Coating powdered polymer with a water-soluble dye as an indicator for polymer hydration state
A method for determining hydration of a polymer includes mixing a water-soluble, powdered dye with a powdered polymer and introducing the mixed water-soluble, powdered dye and powdered polymer into a water-based fluid. Full hydration of the powdered polymer is determined when the mixed water-soluble, powdered dye, powdered polymer and water-based fluid comprises substantially no internal optical contrast.
1. A method for determining hydration of a polymer, comprising:
mixing a water-soluble, powdered dye with a powdered polymer;
introducing the mixed water-soluble, powdered dye and powdered polymer into a water-based fluid; and
determining full hydration of the powdered polymer when the mixed water-soluble, powdered dye, powdered polymer and water-based fluid comprises substantially no internal optical contrast.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the water-soluble, powdered dye is 0.001 percent to 1.0 percent by weight of the mixed water-soluble, powdered dye and powdered polymer.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the water-soluble, powdered dye comprises at least one of Acid Blue-9, Basic Blue 7 and Acid Red-52.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the powdered polymer comprises at least one of polyacrylamide, AMPS-copolymers and Xanthan.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the water-soluble, powdered dye, AMPS polymer and Polyacrylic Acid are combined in a mortar mixer at weight ratios of 0.033% dye to 74.97525% AMPS-acrylic acid copolymer to 24.99175% polyacrylamide, respectively.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the powdered AMPS polymer and Polyacrylic Acid is added to the mixer before the water soluble, powdered dye.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the water soluble, powdered dye is added as a powder to the mixer and allowed to mix until a color of the powdered AMPS polymer and Polyacrylic Acid is substantially homogenous.
8. The method of claim 6 wherein the dye is added as a powder before a secondary coating is added to mixer and allowed to mix until nearly homogeneous.
9. The method of claim 6 wherein the powdered, water-soluble dye is mixed with a secondary coating material and concurrently added to the mixer and allowed to mix until nearly homogenous.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the mixed water-soluble, powdered dye and powdered polymer is added to water in amounts of 0.5-63 pounds of the mixed water-soluble, powdered dye and powdered polymer per 500 gallons (0.012%-1.5% by weight) of water to make batches of drilling fluid.
11. The method of claim 1 further comprising adding at least one of a surfactant, a pH modifier, a water softener, and a viscosifier is added to the mixed water-soluble, powdered dye, powdered polymer and water-based fluid.