Abstract: The invention provides a method for the treatment of a hydrocarbon well which method comprises administering, down said well, polymeric particles having covalently bound to a polymeric component thereof a well treatment chemical or a precursor thereof, wherein the particles contain covalent bonds scissile in an aqueous environment to release or expose said chemical or precursor.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of monodisperse polymer particles which are formed by contacting monomers with aqueous dispersions comprising monodisperse swellable seed polymers/oligomers, and initiating polymerization in the presence of a steric stabilizer. The resulting swollen seed particles are characterized by the particle mode diameter.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the treatment of a hydrocarbon well which method comprises administering, down said well, polymeric particles having covalently bound to a polymeric component thereof a well treatment chemical or a precursor thereof, wherein the particles contain covalent bonds scissile in an aqueous environment to release or expose said chemical or precursor.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the treatment of a hydrocarbon well which method comprises administering, down said well, polymeric particles having covalently bound to a polymeric component thereof a well treatment chemical or a precursor thereof, wherein the particles contain covalent bonds scissile in an aqueous environment to release or expose said chemical or precursor.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the treatment of a hydrocarbon well which method comprises administering, down the well, inverse suspension polymerized polymer particles having immobilized therein a well treatment chemical or a precursor or generator thereof.

Abstract: A method for the treatment of a hydrocarbon well comprising administering down the well polymeric particles impregnated with a well treatment chemical or precursor or generator thereof. The particles have a pore volume of at least 20%, and are prepared by a process which comprises preparing an aqueous dispersion of polymer particles containing from 0.05 to 10 times by volume, based on the polymer, of one or more specific first material(s) adding a partly water-soluble second material having a water-solubility of at least ten times that of first material(s) under conditions which prevent or hinder transport of first material(s) through the aqueous phase, whereby second material diffuses into the polymer particles swelled with first material(s) and increases the volume of said particles by from 20 to 1000 times, based on the polymer.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of monodisperse polymer particles which are formed by contacting monomers with aqueous dispersions comprising monodisperse swellable seed polymers/oligomers, and initiating polymerization in the presence of a steric stabilizer. The resulting swollen seed particles are characterized by the particle mode diameter.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the treatment of a hydrocarbon well which method comprises administering down said well polymeric particles having covalently bound to a polymeric component thereof a well treatment chemical or a precursor thereof, said particles containing covalent bonds scissile in an aqueous environment to release or expose said chemical or precursor.

Abstract: Gelatin capsules containing oil field chemicals, preferably weighted with a heavy metal compound, are made more stable under certain conditions by the incorporation of a strong chelating agent. The microcapsules can provide an extended treatment period since many materials that would damage the microcapsules are controlled by the chelating agent.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the treatment of a hydrocarbon well which method comprises administering down said well polymeric particles impregnated with a well treatment chemical or precursor or generator thereof (e.g. a scale inhibitor), said particles having a pore volume of at least 20%, and being prepared by a process which comprises preparing in a first step an aqueous dispersion of polymer particles containing from 0.