Abstract: Subject matter of the present invention is a drilling fluid additive based on sulfonated asphalt, which comprises a water soluble and anionic polymer component in quantities of 0.1 to 20 wt. %, with respect to the total additive in addition to the asphalt component. With this additive the water solubility of sulfonated asphalt can be markedly increased. This additive, whose polymer component is thermally highly stable, is utilized primarily in water- and/or oil-based drilling fluids and in particular in the exploration of subterraneous petroleum and natural gas deposits. Typical polymer components to consider are representatives of polycondensation products, such as phenol resins, ketone resins and sulfonated naphthalene, acetone and amino plasticizer resins (for example urea and melamine resins).

Abstract: Water-soluble, biologically degradable copolymers based on polyamide are described which contain at least one grafted side chain composed of aldehydes and sulfur-containing acids and salts thereof and optionally at least one compound from the series ketones, aromatic alcohols, urea (derivatives) and amino-s-triazines. Natural polyamides such as caseins, gelatins, collagens, bone glues, blood albumins and soya proteins as well as degradation products thereof and synthetic polyamides such as polyaspartic acids and copolymers of aspartic and glutamic acid are used as preferred polyamide components. These copolymers are obtained primarily by graft polymerization at temperatures between ?10 and 250° C., preferably in the presence of a solvent such as water or by thermal drying and they are used in particular as flow agents or water retention agents for inorganic binders and pigments especially in combination with hydraulic binders they only have a very slight setting-retardant effect.

Abstract: The use of a three-component water-soluble polymer comprising 5–90% by weight of a component a), preferably of the maleic acid, fumaric acid or itaconic acid type, 5–90% by weight of a component b) essentially from the group consisting of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid, vinylsulfonic acid and vinylphosphonic acid, and 5–90% by weight of a component c) comprising acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylamide or methacrylamide, as fluidizer for refractory compositions comprising alumina cement is described. The copolymer, which has a preferred molecular weight Mw of <50,000, can also be combined with further quality-improving additives such as silica, lime or soda and further customary additives for refractory compositions.

Abstract: Methods of cementing subterranean zones using cement compositions containing biogradable dispersants are provided. The methods are basically comprised of the steps of preparing a hydraulic cement, a biodegradable dispersant comprised of polyaspartic acid containing side chains formed by reacting one or more side chain chemicals with said polyaspartic acid and sufficient water to form a pumpable slurry, placing the cement composition into a zone to be cemented and allowing the cement composition to set into an impermeable solid mass therein.

Abstract: Water-soluble copolymers based on olefinic sulfonic acids, olefinic dicarboxylic acids, vinyl amides and vinyl ethers and/or allyl ethers and/or bisacryl derivatives are described as well as processes for their production and the use of these copolymers as water retention agents, thickeners or anti-segregation agents for aqueous building material systems that contain hydraulic binding agents such as cement, lime, gypsum, anhydrite etc. or for clay suspensions preferably based on bentonite.

Abstract: This process for the preparation of homogeneous, low-viscous and long-term-stable polymer dispersion in mineral oils, in which a liquid mineral oil component, to which a water-soluble polymer and an organophilic bentonite have been added, is stirred, is distinguished by the fact that the dispersing process is carried out at speeds of ?1000 rpm. The duration of the stirring operation should preferably be between 5 and 60 minutes, and both aromatized and/or dearomatized mineral oils and also as typical water-soluble polymers, which moreover may have a maximum water content of 25% by weight, can be used. By means of this relatively simple process, homogeneous polymer-containing mineral oil dispersions having a low viscosity and at the same time pronounced long-term stability, which are suitable in particular for use in oil and gas exploration, are obtained in very short mixing times.

Abstract: Sulfonated condensation products that are stable in storage and have increased thermal stability are based on aminoplastic formers having at least two amino groups or naphthalene and formaldehyde and, optionally include organic nitrogen bases which additionally contain, as nitrogenous formulation auxiliary agents, compounds of general formula (I) R1—NH—X—Y—R2, wherein R1 and R2 independently represent H, —CH3, —C2H5, —C3H7, —(CH2)n—CH2—; X?—CH2, CO, CS; Y?S, NH, —(CH2)m—; n=0 to 9; m=1 to 4; and/or compounds of general formula (II), wherein Z?—OCH3, —SO3—H, —SO3Na+, —NO2, —NH2, —NH—NH2, —CO2—Na+, —CHO. The mole ratio of aminoplastic formers: formaldehyde: sulfite: nitrogenous formulation auxiliary agents rangin from 1:1.9 to 6.0:1.0 to 2.0:0.01 to 1.5 and/or the mole ratio of naphthalene sulfonic acid: formaldehyde; nitrogenous formulation auxiliary agents equals 1:0.7 to 3.0:0.01 to 1.5. Method for preparing these condensation products of using them, e.g.

Abstract: Methods of cementing subterranean zones using cement compositions containing biodegradable dispersants are provided. The methods are basically comprised of the steps of preparing a hydraulic cement, a biodegradable dispersant comprised of polyaspartic acid containing side chains formed by reacting one or more side chain chemicals with said polyaspartic acid and sufficient water to form a pumpable slurry, placing the cement composition into a zone to be cemented and allowing the cement composition to set into an impermeable solid mass therein.

Abstract: This polymeric, acrylamide-free water retention agent, intended inter alia for drilling fluids in the high-temperature range and based on vinylic sulfonic acids, may be composed of the two principal components A and B, component A being selected from the group a) consisting of vinylic substituted sulfonic acid of the series 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid (AMPS), vinylsulfonic acid, methallylsulfonic acid or styrenesulfonic acid, salts thereof with a valence of at least 1, or mixtures thereof, or b) a divalent salt of homopolymers or copolymers of a vinylic substituted sulfonic acid of the series 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid (AMPS), vinylsulfonic acid, methallylsulfonic acid or styrenesultonic acid or mixtures thereof. In the case where component A comprises group a), the polymer further comprises component B) composed of a) from 4.99 to 60 mol % of an unsaturated, polybasic, cis-positioned carboxylic acid monomer and b) from 0.

Abstract: This polymeric, acrylamide-free water retention agent, intended inter alia for drilling fluids in the high-temperature range and based on vinylic sulfonic acids, may be composed of the two principal components A and B, component A being selected from the group a) consisting of vinylic substituted sulfonic acid of the series 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid (AMPS), vinylsulfonic acid, methallylsulfonic acid or styrenesulfonic acid, salts thereof with a valence of at least 1, or mixtures thereof, or b) a divalent salt of homopolymers or copolymers of a vinylic substituted sulfonic acid of the series 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid (AMPS), vinylsulfonic acid, methallylsulfonic acid or styrenesultonic acid or mixtures thereof. In the case where component A comprises group a), the polymer further comprises component B) composed of a) from 4.99 to 60 mol % of an unsaturated, polybasic, cis-positioned carboxylic acid monomer and b) from 0.

Abstract: A method for the rheology control of fluid phases, in which adducts which contain layered mixed metal hydroxides (MMH) and hectorite are used, and corresponding compositions for this purpose are claimed. Preferably used MMH are those which were produced by hydration of mixed metal oxides or oxyhydroxides, which in turn may be thermally activated. The use of coprecipitated MMH or of MMH produced in situ is also possible. The ratio of MMH to the hectorite component should preferably be from 0.05 to 0.2:1, it also being possible to use adducts whose clay fraction contains up to 80%. by weight of clays differing from hectorite, in particular bentonite. The method is preferably carried out using drilling fluids in the high-temperature range >300° F. (>149° C.).

Abstract: Terpolymers based on (meth)acrylamide, hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylate and sulfobetaine monomers and their use as thickeners for aqueous salt solutions are described. The terpolymers display their thickening effect within wide concentration and density ranges of the aqueous salt solutions. In addition, their thermal stability is retained also with respect to salt solutions containing calcium chloride and/or calcium bromide and/or zinc bromide.

Abstract: A solids composition based on clay minerals and consisting of a) 40-99.8 wt. % of a clay mineral with a reduced moisture content of .ltoreq.7 wt. %, b) 0.01-30 wt. % of a mixed metal hydroxide and c) 0.01-30 wt. % of a solid base, and if necessary other additives, is described. The solids composition of the invention is an easy-to-use thickening agent for water-based drilling fluids, and has a long-term stability of at least three months.

Abstract: Graft polymers of ketone-aldehyde condensation and co-condensation products and/or the monovalent or polyvalent metal compounds thereof are described, in which condensation product consistsa) of symmetrical or asymmetrical ketones containing aliphatic, araliphatic, cyclic or aromatic hydro-carbon radicals with at least one nonaromatic radical,b) an aldehyde of the formula R--(CHO).sub.n, wherein n=1 to 2 and R can be hydrogen or an aliphatic, araliphatic, aromatic or heterocyclic radical, andc) optionally of carboxyl, sulpho, sulphamido, sulphoxy, sulphoalkylamine or sulphoalkyloxy groups,to which product anionic and/or nonionic and/or cationic unsaturated monomers have been grafted. These graft polymers are outstandingly suitable as dispersants for inorganic binder suspensions and solutions, for aqueous clay suspensions and solutions or coal/water suspensions, as retention agents, thickeners, in particular for aqueous systems, and as agents for preventing the swelling of clay in aqueous systems.

Abstract: In order to reduce the filtrate of aqueous drilling fluid compositions based on clay minerals containing mixed metal hydroxides, a polysaccharide that is partially etherified with hydroxyethyl and/or hydroxypropyl groups is used as the filtrate-reducing agent.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thermostable polymer comprisinga) 16 to 67 mole % of structural components of the formula: ##STR1## b) 5 to 42 mole % of structural components of the formula: ##STR2## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3, independently of one another, are hydrogen atoms or methyl radicals, as well as c) 16 to 46 mole % of structural components of the formula: ##STR3## wherein R.sup.4 is a hydrogen atom or a methyl radical. The present invention also provides a process for the production of these polymers which, because of their high temperature stability, are outstandingly useful as retention agents for aqueous systems and as fluid loss additives.

Abstract: The invention relates to condensation products of aldehydes and ketones, which contain acid groups and are especially suitable as dispersants for binding agent mixtures of high salt content.

Abstract: The present invention provides metal compounds of acid group-containing condensation products or co-condensation products of ketones and aldehydes, obtainable by the reaction of acid group-containing ketone-aldehyde condensation products and/or co-condensation products with mono- or polyvalent metal compounds and/or metal complex compounds of metals of Groups IIIA to VIIIA and/or IB to VB of the Periodic System.The present invention also provides processes for the production of these metal compounds, which can be used as thickening agents, surface-active agents, emulsifiers, dispersion agents and/or liquefying agents, especially in aqueous systems.

Abstract: The present invention provides acid group-containing, thermostable, hydrophilic condensation products of aldehydes and ketones, wherein the ketones used are symmetrical or asymmetrical ketones with acyclic aliphatic, araliphatic and/or aromatic radicals, at least one radical being non-aromatic.The present invention also provides processes for the production of these condensation products, which can be used as thickening agents, retention agents, surface-active agents, dispersion agents and/or liquefying agents, especially in aqueous systems.

Abstract: The present invention provides acid group-containing, hydrophilic co-condensation products of ketone-aldehyde resins which are obtainable by the co-condensation of at least one ketone and at least one aldehyde with at least one acid group-introducing compound and with at least one aminoplast former and/or aromatic compound and/or at least one condensation product thereof and/or with at least one ligninsulphonate resin and/or cellulose derivative.The present invention also provides a process for producing these co-condensation products and applications of thickening agents, retention agents, surface-active agents, dispersion agents and plasticizing agents consisting of or comprising these co-condensation products.