Phenothiazine Stabilized Aqueous Polymer Compositions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aqueous polymer compositions used in subterranean exploration degrade under high temperatures, leading to reduced rheological and chemical properties, which hinders their performance in deep, high-temperature applications.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating phenothiazine compounds or their derivatives into aqueous polymer compositions to stabilize them against thermal, chemical, and mechanical degradation, maintaining their chemical and rheological properties even under harsh conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If aqueous polymer compositions are used in high temperature subterranean applications, then productivity and exploration capability are improved, but the polymer composition degrades due to thermal, chemical and mechanical stress

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesubterranean exploration capabilityVSAvoidpolymer composition stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces phenothiazine compounds as intermediary substances that mediate between the polymer composition and the harsh high-temperature environment. These compounds act as stabilizing agents that protect the polymer from degradation without interfering with its functional performance in subterranean applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the aqueous polymer system by adding phenothiazine compounds. This changes the stabilizing properties of the composition, enabling it to maintain its rheological and chemical properties at elevated temperatures where conventional polymers would degrade.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If conventional stabilizing agents are used to maintain polymer properties at high temperature, then reliability is improved, but the complexity of the composition increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolymer composition stabilityVSAvoidcomposition complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs phenothiazine compounds that can be added in small amounts (0.01-5% by weight) to provide stabilization. These are relatively simple compounds compared to complex stabilizing systems, allowing effective stabilization with minimal addition and reduced overall composition complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The addition of phenothiazine compounds effectively stabilizes aqueous polymer compositions, ensuring they retain their properties and performance at elevated temperatures, extending their usability in high-temperature applications.

Implementation Method 1

The aqueous polymer compositions are stable at high temperatures against thermal, chemical and mechanical degradation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal stabilization:

Implementation Method 2

stabilized against degradation... improved temperature stability... stable at high temperatures against thermal, chemical and mechanical degradation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical degradation resistance:

Implementation Method 3

maintain their chemical and rheological properties even under harsh conditions... maintain the resistance to shear degradation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRheological property stabilization:

Data Source

PatentEP2085424B2Stabilized aqueous polymer compositions
Publication Date: 2016.01.13 TOUGAS OILFIELD SOLUTIONS GMBH

AI summary

The aqueous polymer composition comprises a water soluble polymer having a molar weight of at least 104 Daltons and comprising functional groups which may form complexes with metal ions. The aqueous polymer compositions of this invention are stabilized against thermal or other degradation processes by addition of a phenothiazine compound to allow their use even under harsh conditions.