Patent EA-001538-B1 (EA)
Title: Nonaqueous suspensions reducing resistance to flowing streams of hydrocarbons in conduits
Inventor: JOHNSTON RAY L
IPC: F17D1/16
Filed: 1997-09-12
Abstract: 1. A method of forming a heat stable, nonaqueous suspension of a solid hydrocarbon soluble polyalphaolefin friction reducing agent formed from olefines containing from 2 to 30 carbon atoms and capable of reducing drag in hydrocarbon flowing through conduits, comprising: (a) finely dividing said solid polyalphaolefin in the presence of a partitioning agent to provide a free flowing polyalphaolefin material coated with said partitioning agent, (b) dispersing the coated polyalphaolefin particles in a substantially nonaqueous suspending medium selected from the group consisting of alcohols containing 14 or less carbon atoms, glycols and containing 14 or less carbon atoms and glycol-ethers, wherein the partitioning agent is a fatty acid wax. 2. A method as described in claim 1 wherein the fatty acid wax is a saturated fatty acid wax. 3. A method as described in claim 2 wherein the fatty acid wax is selected from the group consisting of bis-stearamides, primary stearamides, secondary stearamides, and mixtures of these. 4. A method as described in claim 3 wherein the saturated fatty acid wax is stearamide or bis-stearamide or mixtures of these. 5. A method as described in claim 4 wherein in addition a thickening agent is added. 6. A method as described in claim 4 wherein the majority of the alcohol suspending agent is a branched alcohol. 7. A method as described in claim 4 wherein the solids loading of the suspension is up to 80% by weight. 8. A method as described in claim 1 wherein the glycol-ether suspending agent is at least one glycol ether selected from the group consisting of dipropyleneglycol methyl ether, tripropyleneglycol methyl ether, tetrapropyleneglycol methyl ether, or mixtures of these. 9. A nonaqueous, heat stable, non-agglomerating suspension capable of reducing drag in hydrocarbons flowing through conduits, comprising: (a) a finely divided solid polyalphaolefin friction reducing agent formed from olefines containing from 2 to 30 carbon atoms, (b) a fatty acid wax partitioning agent, (c) a suspending agent selected from the group consisting of alcohols containing 14 or fewer carbon atoms and glycols containing fewer than 14 carbon atoms, and glycol-ethers. 10. A composition as described in claim 9 wherein the fatty acid waxes are saturated fatty acid waxes. 11. A composition as described in claim 10 wherein the saturated fatty acid wax is stearamide, bis-stearamide or mixtures of these. 12. A composition as described in claim 11 wherein in addition a thickening agent is added. 13. A composition as described in claim 12 wherein the thickening agent is hydroxypropylcellulose. 14. A composition as described in claim 11 wherein the suspending material comprises primarily branched alcohols. 15. A composition as described in claim 11 wherein the suspending material comprises dipropyleneglycol methyl ether, tripropyleneglycol methyl ether, tetrapropyleneglycol methyl ether, or mixtures of these. 16. A composition as described in claim 11 wherein the solids loading of the suspension is up to 80 percent of total suspension weight.