Abstract: The present invention relates to sulfonated thermoplastic terpolymers which are terpolymers of t-butyl styrene, styrene and sodium styrene sulfonate wherein these sulfonated terpolymers function as viscosification agents when added to oil-based drilling muds which are the fluids used to maintain pressure, cool drill bits and lift cuttings from the holes in the drilling operation for oil and gas wells. The sulfonated thermoplastic terpolymer of the latex have about 5 to 100 meg. of sulfonate groups per 100 grams of the sulfonated thermoplastic terpolymer, wherein the sulfonated groups are neutralized with a metallic cation or an amine or ammonium counterion. A polar cosolvent can optionally be added to the mixture of oil drilling mud and sulfonated thermoplastic polymer, wherein the polar cosolvent increases the solubility of the sulfonated thermoplastic terpolymer in the oil drilling mud by decreasing the strong ionic interactions between the sulfonate groups of the sulfonated polymer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to aqueous solutions having dilatant properties in which the aqueous solution contains a polymer complex which is a water soluble polymer backbone containing an anionic comonomer and a copolymer of a water soluble polymer backbone containing a cationic comonomer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to latices of sulfonated thermoplastic polymers which function as viscosification agents when added to oil-based drilling muds which are the fluids used to maintain pressure, cool drill bits and lift cuttings from the holes in the drilling operation for oil and gas wells. The sulfonated thermoplastic polymer of the latex has about 5 to about 100 meq. of sulfonate groups per 100 grams of the sulfonated thermoplastic polymer, wherein the sulfonated groups are neutralized with a metallic cation or an amine or ammonium counterion. A polar cosolvent can optionally be added to the mixture of oil drilling mud and sulfonated polymer, wherein the polar cosolvent increases the solubility of the sulfonated polymer in the oil drilling mud by decreasing the strong ionic interactions between the sulfonate groups of the sulfonated polymer.

Abstract: A process for gelling a fluid having a viscosity of at least about 50 cps which includes the steps of: forming a solvent system of the nonpolar organic liquid and a polar cosolvent, the polar cosolvent being less than about 15 weight percent of the solvent system and a viscosity of the solvent system being less than about 100 cps; dissolving a water insoluble, oil soluble terpolymer in the solvent system to form a solution, a concentration of the terpolymer in the solution being about 0.

Abstract: A process for increasing the viscosity of a hydrocarbon organic liquid under increasing shear rate which includes the step of:(a) forming a solution of said hydrocarbon organic liquid and a polyampholyte having about 1 to about 500 milliequivalents of sulfonate groups per 100 gms. of said polyampholyte, wherein the concentration of said polyampholyte is about 0.01 to about 20 wt. %, said polyampholyte having the formula: ##STR1## wherein X is about 40 to about 98 mole %, y is about 1 to about 50 mole %, and z is about 1 to about 50 mole %, wherein y and z are less than 60 mole %, and M is an amine or a metal cation selected from the group consisting of aluminum, iron, lead, Groups IA, IIA, IB and IIB of the Periodic Table of Elements; and(b) subjecting said solution to increasing shear rate to increase the viscosity of said solution by at least 10% as said shear rate increases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to hydrocarbon, and specifically jet fuels, solutions having dilatant properties in which the hydrocarbon solution contains a polymer complex which is the interaction product of a sulfonate containing polymer and an amine containing copolymer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to viscosification agents for aqueous solutions in which the viscosification agents are mixtures of water soluble polymer backbone containing an anionic comonomer and a copolymer of a water soluble polymer backbone containing a cationic comonomer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the plugging of a porous formation which may be encountered during the drilling of a well. The process entails plugging of the porous formation by means of a polymeric solution containing pseudo-emulsion spheres. These particles penetrate the pore structure within a formation. Eventually, sufficient numbers of the spheres will accumulate within the pores, blocking further flow through the formation by both the pseudo-emulsion particles and any aqueous solutions. The pseudo-emulsion system is formed by a process which includes the steps of forming a solvent system of an organic liquid or oil and a polar cosolvent, the polar cosolvent being less than about 15 weight percent of the solvent system being less than about 100 cps; dissolving a neutralized sulfonated polymer in the solvent system to form a solution, a concentration of the neutralized sulfonated polymer in the solution being about 0.01 to about 0.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved drag reduction agents which are polymer complexes of a cationic polymer and an anionic polymer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the viscosification of an organic liquid which comprises the steps of forming a first solution of an anionic polymer dissolved in the organic liquid; forming a second solution of a cationic polymer dissolved in the organic liquid; and mixing the first and the second solutions together to form an interpolymer complex of the anionic and cationic polymer in the organic liquid, wherein the organic liquid containing the interpolymer complex has improved viscosification properties. This solution possesses higher viscosity than the mean of the separate viscosities of the starting solutions at relatively low solids content. Moreover, these interpolymer complexes, in hydrocarbon solutions, can be formulated to exhibit shear thickening at increased shear rates. This property is useful in such technological applications as antimisting of the solvent.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a class of water soluble complex polymers of relatively low molecular weight, which have been found to be improved drag reducing agents. These complex polymers are a mixture of a cationic copolymer having a water soluble polymer backbone and an anionic copolymer having a water soluble polymer backbone. The solutions of these complex polymers are improved drag reducing agents for aqueous systems at low concentrations (i.e., 10 to 500 ppm) relative to individual solutions of the copolymers which make upon the polymer complex.

Abstract: This invention relates to thermoplastic and/or elastomer blend compositions having a viscosity at 200.degree. C., at 0.73 sec.sup.-1 of about 5000 to about 5.times.10.sup.6 poises, wherein the compositions used for elastomeric articles which include a polymer complex of a neutralized sulfonated polymer and a polymer containing basic nitrogen atoms can also include about 25 to about 150 parts by weight of a nonpolar process oil per 100 parts of the polymer complex and about 50 to 300 parts by weight of a filler per 100 parts of the polymer complex. These blend compositions can be processed on conventional plastic fabrication equipment into polymeric articles having excellent physical properties.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the viscosification of an aqueous liquid which includes the steps of forming a solvent system of an organic liquid or oil and a polar cosolvent, the polar cosolvent being less than about 15 weight percent of the solvent system, a viscosity of the solvent system being less than about 100 cps; dissolving a neutralized sulfonated polymer in the solvent system to form a solution, a concentration of the neutralized sulfonated polymer in the solution being about 0.01 to about 0.5 weight percent, a viscosity of the solution being less than about 200 cps; and admixing or contacting said solution with about 5 to about 500 volume percent water, the water being immiscible with the organic liquid and the polar cosolvent and neutralized sulfonated polymer transferring from the organic liquid to the water phase, thereby causing the water phase to thicken.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved viscosification agents for a variety of aqueous solutions which comprise a family of intramolecular polymeric complexes (i.e., polyampholytes) which are terpolymers of acrylamide/metal styrene sulfonate/methacrylamidopropyltrimethylammonium chloride (MAPTAC).The metal styrene sulfonate is an anionic monomer, while MAPTAC is cationically charged. These acrylamide-based polyampholytes have approximately 1 to about 50 mol % of the anionic monomer and approximately 1 to about 50 mole % of the cationic moiety present within the macromolecular structure. These groups are not necessarily present in an equimolar charge ratio. The excess undissociated charge allows for facile dispensability or solubility of the polyampholytes into fresh water.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved drag reduction agents for aqueous solutions which comprises a polymeric complex which is a terpolymer of acrylamide/metal styrene sulfonate/methacrylamidopropyltrimethyl ammonium chloride.The metal styrene sulfonate is an anionic monomer, while MAPTAC is cationically charged. These acrylamide-based polyampholytes have approximately 1 to about 50 mole % of the anionic monomer and approximately 1 to about 50 mole % of the cationic moiety present within the macromolecular structure. These groups are not necessarily present in an equimolar charge ratio. The excess undissociated charge allows for facile dispensability or solubility of the polyampholytes into fresh water.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the gelation or viscosification of hydrocarbon fluids, wherein a polymer having the structure xB-[AB].sub.n -yA wherein the A block is hydrophobic and the B block is hydrophilic, n is an integer .gtoreq.1, x and y are 0 to 1 and y is 1 when n is 1, is mixed with an aqueous phase at a critical concentration level of about 0.001 to about 5.0 grams of polymer per 100 ml. of the aqueous phase, more preferably about 0.01 to about 3.0, and most preferably about 0.01 to about 1.0, thereby obtaining a turbid suspension of the polymer in the aqueous phase; adding with stirring about 0.1 to about 15.0 wt. % of a cosolvent to the turbid suspension, more preferably about 2.0 to about 15.0, and most preferably about 5.0 to about 15.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the gelation (i.e. thickening) of salt water which includes the steps of forming a solvent system of an organic liquid or oil and a polar cosolvent, the polar cosolvent being less than about 15 weight percent of the solvent system, a viscosity of the solvent system being less than about 100 cps; dissolving a nonionic surfactant and water insoluble, neutralized or unneutralized sulfonated polymer in the solvent system to form a solution, a concentration of the neutralized, or unneutralized sulfonated polymer in the solution being about 0.01 to about 0.5 weight percent, the concentration of the nonionic surfactant in the solvent system being about 0.0001 to about 1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the gelation (i.e. thickening) of an aqueous acid solution which includes the steps of forming a solvent system of an organic liquid or oil and a polar cosolvent, the polar cosolvent being less than about 15 weight percent of the solvent system, a viscosity of the solvent system being less than about 100 cps; dissolving a neutralized sulfonated polymer in the solvent system to form a solution, a concentration of the neutralized sulfonated polymer in the solution being about 0.01 to about 0.5 weight percent, a viscosity of the solution being less than about 200 cps; and admixing or contacting said solution with about 5 to about 500 volume percent of the aqueous acid solution, the aqueous acid solution being immiscible with the organic liquid and the polar cosolvent and neutralized sulfonated polymer transferring from the organic liquid to the aqueous acid phase, thereby causing the aqueous acid phase to thicken (i.e. interfacial viscosification).

Abstract: The present invention relates to mixtures of sulfonated thermoplastic polymers and sulfonated elastomeric polymers which function as viscosification agents when added to oil-based drilling muds which are the fluids used to maintain pressure, cool drill bits, and lift cuttings from the holes in the drilling operation for oil and gas wells. The sulfonated thermoplastic and elastomeric polymers both have about 5 to about 200 meq. of sulfonate groups per 100 grams of the sulfonated thermoplastic or elastomeric polymers, wherein the sulfonated groups are neutralized with a metallic cation or an amine or ammonium counterion. A polar cosolvent can optionally be added to the mixture of oil drilling mud and sulfonated thermoplastic and elastomeric polymers, wherein the polar cosolvent increases the solubility of the sulfonated thermoplastic and elastomeric polymer in the oil drilling mud by decreasing the strong ionic interactions between the sulfonate groups of the sulfonated polymers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to powdered sulfonated thermoplastic polymers which function as viscosification agents when added to oil-based drilling muds which are the fluids used to maintain pressure, cool drill bits and lift cuttings from the holes in the drilling operation for oil and gas wells. The powdered sulfonated thermoplastic polymer has about 5 to about 100 meq. of sulfonate groups per 100 grams of the sulfonated thermoplastic polymer, wherein the sulfonated groups are neutralized with a metallic cation or an amine or ammonium counterion. The powdered sulfonated thermoplastic polymers have a particle size range of 0.25 .mu.m to 2.5 .mu.m and are prepared by spray drying an emulsion of the sulfonated thermoplastic polymer which has been prepared by a free radical copolymerization process.