Abstract: A novel process for making solutions of alkaline-earth metal salts of alkaryl sulfonic acids that contain about 1.5 to less than three weight percent water and that does not require an azeotropic distillation step to reduce the water of the reaction product to this level, comprises reacting an alkaryl sulfonic acid with alkaline-earth metal oxide in an organic solvent in the presence of 0.05 to less than 2.5 weight percent water. Calcium oxide, alkylbenzene sulfonic acids wherein the alkyl groups contain 10 to 14 carbon atoms, solvent mixtures of lower alkanols and non-polar hydrocarbon solvents all are representative of materials useful in the process of the invention, wherein the alkyl benzene sulfonic acid is preferably proportioned into a mixture of the other reactants and the water is supplied in admixture with a small amount of a calcium alkylbenzene sulfonate.

Abstract: This invention relates to a polymer and methods for its preparation. The water soluble polymer is especially useful in that it exhibits superior thermal stability characteristics when used as an additive in aqueous drilling fluids. The polymer consists of a minor portion of tannin derived monomers and one or more acrylic monomers. Other monomers are added to enhance the functional characteristic of the polymer. The methods of this invention include either the mixing of monomer followed by polymerization of that mixture, or the preparation of a solution of the tannin monomers and polymerization medium followed by addition and polymerization of the comonomers at a controlled rate. Hydrolysis is an optional step in either method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new compositions and methods of preparation of deflocculents for water-base mud additives. The disclosed materials are low molecular weight terpolymers and graft copolymers consisting essentially of monovalent salts of (1) 5 to 50% by weight of tetrahydrophthalic acid (THPA); (2) 10 to 70% by weight of acrylic acid (AA); (3) 5 to 50% by weight of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (AMPS); and (4) 0 to 70% by weight of lignosulfonate units. The unique compositions and processes of terpolymers and graft copolymers provide excellent drilling fluid additives which significantly control the viscosity, yield point, gel strength, and fluid loss of drilling fluids over a wide range of temperatures and in the presence of contaminants such as salt, lime, cement, gypsum and drilled solids.

Abstract: A new weighting material for use in controlling the specific gravity of fluids employed in the drilling, completion, perforation and workover of oil and gas wells is disclosed. The material siderite (FeCO.sub.3), has the unique property of being removable from the bottom of well boreholes and producing formation zones by virtue of almost complete solubility in both mineral and organic acids. This weighting material is compatible in both oil and water muds and has a density of 3.8 g/cc which allows formulation of fluid weights up to 19 lbs./gal.

Abstract: Phyllosilicate minerals which exhibit in their structure, sequentially, octahedral layers containing magnesium, aluminum and/or iron oxides and tetrahedral layers of silica, are superficially etched with dilute acid to remove the outer octahedral layer under controlled conditions which preserve the basic structural integrity of the mineral substrate. The acid etch exposes silanol groups on the outer silicate layer of the mineral so that they become available to form silicon-to-oxygen-to-silicon-to-carbon bonds through condensation with organo-silanes. The condensation of the organo-silane with the conditioned mineral surface is accomplished by mixing the acid etched silicate mineral with the organo-silane in a suitable solvent system under mild conditions.The organo-silane may be chosen from either of two classes: those which impart an oleophilic surface to the mineral; or those which enable the mineral surface to form additional chemical bonds with reactive sites within certain polymers and prepolymers.

Abstract: Phyllosilicate minerals which exhibit in their structure, sequentially, octahedral layers containing magnesium, aluminum and/or iron oxides and tetrahedral layers of silica, are superficially etched with dilute acid to remove the outer octahedral layer under controlled conditions which preserve the basic structural integrity of the mineral substrate. The acid etch exposes silanol groups on the outer silicate layer of the mineral so that they become available to form silicon-to-oxygen-to-silicon-to-carbon bonds through condensation with organo-silanes. The condensation of the organo-silane with the conditioned mineral surface is accomplished by mixing the acid etched silicate mineral with the organo-silane in a suitable solvent system under mild conditions.The organo-silane may be chosen from either of two classes: those which impart an oleophilic surface to the mineral; or those which enable the mineral surface to form additional chemical bonds with reactive sites within certain polymers and prepolymers.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing volatile materials from drill cuttings by vaporizing the materials on the cuttings in a non-oxidative atmosphere.

Abstract: Method for removing volatile materials from drill cuttings by vaporizing the materials on the cuttings in a non-oxidative atmosphere.

Abstract: Phyllosilicate minerals which exhibit in their structure, sequentially, octahedral layers containing magnesium, aluminum and/or iron oxides and tetrahedral layers of silica, are superficially etched with dilute acid to remove the outer octahedral layer under controlled conditions which preserve the basic structural integrity of the mineral substance. The acid etch exposes silanol groups on the outer silicate layer of the mineral so that they become available to form silicon-to-oxygen-to-silicon-to-carbon bonds through condensation with organo-silanes. The condensation of the organo-silane with the conditioned mineral surface is accomplished by mixing the acid etched silicate mineral with the organo-silane in a suitable solvent system under mild conditions.The organo-silane may be chosen from either of two classes: those which impart an oleophilic surface to the mineral; or those which enable the mineral surface to form additional chemical bonds with reactive sites within certain polymers and prepolymers.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of hydrocarbon materials from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation by contacting the formation with an aqueous alkaline flooding medium containing a solubilizing agent. Useful solubilizing agents include for example, block-type compounds of the formula: ##STR1## wherein n is an integer of from 1 to about 10 and m is an integer of about 5 to about 40.

Abstract: This invention concerns methods of imparting properties of scale resistance to surfaces upon which adherent scale is normally prone to form during contact with mineralized waters through the use of novel; polyurethane-type resins, characterized by containing pendant polyoxyalkylene chains attached to a basic polyurethane skeletal network.