Disperse non-polyalphaolefin drag reducing polymers
View Patent ↗A drag reducing composition comprising at least one non-polyalphaolefin polymer having an average particle size in the range of from about 5 to about 800 micrometers. The non-polyalphaolefin polymer can initially be formed via emulsion polymerization. The initial polymer particles can then be at least partially consolidated and then reduced in size and suspended in a carrier fluid. The resulting drag reducing composition can be added to a hydrocarbon-containing fluid to decrease the pressure drop associated with the turbulent flow of the hydrocarbon-containing fluid through a conduit.
1. A drag reducer comprising a plurality of particles comprising:
a first non-polyalphaolefin latex polymer, wherein at least a portion of said particles are dispersed in a carrier fluid, wherein said polymer has a weight average molecular weight of at least about 1×10 6 g/mol, wherein said particles are modified from an initial particle size to a finely divided state and have an average particle size in the range of from 20 to 400 micrometers; and
a second non-polyalphaolefin latex polymer drag reducing polymer having an average particle size of less than about 1 micrometer.
2. The drag reducer of claim 1 , wherein said first non-polyalphaolefin latex polymer has a weight average molecular weight of at least about 2×10 6 g/mol.
3. The drag reducer of claim 1 , wherein said first non-polyalphaolefin latex polymer has a weight average molecular weight of at least 5×10 6 g/mol.
4. The drag reducer of claim 1 , wherein said first non-polyalphaolefin latex polymer comprises the residues of one or more monomers selected from the group consisting of:
wherein R 1 is H or a C1-C10 alkyl radical, and R 2 is H, a C1-C30 alkyl radical, a C5-C30 substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl radical, a C6-C20 substituted or unsubstituted aryl radical, an aryl-substituted C1-C10 alkyl radical, a —(CH2CH20) x -R A or —(CH2CH(CH3)O) x —R A radical wherein xis in the range of from 1 to 50 and R A is H, a C1-C30 alkyl radical, or a C6-C30 alkylaryl radical;
R 3 -arene-R 4 (B)
wherein arene is a phenyl, naphthyl, anthracenyl, or phenanthrenyl, R 3 is CH═CH 2 or CH 3 —C═CH 2 , and R 4 is H, a C1-C30 alkyl radical, a C5-C30 substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl radical, Cl, SO 3 , OR B , or COOR C , wherein R B is H, a C1-C30 alkyl radical, a C5-C30 substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl radical, a C6-C20 substituted or unsubstituted aryl radical, or an aryl-substituted C1-C10 alkyl radical, and wherein R C is H, a C1-C30 alkyl radical, a C5-C30 substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl radical, a C6-C20 substituted or unsubstituted aryl radical, or an aryl-substituted C1-C10 alkyl radical;
wherein R 5 is H, a C1-C30 alkyl radical, or a C6-C20 substituted or unsubstituted aryl radical;
wherein R 6 is H, a C1-C30 alkyl radical, or a C6-C20 substituted or unsubstituted aryl radical;
wherein R 7 is H or a C1-C18 alkyl radical, and R 8 is H, a C1-C18 alkyl radical, or C1;
wherein R 9 and R 10 are independently H, a C1-C30 alkyl radical, a C6-C20 substituted or unsubstituted aryl radical, C5-C30 substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl radical, or heterocyclic radicals;
wherein R 11 and R 12 are independently H, a C1-C30 alkyl radical, a C6-C20 substituted or unsubstituted aryl radical, a C5-C30 substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl radical, or heterocyclic radicals;
wherein R 13 and R 14 are independently H, a C1-C30 alkyl radical, a C6-C20 substituted or unsubstituted aryl radical, a C5-C30 substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl radical, or heterocyclic radicals;
wherein R 15 is H, a C1-C30 alkyl radical, a C6-C20 substituted or unsubstituted aryl radical, a C5-C30 substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl radical, or heterocyclic radicals;
wherein R 16 is H, a C1-C30 alkyl radical, or a C6-C20 aryl radical;
wherein R 17 and R 18 are independently H, a C1-C30 alkyl radical, a C6-C20 substituted or unsubstituted aryl radical, a C5-C30 substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl radical, or heterocyclic radicals; and
wherein R 19 and R 20 are independently H, a C1-C30 alkyl radical, a C6-C20 substituted or unsubstituted aryl radical, a C5-C30 substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl radical, or heterocyclic radicals.
5. The drag reducer of claim 1 , wherein said first non-polyalphaolefin latex polymer comprises repeating units of the residues of C4-C20 alkyl, C6-C20 substituted or unsubstituted aryl, or aryl-substituted C1-C10 alkyl ester derivatives of methacrylic acid or acrylic acid.
6. The drag reducer of claim 1 , wherein said first non-polyalphaolefin latex polymer is a homopolymer comprising repeating units of the residues of 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate monomers.
7. The drag reducer of claim 1 , wherein said first non-polyalphaolefin latex polymer is a copolymer comprising repeating units of the residues of 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate monomers and the residues of at least one other monomer.
8. The drag reducer of claim 1 , wherein said first non-polyalphaolefin latex polymer is a copolymer comprising repeating units of the residues of 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate monomers and the residues of butyl acrylate monomers.
9. The drag reducer of claim 1 , wherein said carrier fluid comprises water and/or alcohol.
10. The drag reducer of claim 1 , wherein said drag reducer comprises said first non-polyalphaolefin latex polymer in an amount in the range of from about 10 to about 40 weight percent.
11. The drag reducer of claim 1 , wherein the particles have a D 50 particle size in the range of from about 10 to about 90 μm.
12. The drag reducer of claim 11 , wherein the particles have a D 90 particle size in the range of from about 80 to about 170 μm.