Tioxide Group, Plc

David A. Brown

Peter D. Kay

David A Brown

Peter D Kay

John Ridland

An organometallic compound which is the reaction product of (a) a zirconium halide or oxyhalide, (b) a polyol and (c) an alpha-hydroxy acid is claimed. The preferred polyol is sorbitol and preferred alphahydroxy acids are citric, malic or lactic acid. The compounds find use as cross-linking agents in fracturing fluids employed in the hydraulic fracturing of oil or gas-containing subterranean strata. The claimed compounds can be used to produce a slow or delayed gel formation in such fluids.

Organo-metallic compounds

Curable compositions comprise a silanol-terminated polyorganosiloxane, a cross-linking agent which is an organic silane free of isocyanate groups and a metal organic compound containing a Ti-O-P bond. The compositions cure on exposure to the atmosphere and, in comparison to known compositions containing organotitanium compounds show a reduced tendency to be discoloured.

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Stockton on Tees, United Kingdom

David A Brown