The Dow Chemical Company

Dowell Schlumberger Incorporated

Arthur S Teot

Gene D Rose

Keith G Seymour

Donald L Schmidt

Jeffrey E Bonekamp

Harold E Rossow

George A Lane

Kenneth L Foster

Peter A Doty

Gregory A Stevens

Percy J Hamlin

Albert B Savage

Edward K Watkins

Muthyala Ramaiah

Mitchael D Coffey

A foam-fluid composition for use in foam fracture applications and foam slurry transport comprises a thickening amount of a viscoelastic surfactant composition, a functionally effective amount of a surfactant composition capable of forming a foam, and an aqueous liquid. Foam-fluid formulations are easily prepared, reusable, shear stable, easily pumped and form stable foams over a wide temperature range and exhibit high viscosities even at relatively high temperatures.

Viscoelastic surfactant based foam fluids

Shear stable antimisting properties are provided to a wide variety of formulations comprising aqueous liquids through the use of a viscoelastic surfactant which comprises a surfactant compound having a hydrophobic moiety chemically bonded to an ionic, hydrophilic moiety and an electrolyte having a moiety that is capable of associating with the surfactant ion. Optionally, an additional amount of electrolyte can be added to the viscoelastic surfactant to further reduce misting. The viscoelastic surfactant can also be a nonionic surfactant.

Fluorine containing viscoelastic surfactants

Water-based hydraulic fluids are thickened by admixing the fluid with a viscoelastic surfactant. Viscoelastic surfactants comprise surfactant ions and organic counterions that associate with the hydraulic fluid to form the viscoelastic surfactant. Water-based hydraulic fluids of this invention are highly shear stable and do not experience substantial viscosity loss with an increase in temperature. The hydraulic fluids are capable of providing low amounts of wear in pumping apparatus during use.

Water-based hydraulic fluids

Bleach compositions, such as aqueous sodium hypochlorite formulations, are thickened by admixing the composition with a viscoelastic surfactant. Visco-elastic surfactants comprise surfactant ions and organic counterions that associate in the bleach composition to form the viscoelastic surfactant. Thickened bleach compositions of this invention exhibit bleach stability, phase stability, and viscosity stability for acceptably long periods of time. The thickened bleach compositions can be employed as nonmisting sprays and streams which will stick to vertical surfaces without substantial dripping and can be applied to various substrates using a dispensing device.

Aqueous bleach compositions thickened with a viscoelastic surfactant

Onium species of nitrogen, phosphorus or sulfur are useful to precipitate ferric ion, existing as tetrahaloferrate anion, from strong haloacid solutions. The precipitants are useful in the field of well acidizing, because tetrahaloferrate anion attacks polymeric and viscoelastic surfactant thickeners used to thicken haloacid solutions.

Chemical method of ferric ion removal from acid solutions

Shear stable antimisting formulations

Industrial liquids containing viscoelastic surfactant compositions can be reversibly thickened and broken. For example, a thickened industrial liquid can exhibit good solids carrying capacity, and after the viscosity of the liquid is broken, using techniques such as change in pH, addition of a hydrocarbon, change in temperature, etc., the solids can be easily removed therefrom. Viscosity can be again provided to the industrial liquid without the necessity of adding substantial amounts of additional thickener.

Process for reversible thickening of a liquid

A wellbore service fluid is provided which contains water, a water soluble electrolyte and as a thickening agent at least one of an amine, a salt of an amine, or quaternary ammonium salt which functions to increase the viscosity of the fluid in the presence of said electrolyte.

Aqueous wellbore service fluids

The friction exhibited by a flowing aqueous liquid containing a viscoelastic surfactant can be further reduced by adding to the aqueous liquid an organic electrolyte capable of associating with the surfactant ion of the viscoelastic surfactant. For example, the friction exhibited by an aqueous liquid containing cetyl trimethylammonium salicylate can be further reduced by the addition of sodium salicylate to the liquid. The resulting aqueous liquid systems exhibiting the reduced friction are shear stable and useful in a wide variety of applications.

Friction reduction using a viscoelastic surfactant

A reversible liquid/solid phase change composition for storing thermal energy. The composition comprises at least one hydrated inorganic salt selected from a salt or mixture of salts that are subject to segregation of its chemical components during repeated freezing and thawing cycles, and a surface active thickening agent in the form of a cationic surfactant and selected from an amine, salts of the amine, or a quaternary ammonium salt of the amine, wherein the thickening agent is present in the hydrated salt in an amount sufficient to form a micelle structure throughout the hydrated salt to prevent such segregation.

Reversible phase change composition for storing thermal energy

Detergent compositions of particular value in washing synthetic fabrics, especially polyester, inhibiting the redeposition of soil and imparting antisoil properties are based essentially on a combination of a nonionic surfactant and a hydroxybutylated methylcellulose of low molecular weight and having a relatively high degree of substitution.

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Midland, MI, United States of America

Arthur S Teot