Abstract: Disclosed are particulate compositions comprising particles of a blend of one or more polyvinyl alcohol polymers with one or more aliphatic polyester polymers, wherein such particulate compositions are useful, for example, as plugging agents for treatments applied to a subterranean formation traversed by the borehole of an oil or gas well.

Abstract: A vinyl alcohol copolymer, wherein the vinyl alcohol copolymer includes a vinyl alcohol unit and a constituent unit derived from an unsaturated monomer (A), the unsaturated monomer (A) is at least one selected from the group consisting of an unsaturated carboxylic acid, a salt thereof, an anhydride thereof, and an alkyl ester thereof, a content of the constituent unit derived from the unsaturated monomer (A) with respect to total constituent units of the vinyl alcohol copolymer is 1.00 mol % or more and 5.00 mol % or less, and 70 mol % or more of the constituent unit derived from the unsaturated monomer (A) forms a lactone ring structure.

Abstract: A particulate compacted copolymer polyvinyl alcohol-based composition that can be used as a plugging agent for minimizing or eliminating loss of circulation of fluids during the process of well drilling, workover, completion and cementing in the production of oil and gas.

Abstract: An object of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide a thickener for a wellbore acid treatment liquid which thickener has excellent hydrolysis resistance and a high thickening capability. A thickener (X) for a wellbore acid treatment liquid contains a surfactant (a) as expressed by General Formula 1 below. In General Formula 1, R1 represents a C12 to C22 alkyl group or a C12 to C22 alkenyl group, R2 and R3 each independently represent a C1 to C3 alkyl group or a C1 to C3 hydroxyalkyl group, X represents a C3 straight-chain hydroxyalkylene group or a C3 branched hydroxyalkylene group, and Y? represents SO3?.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and kits of fibers and acid-functional vinyl alcohol polymers, wherein such compositions and kits are useful for wellbore remediation as applied to a subterranean formation traversed by the borehole of an oil or gas well.

Abstract: Disclosed are particulate compositions comprising particles of a blend of one or more polyvinyl alcohol polymers with one or more aliphatic polyester polymers, wherein such particulate compositions are useful, for example, as plugging agents for treatments applied to a subterranean formation traversed by the borehole of an oil or gas well.

Abstract: A particulate compacted copolymer polyvinyl alcohol-based composition that can be used as a plugging agent for minimizing or eliminating loss of circulation of fluids during the process of well drilling, workover, completion and cementing in the production of oil and gas.

Abstract: The present invention provides an industrially advantageous method for producing vinyl alcohol polymers having a low degree of polymerization using a chain transfer agent having an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, the method being capable of producing a vinyl alcohol polymer whose aqueous solution has excellent viscosity stability. The present invention relates to a method for producing vinyl alcohol polymers, including: polymerizing a vinyl ester monomer (a) in the presence of a polymerization initiator (B) and a chain transfer agent (C) having an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms to obtain a vinyl ester polymer (A); and saponifying the vinyl ester polymer (A) at a concentration of 40 mass % or more and 75 mass % or less in the presence of an acidic catalyst (D) to obtain a vinyl alcohol polymer, wherein the vinyl alcohol polymer has a viscosity-average degree of polymerization of 160 or more and 400 or less.

Abstract: Provided is a crude oil dispersion stabilizer containing a vinyl alcohol-based polymer, wherein a degree of saponification of the vinyl alcohol-based polymer is greater than 70 mol % and 82 mol % or less, and the total content of carboxyl groups and lactone rings is 0.02 to 1 mol % relative to all structural units of the vinyl alcohol-based polymer. According to this, there is provided a crude oil dispersion stabilizer capable of dispersing or emulsifying a highly viscous crude oil, thereby reducing the viscosity and allowing the resulting crude oil dispersion liquid or emulsion to be present stably for a long time.

Abstract: The present invention provides an industrially advantageous method for producing vinyl alcohol polymers having a low degree of polymerization using a chain transfer agent having an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, the method being capable of producing a vinyl alcohol polymer whose aqueous solution has excellent viscosity stability. The present invention relates to a method for producing vinyl alcohol polymers, including: polymerizing a vinyl ester monomer (a) in the presence of a polymerization initiator (B) and a chain transfer agent (C) having an aliphatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms to obtain a vinyl ester polymer (A); and saponifying the vinyl ester polymer (A) at a concentration of 40 mass % or more and 75 mass % or less in the presence of an acidic catalyst (D) to obtain a vinyl alcohol polymer, wherein the vinyl alcohol polymer has a viscosity-average degree of polymerization of 160 or more and 400 or less.

Abstract: Provided is a crude oil dispersion stabilizer containing a vinyl alcohol-based polymer, wherein a degree of saponification of the vinyl alcohol-based polymer is greater than 70 mol % and 82 mol % or less, and the total content of carboxyl groups and lactone rings is 0.02 to 1 mol % relative to all structural units of the vinyl alcohol-based polymer. According to this, there is provided a crude oil dispersion stabilizer capable of dispersing or emulsifying a highly viscous crude oil, thereby reducing the viscosity and allowing the resulting crude oil dispersion liquid or emulsion to be present stably for a long time.

Abstract: Provided are (1) a vinyl alcohol graft copolymer grafting polymerizable unsaturated monomers as a graft chain onto a side-chain mercapto group-containing vinyl alcohol polymer backbone, the graft chain being attached to the polymer backbone at a mercapto group, and the backbone including: a vinyl alcohol unit and a unit represented by the following formula (I): wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom or a carboxyl group; R2 is a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, a carboxyl group, or a carboxymethyl group; and X is a divalent C1-22 group which contains a carbon atom and a hydrogen atom and may contain a nitrogen atom and/or an oxygen atom; and (2) an ion-exchange membrane having controlled swelling in water and excellent flex resistance, the membrane including a vinyl alcohol graft copolymer as described above.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vinyl alcohol polymer having a mercapto group and having excellent reactivity.

Abstract: Provided are (1) a vinyl alcohol graft copolymer grafting polymerizable unsaturated monomers as a graft chain onto a side-chain mercapto group-containing vinyl alcohol polymer backbone, the graft chain being attached to the polymer backbone at a mercapto group, and the backbone including: a vinyl alcohol unit and a unit represented by the following formula (I): wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom or a carboxyl group; R2 is a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, a carboxyl group, or a carboxymethyl group; and X is a divalent C1-22 group which contains a carbon atom and a hydrogen atom and may contain a nitrogen atom and/or an oxygen atom; and (2) an ion-exchange membrane having controlled swelling in water and excellent flex resistance, the membrane including a vinyl alcohol graft copolymer as described above.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vinyl alcohol polymer having a mercapto group and having excellent reactivity.