Water-based Polymers Research Articles

Development of Eco-Friendly Treatment Methods for Contaminant Removal in Drilling Mud Systems

The environmental impact of traditional drilling mud treatments has become a growing concern in the oil and gas industry, prompting a shift towards more sustainable practices. Drilling muds, which are essential in wellbore operations, often rely on chemical additives to manage contaminants. However, conventional chemical treatments raise significant environmental issues, including toxicity, bioaccumulation, and long degradation periods. This study explores the development of eco-friendly treatment methods for contaminant removal in drilling mud systems, focusing on biodegradable and non-toxic additives as potential alternatives to harmful conventional chemicals. Our research involved the identification and laboratory testing of three primary categories of eco-friendly additives: biodegradable polymers, bio-surfactants, and water-based polymers. Each category was evaluated on its contaminant removal efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and overall impact on essential mud properties, such as density, viscosity, and pH stability. The results revealed that these eco-friendly additives demonstrated comparable, and in some cases superior, contaminant removal efficiencies relative to traditional treatments. For instance, water-based polymers achieved an average contaminant removal efficiency of 90%, while biodegradable polymers showed 85% removal efficiency. The cost analysis indicated potential savings of up to 30% per barrel when using eco-friendly additives, with water-based polymers being the most cost-effective. The study also examined the impact of these additives on drilling mud properties, finding that the eco-friendly options had minimal adverse effects on density, viscosity, and pH, thus preserving the functional integrity of the drilling mud system. Furthermore, these additives reduced the environmental risks associated with drilling mud disposal due to their biodegradability and low toxicity. The findings suggest that eco-friendly additives, particularly biodegradable polymers and water-based polymers, present a viable, sustainable alternative to traditional chemical treatments, offering both environmental and economic benefits. Future research should focus on scaling these solutions for field applications and further examining long-term environmental impacts. This study contributes to advancing sustainable practices within the oil and gas industry by providing evidence that eco-friendly treatment methods can meet the dual demands of environmental responsibility and operational efficiency.

Spray Quenching in Induction Hardening Applications

This article discusses the subtleties of spray quenching in induction surface hardening (case hardening) and selective hardening applications utilizing scanning and single-shot heating modes. Computer modeling provides the ability to predict how different factors may impact the transient and final heat-treating conditions of the workpiece and what must be accomplished in the design of the induction heating system to improve the effectiveness of the process and guarantee the desired results. One of the major features of computation of induction hardening processes deals with the specifics of modeling, i.e., both heating and quenching stages that can often be overlapped in time. Water or water-based polymers are the most popular types of quenchants used with induction hardening. Results of computer modeling of different induction hardening applications, using Inductoheat’s proprietary finite element codes, are presented here as well.

Novel waterborne UV-crosslinkable thiol–ene polyurethane dispersions: Synthesis and film formation

A new class of water-dispersible polyurethane pre-polymers bearing pendant unsaturation was synthesized and used with polyfunctional thiol crosslinkers to prepare uniform aqueous colloidal dispersions capable of forming crosslinked films upon UV exposure at 254nm. This novel approach to prepare UV crosslinkable, water-based polyurethane polymers offers numerous advantages over other similar systems. Photocuring behavior of films from such thiol–ene polyurethane dispersions (TE-PUD) was monitored using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy by following consumption of thiol and ene functionalities as a function of UV exposure time. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) revealed a decrease of the glass transition temperature (Tg) with increasing thiol/ene ratios ranging from 0.5 to 1.1.

Interaction energies of ZnO in acrylic polymer lattices

Water-based acrylic polymers are frequently used as binders in ceramic materials that contain ZnO as a major component. Thin flexible ceramic films used in semiconductor elements are prepared from ceramic powder, polymer binder, dispergant and plasticizer. In the present work, the chemical reaction of acrylic acid, a part of the polymer, and ceramic powder (ZnO) has been studied by semi-empirical calculations and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Systematic evaluation of model structures using varying contents of acrylic acid showed that ZnO adhesion increases as the carboxylate content in the polymer system increases. Interaction energy surfaces provide a quantitative insight into the spatial distribution of ZnO particles in various model structures. These results are also in good agreement with our infrared spectroscopy measurements.

Comparison of Liquid Dispersions with Spray-Dried Acrylic Polymers as Modifiers of a Cement-Based Patching Material

Abstract This study was carried out to compare the performance of dry polymers to the more conventional liquid-based polymers in a general purpose patching mortar. A series of polymer-modified mortars were thus evaluated, comparing two spray-dried redispersible acrylic powders with two water-based polymers: an acrylic dispersion and a styrene-butadiene rubber dispersion. The results of the testing showed that the use of the redispersible powders resulted in mortars with excellent adhesion and strength properties comparable to the liquid product. The mortars modified with these dry polymers also exhibited slightly higher shrinkage than the dispersions. However, combined with their advantages over liquid product, such as ease of shipping and handling, the dry polymers are very suitable for use in the formulation of high-performance patching materials.

Water‐based polymers as pressure‐sensitive adhesives—viscoelastic guidelines

AbstractWater‐based polymers have been widely used as pressure‐sensitive adhesives (PSAs). This article addresses the fundamental viscoelastic parameters that govern PSA performance. The viscoelastic behavior of polymers before and after resin tackification is investigated. Commercial acrylic, CSBR, natural rubber emulsion polymers, and low MW petroleum‐based hydrocarbon resins with various softening points are used to demonstrate the tackification effects. Basic guidelines for selecting the appropriate polymer/resin system to achieve the target performance are given. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Polymer Drilling Fluids in the 1990's: Will They Replace Oil-Based Muds?

Technology Today Series Introduction The 1990's have seen a surge in new water-soluble polymers available to the drilling industry. Many new polymers offer enhancements or significant improvements. It has often been said that "This polymer system is just as good as oil mud," or "This product will replace oil mud." These claims have negatively affected acceptance of new polymers, retarding their field applications regardless of technical and/or economic merit. Many new polymers are gaining acceptance because of unique performance characteristics and are proving to be cost-effective. Other polymers have been slow to gain acceptance, not because of improper claims, but because of less-than-satisfactory technical and/or economic performance. Some polymers will never achieve stated claims, but others will be optimized or modified and find an application niche in the industry. No one polymer chemistry or system will replace all the performance characteristics of oil-based fluids; however, some polymers are being used successfully in some oil-mud applications. Polymer Classification Overview Polymers are used in virtually all water-based fluids, so the term"polymer" should not have a negative connotation. However, many in the industry view polymers negatively because of a lack of understanding. Also, many drillers, drilling superintendents, and drilling engineers have seen on location that polymers fail to achieve claims. Polymers are classified as natural, modified natural, and synthetic. Natural polymers originate in nature (i.e., starch). Modified natural polymers are the result of a chemical reaction or modification to a natural polymer (i.e., carboxymethyl starch). Synthetic polymers are chemically reacted monomers [i.e., partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamides (PHPA's)]. The primary benefits of modified and synthetic polymers over natural polymers are increased temperature stability and contamination resistance. A general understanding of polymer classification and knowledge of the strengths, weaknesses, molecular weight, and functionality can facilitate selection and treatment strategy for polymers. Performance Characteristics The following performance characteristics desirable in a drilling fluid are selected from a list of advantages of oil-based drilling fluids and will be used to compare the performances of polymers and oil-based drilling fluids.Thermal stability.Formation stability.Protection of production zone.Lubricity and torque/drag reduction."Drillability."Environmental compatibility.Stuck-pipe prevention.Corrosion protection.Resistance to contamination. Thermal Stability. Synthetic polymer chemistry has probably made its most significant contribution to the drilling industry in high-temperature/high-pressure applications. During the deep-gas/high-bottomhole-temperature (BHT) drilling of the 1970's and 1980's, oil muds prevailed. During the late 1980's and early 1990's, numerous synthetic polymers proved technically capable and cost-effective at high BHT's and pressures. Synthetic polymers specifically formulated for deflocculating, fluid-loss control, and gel inhibition at high temperature proved to have wide utility. In 1989, Elsen et al. reported the use of a lime-based fluid at densities exceeding 18.0 lbm/gal with calculated BHT's above 350#F. Using limemuds at these hostile conditions would have been impossible without natural, modified, and synthetic polymers. Polymers used in this challenging environment included lignite, starch, polyanionic cellulose (PAC), polyanionic lignon, polymer-grafted lignosulfonate, modified polyacrylate terpolymer, and vinylamide/vinyl sulfonate copolymer. Numerous water-based systems incorporating various polymers have been used successfully and economically above 400 F with densities ranging from 15.0 to 18.0 lbm/gal. Successful completion of these wells with water-based polymers requires prespud planning and laboratory optimization specific to the drilling objective. These prerequisites must not be compromised. Special programs must be in place with wellsite laboratory equipment and laboratory confirmation for this technology to be applied successfully. Formation Stability. Various developments in the late 1980's and early1990's focused on improving formation stability by increasing the concentration of shale-inhibiting additives or by combining polymer additives that inhibit reactive shales. Preventing the hydration of swelling and/or reactive shales with water-based systems became the technical challenge of the drilling-fluid industry. A long list of polymers and polymer enhancers were thrust on the industry. Examples are saturated salt/PHPA, polyalcohol, polyglycol, cloud-point polyols, polyglycerine, cationic polymers, cationic starch, carboxymethyl starch, cationic PHPA, black liquids, black powders, potassiumpolyacrylates, potassium cellulosic polymers, polyamino acids, MMH, MMS, and methyl glucoside. Cationic polymer systems received increased attention in the early 1990's.The industry saw a major operator and a major service company introduce and promote cationic chemistry as a replacement for oil-based muds. The reviews of these systems were mixed. While some reports indicate the success of these systems, more field experience is needed to determine long-termapplicability. P. 691^

Styrene-Butadiene Latexes in Adhesives

Economic, regulatory and safety considerations have led to an increased emphasis on water-based systems in the adhesives industry. Significant contenders for growth in the use of water-based polymers are a range of styrene-butadiene latexes which give an optimum balance of cost and perfor mance in a wide range of applications. These latexes offer compounding flexibility and are capable of accommodating extensive modification with tackifying resins. Styrene- butadiene latexes are dominant in construction adhesives and are increasingly being used in such high performance applica tions as pressure sensitive adhesives.