Polymers useful in the recovery and processing of natural resources
US6030928A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 28, 1992 |
| Grant date | Feb 29, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 28, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S507/936
- WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The soluble polymers comprising an N-vinyl amide such as an N-vinyl lactam are found to be useful in processes wherein the polymer is introduced into a subterranean wellbore. Polymers useful in the recovery of natural resources are prepared by polymerizing an N-vinyl lactam by free radical initiation with polymerization conducted in an aqueous solution polymerization medium preferably containing a mixture of dissolved electrolytes, or in a polymerization medium consisting essentially of a tertiary alkanol. Copolymers of such N-vinyl lactams with unsaturated amides, and terpolymers prepared by polymerizing an N-vinyl lactam and an unsaturated amide with a selected termonomer compound are also useful when prepared by these methods. The invention also broadly encompasses utilizing a water-soluble polymer comprising at least one of a hydrophilic vinyl-containing sulfonate, phosphonate or ester and/or a hydrophilic N-vinyl lactam for applications under hostile conditions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.