Method of analysis of polymerizable monomeric species in a complex mixture

1. A method of selective quantitation of a polymerizable monomeric species in well spacer fluid, said method comprising adding at least one solvent having a refractive index of less than about 1.33 to a sample of the well spacer fluid to produce a solvent phase, measuring the refractive index of the solvent phase, and thereafter using the well spacer fluid with a drilled well.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solvent is a simple alcohol.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the simple alcohol is methanol.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solvent is substantially free of methanol.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymerizable monomeric species is an acrylate monomer.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymerizable monomeric species is selected from the group consisting of methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, methacrylic acid, acrylamide, n-vinyl pyrrolidone, N-butylurethane-O-ethyl acrylate, methyl ether polyethylene glycol monomethacrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, styrene, and mixtures thereof.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the polymerizable monomeric species is methyl methacrylate.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the well spacer fluid further comprises a polymer comprised of the polymerizable monomeric species, wherein said polymer is substantially insoluble in the solvent phase.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of poly(methylmethacrylate), poly(methacrylic acid), polystyrene, and mixtures thereof.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the polymer is poly(methylmethacrylate).

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the well spacer fluid is a shrinking spacer fluid comprising at least one additional component selected from the group consisting of an initiator, an inhibitor, an emulsifier, a viscosifier, a weighing agent, and combinations thereof.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the well spacer fluid is a water control fluid.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the refractive index of the solvent phase is from about 1.33 to about 1.43.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the refractive index is measured by means of a handheld refractometer.

15. A method of selective quantitation of a polymerizable monomeric species in well spacer fluid, said method comprising

a) adding at least one solvent having a refractive index of less than about 1.33 to a first sample of the well spacer fluid to produce a first solvent phase;

b) adding the same solvent to a second sample of the well spacer fluid to produce a second solvent phase;

c) measuring a first refractive index of the first solvent phase at a first timepoint;

d) measuring a second refractive index of the second sample at a second timepoint;

e) using the first refractive index and the second refractive index to calculate a rate of polymerization of the monomeric species, and thereafter

f) using the well spacer fluid with a drilled well.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the solvent comprises methanol.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the polymerizable monomeric species is methyl methacrylate.

18. A method of selective quantitation of a polymerizable acrylate monomer in a complex mixture comprising a polymer comprised of the acrylate monomer, comprising adding at least one solvent having a refractive index of less than about 1.33 to a sample of the complex mixture to produce a solvent phase, measuring the refractive index of the solvent phase, and thereafter using the well spacer fluid with a drilled well.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the complex mixture is well spacer fluid, a water control fluid, or a combination thereof.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the solvent comprises methanol.

21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of using the well spacer fluid with a drilled well comprises inserting the well spacer fluid into a well shaft.

22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of using the well spacer fluid with a drilled well comprises trapping the well spacer fluid in well casing below a well head.

23. The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of using the well spacer fluid with a drilled well comprises inserting the well spacer fluid into a well shaft.

24. The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of using the well spacer fluid with a drilled well comprises trapping the well spacer fluid in well casing below a well head.

25. The method of claim 18 , wherein the step of using the well spacer fluid with a drilled well comprises inserting the well spacer fluid into a well shaft.

26. The method of claim 18 , wherein the step of using the well spacer fluid with a drilled well comprises trapping the well spacer fluid in well casing below a well head.