Methods for forming amorphous ultra-high molecular weight polyolefins for use as drag reducing agents
First Claim
1. A process for forming polyolefin drag reducing agents by polymerizing at least one olefin monomer in the presence of at least one catalyst, wherein the improvement comprises:
- isomerizing the at least one olefin monomer prior to polymerizing the at least one olefin monomer in the presence of at least one catalyst.
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to improved drag reducing agents and methods of forming improved drag reducing agents comprising the steps of isomerizing olefin monomers to form isomerized olefin monomers, polymerizing the isomerized olefin monomers in the presence of at least one catalyst to form a polyolefin drag reducing agent having unexpectedly superior drag reduction properties when combined with liquid hydrocarbons, such as viscous crude oil. Therefore, the drag reducing agents of the present invention may be introduced into conduits, such as pipelines, to increase the flow of the hydrocarbons through the conduit.
1 Citation
20 Claims
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1. A process for forming polyolefin drag reducing agents by polymerizing at least one olefin monomer in the presence of at least one catalyst, wherein the improvement comprises:
isomerizing the at least one olefin monomer prior to polymerizing the at least one olefin monomer in the presence of at least one catalyst. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A process for forming a drag reducing agent comprising a substantially non-crystalline, ultra-high molecular weight polyolefin, the process comprising:
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isomerizing olefin monomers to form isomerized olefin monomers, wherein the isomerized olefin monomers are substantially free of branched olefin monomers;
contacting isomerized olefin monomers with a catalyst system in a reactant mixture, wherein the catalyst system includes at least one catalyst and at least one co-catalyst; and
polymerizing the isomerized olefin monomers at a temperature at about or less than 25°
C., wherein during the polymerization, at least a portion of the isomerized olefin monomers polymerize in the reactant mixture to provide a substantially non-crystalline, ultra-high molecular weight polyolefin. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification