Abrasive tool making process – material – or composition
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-14
2003-04-15
Lipman, Bernard (Department: 1713)
Abrasive tool making process, material, or composition
C525S332800, C525S332900, C525S333100, C525S333200, C525S353000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06547710
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sulfonated rubber composition, a process of preparing such composition, and a process of using such composition.
During oil field applications such as drilling and completion operations, large flow channels such as, for example, fractures, joints, and voids around the wellbore, whether induced or natural, can cause various problems during such drilling and completion operations. Such problems can include a substantial loss of fluids from the wellbore which can result in the loss of hydrostatic head with the subsequent potential for losing control of the well. Such problems can also lead to damage of the production capacity of oil and gas zones when the flow channels represent a portion of the drainage pattern.
Various methods have been used in an attempt to control the loss of fluids from the flow channels. For example, one common method is to increase the viscosity of the fluids, such as drilling muds, or to increase the resistance of the flow of such fluids into the formation. Another technique involves the addition of a bulk material, such as cork, saw dust, paper, mica flakes, cloth fibers, and the like and combinations thereof, to such fluids being used. However, these methods are not always effective because the solids may be lost in the flow channels. Further, addition of such bulk materials does not assure the plugging of such channels.
Another example method utilized to reduce or eliminate lost circulation during oil field applications such as drilling and completion operations is to use a cement, such as Plaster of Paris or a silicate, either alone or in combination with the previously discussed bulk materials. However, problems are often encountered using the cement such as the cement separating out of the cement slurry that is introduced into the wellbore, heavier cement particles in the slurry having a tendency to separate from the water and become dehydrated before the porous subterranean formation is sealed, and the cement slurry passing into the porous formation without effectively plugging the openings in the wellbore sidewall.
Another such process which has been utilized to prevent the loss of fluids during oil field applications is to employ a gel. Such use of a gel can result in the crosslinking of such gel either at the surface, during placement, or in-situ. However, hydraulic forces may lead to dehydration, channeling, or even extrusion of such gel. Further, it is difficult to control the gelation characteristics of water-soluble polymers and therefore difficult to assure reduction of lost circulation of fluids during oil field applications.
Similarly, fractures can also occur in an injection well, a producing well, or both. In order to correct sweep profile encountered in fractured reservoirs, large volumes of gelable polymer solutions can be used to plug the fractures. However, the effectiveness of these treatments are adversely affected by hydraulic failure of the gel near the wellbore.
In addition, during the drilling of wells, drilling fluid is generally circulated down the drill string and back up the annulus between the drill string and the wellbore face. A casing string or liner is then cemented into the wellbore. However, numerous annular leaks through the cement can occur. Such oil or gas leaks through the cement contaminate the ground water causing environmental problems. Further, gas leaks through the cement out to the well surface can also present a hazardous condition.
Thus, there is a continuing need to develop an effective and efficient method of reducing or eliminating lost circulation of fluids used during oil field applications. Further, development of an effective and efficient composition and process for using such composition for oil field applications, such as reducing or eliminating lost circulation of fluids used during such oil field applications, would be a significant contribution to the art and to the economy.
In addition, with the rapid increase of the number of automobiles, a severe problem has occurred in connection with the disposal of rubber compositions such as waste tires. Thus, development of a method to dispose of rubber compositions such as waste tires would also be a significant contribution to the art and to the economy. Further, development of a method to dispose of rubber compositions such as waste tires which results in a composition which can be used for oil field applications, such as for reducing or eliminating lost circulation of fluids used during such oil field applications, would also be a significant contribution to the art and to the economy. Still further, development of a method to dispose of rubber compositions such as waste tires which results in a composition which can be used for contacting with asphalt, i.e., used as an additive in or for asphalt, would also be a significant contribution to the art and to the economy.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a sulfonated, oxidized rubber composition.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a neutralized, sulfonated, oxidized rubber composition.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a composition comprising a sulfonated, oxidized rubber composition which is useful for contacting with asphalt, i.e., useful as an additive in or for asphalt.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a composition comprising a neutralized, sulfonated, oxidized rubber composition which is useful for a variety of processes including, but not limited to, use for oil field applications such as preventing the loss of fluids used during such oil field applications.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method(s) of making a sulfonated, oxidized rubber composition, a composition comprising such sulfonated, oxidized rubber composition, a neutralized, sulfonated, oxidized rubber composition, and a composition comprising such neutralized, sulfonated, oxidized rubber composition.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a process of using rubber compositions, such as waste tires, to provide a sulfonated, oxidized rubber composition, a composition comprising such sulfonated, oxidized rubber composition, a neutralized, sulfonated, oxidized rubber composition, and/or a composition comprising such neutralized, sulfonated, oxidized rubber composition.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a process of disposing of rubber compositions, such as waste tires, in a process that is economically cheaper and easier than prior art methods.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a process for preventing the loss of fluids used during oil field applications such as preventing seepage losses of such fluids and reducing fluid loss in water-based fluids and emulsions used during such oil field applications.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a sulfonated, oxidized rubber composition is provided which can be used as an additive in or for asphalt. Such sulfonated, oxidized rubber composition is prepared by a process which comprises contacting a quantity of a rubber composition, which is of a particle size generally in the range of about 150 micrometers to about 2000 micrometers, with an oxidizing agent to provide an oxidized rubber composition. Such oxidized rubber composition is then contacted with a sulfur-containing acid to provide a sulfonated, oxidized rubber composition which is then subjected to cooling and, optionally, subjected to drying. Preferably, such sulfonated, oxidized rubber composition is contained in a suspension comprising such sulfonated, oxidized rubber composition and sulfur-containing acid to provide a composition comprising such sulfonated, oxidized rubber composition which can be contacted with asphalt, i.e., used as an additive in or for asphalt.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a neutralized, sulfonated, oxidized rubber composition is provided which can be used for oil field applications, such as
Bishop Marshall D.
Patel Bharat B.
ConocoPhillips Company
Haag Gary L.
Lipman Bernard
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