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:
Nov. 18, 2003
Filed:
Dec. 17, 2002
Jeffery R. Harris, Tulsa, OK (US);
John F. Motier, Broken Arrow, OK (US);
Mike Callaway, Sapulpa, OK (US);
George G. Ramsay, Sand Springs, OK (US);
Baker Hughes Incorporated, Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A process for continuously producing a polymer drag reducing agent (DRA) is described. The process concerns mixing a monomer and a catalyst in at least one continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR) to form a mixture. The mixture is continuously injected into a volume continuously formed by a thermoplastic material, such as polyethylene. The thermoplastic material is periodically sealed off to form a temporary container or bag. The monomer is permitted to polymerize in the temporary container to form polymer. In one non-limiting embodiment, the polymerization in the bag takes place within an inert, circulating fluid that accelerates heat transfer. The polymer and the temporary container are then ground together, preferably at non-cryogenic temperatures, to produce a particulate polymer drag reducing agent. In one preferred, non-limiting embodiment, the grinding or pulverizing occurs in the presence of at least one solid organic grinding aid. Finally, the particulate polymer drag reducing agent may be combined with a dispersing fluid.