Nanotube mediation of degradative chemicals for oil-field applications

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017292063-A1
Application number	US-201715482418-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 7, 2017
Priority date	Apr 7, 2016
Publication date	Oct 12, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Discrete, individualized carbon nanotubes having targeted, or selective, oxidation levels and/or content on the interior and exterior of the tube walls can be used for nanotube-mediated controlled delivery of degradative molecules, such as oxidizers and enzymes, for oil-field drilling applications. A manufacturing process using minimal acid oxidation for carbon nanotubes may also be used which provides higher levels of oxidation compared to other known manufacturing processes.

First claim

1 . A composition useful for treating hydraulic fracturing fluids comprising a plurality of discrete carbon nanotubes, wherein the discrete carbon nanotubes comprise an interior and exterior surface, the interior surface comprising an interior surface oxidized species content and the exterior surface comprising an exterior surface oxidized species content, and at least one degradative molecule that is attached on the interior or exterior surface of the plurality of discrete carbon nanotubes.

2 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic fracturing fluid comprises water.

3 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the degradative molecule comprises at least one enzyme.

4 . The composition of claim 3 , wherein the enzyme is attached via Van der Waals, ionic, covalent bonding, or a combination thereof.

5 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the degradative molecule comprises an oxidizer.

6 . The composition of claim 5 , wherein the oxidizer is attached via Van der Waals, ionic, covalent bonding, or combinations thereof.

7 . The composition of claim 3 , wherein the enzyme is selected from the group consisting of hemicellulases, encapsulated enzyme breakers, GBW-12CD, LEB-H, gammanase, endo-mannanase, P-mannanase, pectinase, and Econo Gelbreak-EL2X, and mixtures thereof.

8 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the degradative molecule comprises one or more types of enzyme, wherein the enzyme types are selected from the group consisting of oxidoreductases, transferases, hydrolases, lyases, isomerases, and ligases.

9 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the degradative molecule is an oxidizer selected from the group consisting of peroxides, chlorides, sulfates, and persulfates.

10 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the degradative molecule is present at a concentration of 0.1 wt % to 20 wt % based on the total weight of the composition.

11 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one surfactant.

12 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one polymer.

13 . The composition of claim 12 , wherein the polymer is at least partially crosslinked.

14 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a surfactant.

15 . The composition of claim 14 , wherein the surfactant is selected from the group consisting of anionic, ionic, non-ionic, gemini, and zwitterionic surfactants, and mixtures thereof.

16 . The composition of claim 12 , wherein the viscosity is less than a comparable composition with non-discrete, entangled carbon nanotubes.

17 . The composition of claim 12 , wherein the at least one polymer is selected from the group consisting of guar, hydroxyalkylguar, carboxyalkylhydroxyguar, carboxyalkylhydroxyalkylguar, cellulose, hydroxyalkylcellulose, carboxyalkyl-hydroxyalkylcellulose, polyacrylamide, polyethylene oxide, xanthum, and mixtures thereof.

Assignees

• Molecular Rebar Design Llc

Inventors

• Sturtevant Bryce Daniel
• Krupp August Charles

Classifications

• A61P25/28

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