Coating powdered polymer with a water-soluble dye as an indicator for polymer hydration state

• US 10,723,847 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2018
• Issued: 07/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ProAction Fluids, LLC
• Original Assignee: ProAction Fluids, LLC
• Inventors: Hutchings, Nathan R., Monsour, John Paxton, Humphrey, Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Salamon, Peter A
• Application Number:
  US16/158,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20200115510A1
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2305/00 Characterised by the use of polysaccharides or of their derivatives not provided for in groups C08J2301/00 or C08J2303/00
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2333/02 Homopolymers or copolymers of acids; Metal or ammonium salts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2333/26 Homopolymers or copolymers of acrylamide or methacrylamide
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2405/00 Characterised by the use of polysaccharides or of their derivatives not provided for in groups C08J2401/00 or C08J2403/00
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2433/08 Homopolymers or copolymers of acrylic acid esters
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2433/26 Homopolymers or copolymers of acrylamide or methacrylamide
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 3/05 from solid polymers
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 3/203 Solid polymers with solid and/or liquid additives
• CPC Class Codes: C09B 67/0013 with polymeric coatings
• CPC Class Codes: C09B 67/0033 Blends of pigments; Mixtured crystals; Solid solutions
• CPC Class Codes: C09B 67/0034 Mixtures of two or more pigments or dyes of the same type
• CPC Class Codes: C09B 67/0046 Mixtures of two or more azo dyes
• CPC Class Codes: C09B 67/0066 Aqueous dispersions of pigments containing only dispersing agents

Abstract

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.

Claims

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.