Abstract: A viscous fluid, such as heavy crude oil which is too viscous to enable it to be pumped from a flowing phase of a reservoir into and along a pipeline for delivery to a refinery or other storage facility, may be contacted with a formulation to reduce its viscosity. The formulation comprises a polymeric material AA which includes —O— moieties pendent from a polymeric backbone thereof and said material is optionally cross-linked. In one embodiment, the formulation may comprise polyvinyl alcohol. In an alternative embodiment, the formulation may comprise a cross-linked polymeric material, such as cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol. After the viscous composition has been transported to a desired location, it may be separated from the other components.

Abstract: A viscous fluid, such as heavy crude oil which is too viscous to enable it to be pumped from a flowing phase of a reservoir into and along a pipeline for delivery to a refinery or other storage facility, may be contacted with a formulation to reduce its viscosity. The formulation comprises a polymeric material AA which includes —O—moieties pendent from a polymeric backbone thereof and said material is optionally cross-linked. In one embodiment, the formulation may comprise polyvinyl alcohol. In an alternative embodiment, the formulation may comprise a cross-linked polymeric material, such as cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol. After the viscous composition has been transported to a desired location, it may be separated from the other components.

Abstract: A method of preparing an aqueous formulation of an active material and such a formulation per se are described, wherein the active material has a very low solubility in water. The method may involve contacting active material in solid form with an optionally cross-linked water soluble polymer. The water soluble polymer is preferably a polyvinyl polymer with polyvinylalcohol being preferred. The polymer is optionally cross-linked. The method and formulation may be of particular utility in delivery of anti-cancer drugs or drugs via a pulmonary route.

Abstract: A viscous fluid, such as heavy crude oil which is too viscous to enable it to be pumped from a flowing phase of a reservoir into and along a pipeline for delivery to a refinery or other storage facility, may be contacted with a formulation to reduce its viscosity. The formulation comprises a polymeric material AA which includes —O— moieties pendent from a polymeric backbone thereof and said material is optionally cross-linked. In one embodiment, the formulation may comprise polyvinyl alcohol. In an alternative embodiment, the formulation may comprise a cross-linked polymeric material, such as cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol. After the viscous composition has been transported to a desired location, it may be separated from the other components.

Abstract: A viscous fluid, such as heavy crude oil which is too viscous to enable it to be pumped from a flowing phase of a reservoir into and along a pipeline for delivery to a refinery or other storage facility, may be contacted with a formulation to reduce its viscosity. The formulation comprises a polymeric material AA which includes —O— moieties pendent form a polymeric backbone thereof and said material is optionally cross-linked. In one embodiment, the formulation may comprise polyvinyl alcohol. In an alternative embodiment, the formulation may comprise a cross-linked polymeric material, such as cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol. After the viscous composition has been transported to a desired location, it may be separated from the other components.

Abstract: A process for recovering materials from a subterranean formation, for example in enhanced oil recovery, comprises: (A) (a) (i) selecting a first polymeric material having a repeat unit of formula (A) wherein A and B are the same or different, are selected from optionally-substituted aromatic and heteroaromatic groups and at least one comprises a relatively polar atom or group and R1 and R2 independently comprise relatively non-polar atoms or groups; or (ii) selecting a first polymeric material prepared or preparable by providing a compound of general formula (B) wherein A, B, R1 and R2 are as described above, in an aqueous solvent and causing the groups C?C in said compound to react with one another to form said first polymeric material; (b) selecting a second polymeric material which includes a functional group which is able to react in the presence of said first polymeric material to form a third polymeric material; (c) causing the formation of said third polymeric material by a reaction involving said firs

Abstract: Water problems in the production of oil or gas from subterranean formations is addressed by providing a method of restricting passage of a fluid from a first location to a second location in a subterranean formation by injecting into the formation a formulation comprising a first material, for example a dialdehyde, arranged to cross-link a second polymeric material, for example a polyvinyl alcohol, thereby to form a polymeric material of high viscosity which may block the passage between the first and second locations.

Abstract: A delivery means for delivering a deliverable material to a wound bed comprises a hydrogel (preferably an optionally cross-linked polyvinylalcohol) and a deliverable material comprising: (i) a decomposable material which in the absence of said hydrogel decomposes and/or is permanently denatured if sterilised using heat, electron beam radiation or gamma radiation; (ii) a protein, protein fragment, peptide or amino acid; or (iii) a secretion or excretion from the organism Lucilia sericata or Drosophila melanogaster.

Abstract: An underground cable (2) comprises a housing (4) filled with conductive elements (6) and an insulating oil (12). To remove the insulating oil and prevent contamination, a visco-elastic formulation is prepared, suitably from cross-linked polyvinylalcohol, and introduced into the cable (2). The fluid is forced through the cable whereby it removes insulating oil therefrom.

Abstract: A delivery means, for example a dressing, for delivering an antibacterial metal, for example silver, comprises the metal in combination with a hydrophilic polymer. The polymer may be cross-linked by a butylidene polymer to define a gel. In the examples, silver nitrate may be reduced to metallic silver, protected using polyvinylalcohol which is cross-linked to define a gel.

Abstract: Oil contaminated drill cuttings are contacted with an oil soluble surfactant with agitation which causes the hydrophobic moiety of the surfactant to interact with the oil. Next, an aqueous polymer formulation comprising a polymer having polar and/or ionic functionality is added and mixed. Then, an excess volume of water is added with gentle agitation and the mixture is allowed to settle, whereupon the cuttings sediment to the bottom of the receptacle in which the process is undertaken and the supernatant contains a colloidal suspension of particles which comprise oil, surfactant and polymer. The drill cuttings may then be separated from the supernatant by filtration. The supernatant may be treated with a flocculating agent to cause the colloidal particles to sediment. They too may then be separated.

Abstract: A method of preparing a dispersion which includes the step of contacting a first phase, a first material immiscible therewith, a first polymeric material and a second polymeric material wherein: (a) (i) said first polymeric material has a repeat unit of the formula (I), wherein A and B are the same or different, are selected from optionally-substituted aromatic and thereoaromatic groups and at least one comprises a relatively polar atom or group and R1 and R2 independently comprise relatively non-polar atoms or groups; (ii) said first polymeric material is prepared or preparable by providing a compound of general formula (I), wherein A, B, R1 and R2 are as described above, in an aqueous solvent and causing the groups C?C in said compound to react with one another to form said first polymeric material; (b) said second polymeric material includes a functional group which is able to react with said first polymeric material so that covalent bonds are formed between said first and second polymeric materials; (c) t

Abstract: A method of preparing a first polymeric compound which comprises providing a compound of the general formula AR1C═CR2B or a salt thereof where A and B are the same or different and at least on group comprises a relatively polar atom or group and R1 and R2 independently comprise relatively non-polar atoms or groups, in a solvent of a type in which ethane itself is greatly insoluble and spacing the C═C groups in said compound to react with one another to form a polymeric structure. The first polymeric compound may be reacted with a second compound, for example polyvinylalcohol, collagen, or the like to produce a colloid or gel which may have applications in the treatment of burns or recovery of oils.

Abstract: A method of preparing a first polymeric compound which comprises providing a compound of the general formula AR1C═CR2B or a salt thereof where A and B are the same or different and at least on group comprises a relatively polar atom or group and R1 and R2 independently comprise relatively non-polar atoms or groups, in a solvent of a type in which ethane itself is greatly insoluble and spacing the C═C groups in said compound to react with one another to form a polymeric structure. The first polymeric compound may be reacted with a second compound, for example polyvinylalcohol, collagen, or the like to produce a colloid or gel which may have applications in the treatment of burns or recovery of oils.