Claims
- 1. A polymeric composition useful for thickening aqueous brines comprising from about 5 to about 30% by weight of hydroxyethyl cellulose, a water soluble organic liquid in an amount of at least about 40% by weight, and from about 3 to about 40% by weight of an aqueous solution or suspension of a basic material selected from the group consisting of alkali metal hydroxides, ammonium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, magnesium oxide and mixtures therof, the concentration of the basic material dissolved in said solution or suspension being less than about 3.0N, wherein said organic liquid, when uniformly mixed with said hydroxyethyl cellulose in a weight ratio of hydroxyethyl cellulose to organic liquid of 1:2, produces a mixture with free liquid present after remaining quiescent for one week at ambient temperature in a sealed container.
- 2. The composition of claim 1 wherein said organic liquid has a carbon to oxygen ratio of less than about 6.
- 3. The composition of claim 1 wherein said organic liquid comprises isopropanol.
- 4. The composition of claim 1 wherein said organic liquid is soluble in a brine having a density of at least 11.7 ppg.
- 5. A well servicing fluid comprising:
- an aqueous brine; and
- a polymeric composition comprising from about 5 to about 30% by weight of hydroxyethyl cellulose, a water soluble organic liquid in an amount of at least about 40% by weight, and from about 3 to about 40% by weight of an aqueous solution or suspension of a basic material selected from the group consisting of alkali metal hydroxides, ammonium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, magnesium oxide and mixtures therof, the concentration of the basic material dissolved in said solution or suspension being less than about 3.0N, wherein said organic liquid, when uniformly mixed with said hydroxyethyl cellulose in a weight ratio of hydroxyethyl cellulose to organic liquid of 1:2, produces a mixture with free liquid present after remaining quiescent for one week at ambient temperature in a sealed container.
- 6. The fluid of claim 5 wherein said aqueous brine comprises a solution of at least one water soluble salt of a multivalent metal.
- 7. The fluid of claim 5 wherein said aqueous brine has a density greater than about 11.7 ppg.
- 8. The fluid of claim 6 wherein said water soluble salt is selected from the group consisting of calcium chloride, calcium brommide, zinc chloride, zinc bromide, and mixtures thereof.
- 9. The fluid of claim 5 wherein the density of said aqueous brine is from about 12.0 ppg to about 19.2 ppg.
- 10. The composition of claim 5 wherein said organic liquid has a carbon to oxygen ratio of less than about 6.
- 11. The composition of claim 5 wherein said organic liquid comprises isopropanol.
- 12. The composition of claim 9 wherein said organic liquid is soluble in a brine solution having a density of at least 11.7 ppg.
- 13. A method of preparing a well servicing fluid comprising:
- forming a generally uniform polymeric composition by admixing from about 5 to about 30% by weight of hydroxyethyl cellulose, a water soluble organic liquid in an amount of at least about 40% by weight, and from about 3 to about 40% by weight of an aqueous solution or suspension of a basic material selected from the group consisting of alkali metal hydroxides, ammonium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, magnesium oxide and mixtures therof, the concentration of said basic material dissolved in said solution or suspension being less than about 3.0N, wherein said organic liquid, when uniformly mixed with said hydroxyethyl cellulose in a weight ratio of hydroxyethyl cellulose to organic liquid of 1:2, produces a mixture with free liquid present after remaining quiescent for one week at ambient temperature in a sealed container; and
- admixing said polymeric composition with an aqueous brine.
- 14. The method of claim 13 wherein said polymeric composition is aged prior to admixing with said aqueous brine.
- 15. The fluid of claim 13 wherein said aqueous brine comprises a solution of at least one water soluble salt of a multivalent metal.
- 16. The fluid of claim 15 wherein said aqueous brine has a density greater than about 11.7 ppg.
- 17. The fluid of claim 16 wherein said water soluble salt is selected from the group consisting of calcium chloride, calcium bromide, zinc chloride, zinc bromide, and mixtures thereof.
- 18. The fluid of claim 13 wherein the density of said aqueous brine is from about 12.0 ppg to about 19.2 ppg.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 146,286, filed May 5, 1980, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,392,964.
US Referenced Citations (10)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
2000799 |
Jan 1979 |
GBX |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
Natrosol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, publication by Hercules Inc., 1969, pp. 1-4 and 6-9. |
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
146286 |
May 1980 |
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