Method of preparing and using drag-reducing dispersion polymer compositions
A method of preparing a drag-reducing composition that includes a dispersion polymer includes steps for preparing the dispersion polymer, steps for incorporating the dispersion polymer into a drag-reducing composition, and steps for using the drag-reducing composition. The step of preparing a dispersion polymer includes preparing an aqueous mixture by adding a water-soluble salt and at least one polymeric dispersant to water and polymerizing one or more water-soluble monomers in the aqueous mixture. Once the dispersion polymer has been combined with the drag-reducing additive, the combination is injected into a subterranean formation, a pipeline or a gathering line.
1. A method comprising the steps of:
preparing a dispersion polymer, wherein the step of preparing the dispersion polymer comprises:
preparing an aqueous mixture by adding a water-soluble salt, at least one polymeric dispersant, and one or more water-soluble monomers to water; and
polymerizing the one or more water-soluble monomers in the aqueous mixture;
preparing a drag-reducing additive by mixing the dispersion polymer with a surfactant and a solvent;
forming a drag-reducing composition by combining the drag-reducing additive with an aqueous treatment fluid; and
injecting the drag-reducing composition into a subterranean formation, a pipeline or a gathering line.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of forming the drag-reducing composition with the aqueous treatment fluid further comprises the step of adding the drag-reducing additive into the aqueous treatment fluid on-the-fly as the aqueous treatment fluid is pumped into the subterranean formation, pipeline or gathering line.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of forming the drag-reducing composition further comprises the step of adding the drag-reducing additive to the aqueous treatment fluid before the drag-reducing composition is pumped into the subterranean formation, pipeline or gathering line.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of forming the drag-reducing composition further comprises adding from about 0.01 gallons to about 50 gallons of drag-reducing additive per 1,000 gallons of the aqueous treatment fluid.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of preparing the drag-reducing additive further comprises mixing 40-85% by weight of the dispersion polymer with 10-35% by weight of a surfactant with an HLB greater than 8 and 5-30% by weight of a solvent.
6. A method comprising the steps of:
preparing a dispersion polymer, wherein the step of preparing the dispersion polymer comprises:
preparing an aqueous mixture by adding a water-soluble salt, at least one polymeric dispersant, and one or more water-soluble monomers to water; and
polymerizing the one or more water-soluble monomers in the aqueous mixture;
preparing a drag-reducing additive by mixing 40-85% by weight of the dispersion polymer with 10-35% by weight of a surfactant with an HLB greater than 8 and 5-30% by weight of a solvent;
forming the drag-reducing composition by combining the drag-reducing additive with an aqueous treatment fluid; and
injecting the drag-reducing composition into a subterranean formation, a pipeline or a gathering line.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the step of forming the drag-reducing composition with the aqueous treatment fluid further comprises the step of adding the drag-reducing additive into the aqueous treatment fluid on-the-fly as the aqueous treatment fluid is pumped into the subterranean formation, pipeline or gathering line.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the step of forming the drag-reducing composition further comprises the step of adding the drag-reducing additive to the aqueous treatment fluid before the drag-reducing composition is pumped into the subterranean formation, pipeline or gathering line.
9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the step of forming the drag-reducing composition further comprises adding from about 0.01 gallons to about 50 gallons of drag-reducing additive per 1,000 gallons of the aqueous treatment fluid.
10. A method comprising the steps of:
preparing a dispersion polymer;
preparing a drag-reducing additive by mixing the dispersion polymer with a surfactant and a solvent;
forming a drag-reducing composition by combining the drag-reducing additive with an aqueous treatment fluid; and
injecting the drag-reducing composition into a subterranean formation, a pipeline or a gathering line.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of preparing the dispersion polymer comprises:
preparing an aqueous mixture by adding a water-soluble salt, at least one polymeric dispersant, and one or more water soluble monomers to water; and
polymerizing the one or more water-soluble monomers in the aqueous mixture.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of preparing the drag-reducing additive further comprises mixing 40-85% by weight of the dispersion polymer with 10-35% by weight of a surfactant with an HLB greater than 8 and 5-30% by weight of the solvent.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of forming the drag-reducing composition by combining the drag-reducing additive with the aqueous treatment fluid further comprises the step of adding the drag-reducing additive into the aqueous treatment fluid on-the-fly as the aqueous treatment fluid is pumped into the subterranean formation, pipeline or gathering line.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of forming the drag-reducing composition by combining the drag-reducing additive with the aqueous treatment fluid further comprises the step of adding the drag-reducing additive to the aqueous treatment fluid before the drag-reducing composition is pumped into the subterranean formation, pipeline or gathering line.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of forming the drag-reducing composition by combining the drag-reducing additive with the aqueous treatment fluid further comprises the step of adding from about 0.01 gallons to about 50 gallons of drag-reducing additive per 1,000 gallons of the aqueous treatment fluid.