flowing stream comprised of hydrocarbons upon introduction thereinto which comprises: (a) water, (b) highly dispersed in the water, and substantially insoluble therein, an extremely finely divided, non-crystalline, ultra-high molecular weight, hydrocarbon soluble, undegraded, polyalkene having 2 to about 30 carbon atoms per alkene precursor and an inherent viscosity of at least about 20 dL/g, and (c) a surfactant having a HLB of at least about 9, wherein the finely divided polyalkene is prepared by: (d) combining at least one alkene containing from 2 to about 30 carbon atoms with a polymerization catalyst in the substantially complete absence of oxygen and water (e) polymerizing the alkene at a temperature suitable for production of non-crystalline, ultra-high molecular weight polyalkene for a time sufficient to obtain such polyalkene, (f) cooling the obtained polyalkene to a cryogenic temperature, and (g) reducing the obtained polyalkene to a finely divided state at a cryogenic temperature below the glass transition temperature of the drag reducing polyalkene.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 169 words

A stable nonagglomerating suspension suitable for improving flow of a flowing stream comprised of hydrocarbons upon introduction thereinto which comprises: (a) water, (b) highly dispersed in the water, and substantially insoluble therein, an extremely finely divided, non-crystalline, ultra-high molecular weight, hydrocarbon soluble, undegraded, polyalkene having 2 to about 30 carbon atoms per alkene precursor and an inherent viscosity of at least about 20 dL/g, and (c) a surfactant having a HLB of at least about 9, wherein the finely divided polyalkene is prepared by: (d) combining at least one alkene containing from 2 to about 30 carbon atoms with a polymerization catalyst in the substantially complete absence of oxygen and water (e) polymerizing the alkene at a temperature suitable for production of non-crystalline, ultra-high molecular weight polyalkene for a time sufficient to obtain such polyalkene, (f) cooling the obtained polyalkene to a cryogenic temperature, and (g) reducing the obtained polyalkene to a finely divided state at a cryogenic temperature below the glass transition temperature of the drag reducing polyalkene.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 13 words

The suspension of claim 12 wherein the stream comprised of hydrocarbons is petroleum.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 35 words

The suspension of claim 12 wherein the polyalkene comprises from about 10 to about 40 percent of the total suspension weight and the surfactant comprises about 0.05 to about 1 percent of the suspension weight.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 35 words

The suspension of claim 10 wherein the alcohol has the formula R(OH)n, wherein R is an alkyl radical having 1 to about 6 carbon atoms and n is an integer of 1 to about 4.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 18 words

The suspension of claim 14 wherein the surfactant has an HLB of from about 9 to about 15.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 40 words

The suspension of claim 16 wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of organic ammonium phosphates, ethylene oxide condensates, ethoxylated alcohols, alkyl aryl polyetheralcohols, alkylphenol hydroxypolyoxyethylenes, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate, polyethylene glycol ethers of linear alcohols and octylphenoxy polyethoxyethanol.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 14 words

The suspension of claim 16 wherein the suspension additionally contains a polymeric thickening agent.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 39 words

The suspension of claim 18 wherein the polymeric thickening agent is a water soluble polymeric thickening agent selected from the group consisting of guar gum, guar gum derivatives, hydroxymethyl cellulose, xanthan gums, polyacrylamides, hydroxypropyl cellulose, modified starches, and polysaccharides.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-07-23	2000-01-22	2000-07-23	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-07-23	2004-01-22	2004-07-23	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-07-23	2008-01-22	2008-07-23	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Slurry drag reducer

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