Hydrating and Dissolving Polymers in Salt Solutions

摘要

Polyacrylamides, guar gum (sometimes “guar”), xanthan gum, carboxymethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, and other water-soluble polymers are dissolved and hydrated in salt solutions, including especially recycled drilling, fracturing, and other oilfield fluids having significant salt contents, by passing the water-soluble polymer to an eductor for mixing with the salt-containing solution and then to a cavitation device including an integrated disc pump. The ability to use water-soluble polymers with the salty recycled oilfield fluids has significant environmental benefits, namely (1) fresh water is not needed, (2) disposal of the environmentally undesirable returned fluids is not needed, (3) difficultly degradable synthetic polymers may not be needed, and, in particular, (4) the enhanced ability to use guar, which, being a natural product, is biodegradable, is environmentally favored.

主权项

1. Method of hydrating dry polymer in salt water comprising (a) contacting said dry polymer with said salt water in an eductor, (b) flowing said salt water and said polymer from said eductor into a rotating disc pump, (c) passing said salt water and polymer from said disc pump to a cavitation device, and (d) operating said cavitation device to intimately mix and heat said polymer and said salt water.