Rapidly inverting water-in-oil polymer emulsions

Abstract

The present invention relates to formulations comprising an inversion facilitator additive and an active emulsion polymer, and methods for their use. The formulation can comprise a water-in-oil emulsion having the active emulsion polymer in an aqueous phase of the water-in-oil emulsion. The active emulsion polymer can be a friction-reducing polymer, a flocculant polymer, or any other polymer suitable for delivery within the aqueous phase of the water-in-oil emulsion.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A formulation comprising an inversion facilitator additive and an active emulsion polymer. 
     
     
         2 . The formulation of  claim 1 , comprising a water-in-oil emulsion having the active emulsion polymer in an aqueous phase of the water-in-oil emulsion. 
     
     
         3 . The formulation of  claim 2 , wherein the water-in-oil emulsion is a friction-reducing emulsion. 
     
     
         4 . The formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the inversion facilitator additive is selected from the group consisting of glycerol, urea, sorbitol, sucrose, glycerol phosphates, and choline chloride. 
     
     
         5 . The formulation of  claim 3 , wherein the inversion facilitator additive is added in an amount effective to improve friction reduction performance. 
     
     
         6 . The formulation of  claim 5 , wherein the inversion facilitator additive is added at a level of about 1% to about 60% by weight of the water-in-oil emulsion. 
     
     
         7 . The formulation of  claim 6 , wherein the inversion facilitator additive is added at a level of about 2% to about 30% by weight of the water-in-oil emulsion. 
     
     
         8 . The formulation of  claim 7 , wherein the inversion facilitator additive is added at a level of about 5% to about 25% by weight of the water-in-oil emulsion. 
     
     
         9 . The formulation of  claim 1 , further comprising a salt selected from the group consisting of ammonium chloride, sodium carbonate, and zinc chloride. 
     
     
         10 . The formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the active emulsion polymer is a friction-reducing polymer. 
     
     
         11 . The formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the active emulsion polymer is a flocculant polymer. 
     
     
         12 . The formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the inversion facilitator polymer is added at an amount to improve flocculant performance. 
     
     
         13 . A method for reducing friction of a fluid material flowing in a conduit, comprising:
 providing a formulation comprising an inversion facilitator additive and a water-in-oil emulsion comprising a friction-reducing polymer in an aqueous phase; and   adding the formulation to the fluid material, thereby reducing friction in the fluid material flowing in the conduit.   
     
     
         14 . A method for improving separation of a solid phase from a liquid phase in a fluid stream, comprising:
 providing a formulation comprising an inversion facilitator additive and a water-in-oil emulsion comprising an active emulsion polymer in an aqueous phase, wherein the active emulsion polymer improves separation of the solid phase from the liquid phase; and   adding the formulation to the fluid stream, thereby improving separation of the solid phase from the liquid phase.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the separation comprises flocculation. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the solid phase comprises a cellulosic material. 
     
     
         17 . A method for facilitating the inversion of a water-in-oil emulsion, comprising:
 adding an inversion facilitator additive to the water-in-oil emulsion, wherein the contact of the inversion facilitator additive with a discontinuous phase of the water-in-oil emulsion facilitates the inversion of the water-in-oil emulsion; and   dispersing the inversion facilitator additive within the water-in-oil emulsion to effect contact between the inversion facilitator additive and the discontinuous phase, thereby facilitating the inversion of the water-in-oil emulsion.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the discontinuous phase contains an effective amount of a friction-reducing polymer. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the discontinuous phase contains an effective amount of a flocculating polymer. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising adding a salt to the water-in-oil emulsion.