The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 13, 1976
Filed:
Nov. 23, 1973
Karl D Dreher, Littleton, CO (US);
William B Gogarty, Littleton, CO (US);
Marathon Oil Company, Findlay, OH (US);
Abstract
An improved method of pipelining solids is effected by suspending the solids in a liquid containing lamellar micelles and pumping the mixture at flow rates predetermined to produce retro-viscous behavior in the liquid at noncryogenic temperatures. The liquid is a composition containing 4-15% surfactant (preferably petroleum sulfonate having an average equivalent weight of 350-525), and at least two substantially immiscible liquids (e.g. 30-70% liquid hydrocarbon and 15-66% water) and optionally up to 20% cosurfactant (preferably an alcohol containing 1-20 carbon atoms) and/or electrolyte (preferably inorganic salt). The micelles have an axial ratio of at least 3.5. Preferably, the composition has a viscosity of at least 75 cp at a shear rate of 10.sup.-.sup.1 seconds at 23.degree.C. The composition is substantially optically clear, phase stable, birefringent, and the flow properties are such that substantially large increases in flow rates, e.g. 20-fold, can be realized at very small pressure increases, e.g. 5%. Concentration of the solids can be up to about 60% by weight of the composition.