Composition for recovering hydrocarbon fluids from a subterranean reservoir
First Claim
1. A composition comprising a water-in-oil emulsion of highly cross linked expandable polymeric microparticles having an unexpanded volume average particle size diameter of from about 0.05 to about 10 microns and a cross linking agent content of about 6,000 to less than about 9,000 ppm of labile cross linkers and from 0 to about 300 ppm of non-labile cross linkers wherein said polymeric microparticle remains in an unexpanded state until expansion of the microparticle is triggered by heat, change in pH or a combination thereof.
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Abstract
A composition comprising expandable cross linked polymeric microparticles having an unexpanded volume average particle size diameter of from about 0.05 to about 10 microns and a cross linking agent content of about 6,000 to less than about 9,000 ppm of labile cross linkers and from 0 to about 300 ppm of non-labile cross linkers, useful for modifying the permeability of subterranean formations and increasing the mobilization and/or recovery rate of hydrocarbon fluids present in the formations.
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Citations
16 Claims
- 1. A composition comprising a water-in-oil emulsion of highly cross linked expandable polymeric microparticles having an unexpanded volume average particle size diameter of from about 0.05 to about 10 microns and a cross linking agent content of about 6,000 to less than about 9,000 ppm of labile cross linkers and from 0 to about 300 ppm of non-labile cross linkers wherein said polymeric microparticle remains in an unexpanded state until expansion of the microparticle is triggered by heat, change in pH or a combination thereof.
- 12. A method of preparing a water-in-oil emulsion comprising highly cross linked expandable polymeric microparticles having an unexpanded volume average particle size diameter of from about 0.05 to about 10 microns comprising adding an aqueous monomer solution comprising one or more allylic, vinylic or acrylic monomers, about 6,000 to less than about 9,000 ppm of labile cross linkers and 0 to about 300 ppm of non-labile cross linkers to a hydrocarbon liquid containing a surfactant or surfactant mixture to form an inverse monomer microemulsion comprising small aqueous droplets dispersed in the continuous hydrocarbon liquid and subjecting the monomer microemulsion to free radical polymerization, wherein said polymeric microparticle remains in an unexpanded state until expansion of the microparticle is triggered by heat, change in pH or a combination thereof.
Specification