Abstract: An oil based drilling mud is viscosified with a maleated ethylene-propylene elastomers. The elastomers are preferably EPM copolymers or EPDM terpolymers. The concentration of the maleic anhydride grafted to the copolymer or terpolymer backbone ranges from 0.01 to 5 wt %, preferably 0.1 to 2.0 wt %. The maleated elastomers are far more effective oil mud viscosifiers than the organophilic clays presently used.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a gelling agent composition comprising the reaction product of a high molecular weight gelling agent additive, a low molecular weight phosphate diester acid, and a Group II or Group III metal salt, to methods of preparing the gelling agent composition, to a gelled hydrocarbon liquid comprising the gelling agent composition and to a method of fracturing subterranean formations using the gelled hydrocarbon liquid.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for reducing the concentration of metal soaps of partially esterified phosphates from a hydrocarbon flowback fluid resulting from a hydraulic fracturing fluid operation using an alkaline aqueous-based additive solution.

Abstract: A gelling agent for viscosifying liquid hydrocarbon fracturing fluids is an aluminum salt of a phosphate ester made by forming the ester by reacting P.sub.2 O.sub.5 with a mixture of organic alcohols which include high molecular weight alcohols or diols selected from hydroxy functional homopolymers, copolymer or terpolymer made from olefins and diolefins selected from the group consisting of ethylene, propylene, butene, butadiene, isoprene, and selected styrenes. The oil based fracturing fluid containing the gelling agent in sufficient concentration to provide a viscosity of between 50 cp and 350 cp at 100.degree. F.

Abstract: Oil degradable encapsulated breaker particles are used in fracturing operations to break hydro-carbon liquid gelled with salts of alkyl phosphate esters. The preferred breaker chemical is particulate urea coated with sulfonated EPDM.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the discovery that viscosification agents selected from sulfonated and neutralized sulfonated ionomers can be readily incorporated into oil-based drilling muds in the form of an oil soluble concentrate containing the polymer. Thus, one embodiment of the present invention provides an additive concentrate for oil-based drilling muds comprising a drilling oil, especially a low toxicity oil, and from about 5 gm to about 20 gm of sulfonated or neutralized sulfonated polymer per 100 gm of oil. Indeed, oil solutions obtained from the sulfonated and neutralized sulfonated polymers used as viscosification agents are readily incorporated into drilling mud formulations.

Abstract: EPDM elastomer is sulfonated and neutralized by a bulk process involving mechanical mixing at low temperatures in the sulfonating and neutralizing steps. The EPDM is discharged from the mixing process as finely divided particles having a low bulk density.

Abstract: A method, composition and filter for reducing the presence of sludge or varnish precursors in a lubricating oil circulating within an internal combustion engine. The lubricating oil containing sludge or varnish precursors is contacted with discrete particles of an oil insoluble, oil wettable compound having an antioxidant functional group and/or a dispersant functional group, which are capable of complexing with sludge or varnish precursors. Preferably the compounds comprises a crosslinked amine having ethylene amine functionality. The starting polyethylene amines have a number average molecular weight in the range of about 100 to about 60,000, preferably 200 to 250 and are crosslinked with a silicon oxide, silane, silicate, epoxide, quinone, or phenol-formaldehyde crosslinking agent. The particles are encaged within a one or two stage oil filter together with filtering media such as chemically active filter media, physically active filter media and inactive filter media.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the encapsulation of a solid substrate with a neutralized sulfonated polymer, which comprises the steps of: (a) forming a solution of a non-conjugated, diene polymer in a solvent selected from the group consisting of aliphatic, aromatic hydrocarbons and mixtures thereof; (b) contacting the solution of the unsaturated polymer with a sulfonating agent at a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient period of time to form a solution of a sulfonated polymer containing free acid; (c) forming a solution of a base selected from the group consisting of alkali metal hydroxides and mixtures thereof in a mixtrue of an aliphatic alcohol and a hydrocarbon, the hydrocarbon being selected from the group consisting of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons and mixtures thereof; (d) adding the solution of base to the solution of sulfonated polymer in an amount sufficient to neutralize the polymer and the free acid, thereby forming a coating solution; (e) contacting the solid substr