Curable fiber

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9556541-B2
Application number	US-200913141482-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 21, 2009
Priority date	Dec 23, 2008
Publication date	Jan 31, 2017
Grant date	Jan 31, 2017

Abstract

Fibers comprising a first thermoplastic composition having a softening temperature up to 120° C and a curable resin. Also disclosed are compositions comprising a plurality of fibers, with some of the fibers comprising a first thermoplastic composition having a softening temperature up to 120° C and some of the fibers comprising a curable resin. The fibers have an aspect ratio of at least 2:1 and a maximum cross-sectional dimension up to 60 micrometers. Fluid compositions containing the fibers and methods of contacting a subterranean formation using the fibers are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fiber comprising:
a first thermoplastic composition, and
a curable resin,
wherein an admixture of the first thermoplastic composition and the curable resin forms at least a portion of the fiber, wherein the admixture has a softening temperature up to 120° C., wherein the fiber has an aspect ratio of at least 2:1, and wherein the fiber has a maximum cross-sectional dimension up to 60 micrometers.

2. The fiber according to claim 1 , wherein the softening temperature of the first thermoplastic composition is within 20° C. of a cure onset temperature of the curable resin.

3. The fiber according to claim 1 , wherein the first thermoplastic composition includes a thermoplastic with functional groups that can react with or cause the homopolymerization of the curable resin.

4. The fiber according to claim 1 , wherein the first thermoplastic composition comprises at least one of an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, an at least partially neutralized ethylene-methacrylic acid or ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer, polyurethane, polyoxymethylene, polypropylene, polyolefin, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyester, polyamide, phenoxy, vinyl, or acrylic.

5. The fiber according to claim 1 , wherein the first thermoplastic composition comprises a curing agent.

6. A composition comprising a plurality of the fibers according to claim 1 and a fluid, wherein the plurality of fibers is dispersed in the fluid, and wherein the composition optionally further comprises proppants dispersed in the fluid.

7. A method of treating a subterranean formation, the method comprising:
injecting into a well-bore intersecting the subterranean formation the composition according to claim 6 ;
exposing the first thermoplastic composition to at least one temperature above the softening temperature; and
at least partially curing the curable resin.

8. The fiber according to claim 1 , wherein the curable resin comprises at least one of an epoxy, phenolic, acrylic, isocyanate, phenoxy, vinyl, vinyl ether, or silane.

9. The fiber according to claim 8 , wherein the curable resin comprises a solid epoxy resin.

10. The fiber according to claim 1 , comprising a core and a sheath surrounding the core, wherein the core comprises a second thermoplastic composition having a melting point of at least 140° C., and wherein the sheath comprises the first thermoplastic composition and the curable resin.

11. The fiber according to claim 10 , wherein the second thermoplastic composition comprises at least one of an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, polyamide, polyoxymethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyurethane, polysulfone, polyimide, polyetheretherketone, or polycarbonate.

12. The fiber according to claim 10 , wherein the first thermoplastic composition comprises at least one of an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, an at least partially neutralized ethylene-methacrylic acid or ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer, polyurethane, polyoxymethylene, polypropylene, polyolefin, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyester, polyamide, phenoxy, vinyl, or acrylic.

13. The fiber according to claim 10 , wherein the first thermoplastic composition comprises a curing agent.

14. The fiber according to claim 10 , wherein the curable resin comprises at least one of an epoxy, phenolic, acrylic, isocyanate, phenoxy, vinyl, vinyl ether, or silane.

15. The fiber according to claim 14 , wherein the curable resin comprises a solid epoxy resin.

16. A composition comprising a plurality of the fibers according to claim 10 .

17. The composition according to claim 16 , wherein at least some of the fibers comprise at least one surface applied surfactant or polymeric dispersing agent.

18. The composition according to claim 16 , further having at least one of the following features:
wherein when a 5 percent by weight mixture of the plurality of fibers in deionized water is heated at 145° C. for four hours in an autoclave, less than 50% by volume of the plurality of fibers at least one of dissolves or disintegrates, and less than 50% by volume of the first thermoplastic composition and the curable resin at least one of dissolves or disintegrates; or
wherein when a 2 percent weight to volume mixture of the plurality of fibers in kerosene is heated at 145° C. for 24 hours under nitrogen, less than 50% by volume of the plurality of fibers at least one of dissolves or disintegrates, and less than 50% by volume of the first thermoplastic composition and the curable resin at least one of dissolves or disintegrates.

19. The composition according to claim 16 , further comprising a fluid, wherein the plurality of fibers is dispersed in the fluid, and wherein the composition optionally further comprises proppants dispersed in the fluid.

20. A method of treating a subterranean formation, the method comprising:
injecting into a well-bore intersecting the subterranean formation the composition according to claim 19 ;
exposing the first thermoplastic composition to at least one temperature above the softening temperature; and
at least partially curing the curable resin.

Assignees

• Berrigan Michael R
• Carlson James G
• Crandall Michael D
• George Clayton A
• Kadoma Ignatius A
• Wu Yong K
• 3M Innovative Properties Co

Inventors

• Berrigan Michael R
• Carlson James G
• Crandall Michael D
• George Clayton A
• Kadoma Ignatius A
• Wu Yong K

Classifications

• Y10T428/2929

  Bicomponent, conjugate, composite or collateral fibers or filaments [i.e., coextruded sheath-core or side-by-side type] · CPC title

• C09K2208/08

  Fiber-containing well treatment fluids · CPC title

• C09K8/70

  characterised by their form or by the form of their components, e.g. foams · CPC title

• D06M15/55

  Epoxy resins · CPC title

• Y10T428/2973

  Particular cross section · CPC title