Abstract:
A method of preparing a cured thermoplastic material includes curing a thermoplastic polymer having a thermal decomposition temperature greater than or equal to about 200° C., at a temperature of about 200° C. to about 400° C., for a total time of less than or equal to 200 hours. A method of making a shape memory material also includes curing a thermoplastic polymer to prepare a cured thermoplastic material.
Abstract:
Thermally crosslinked polysulfone may be made from linear polysulfone, such as polyethersulfone, in powder form blended with a powdered inorganic peroxide such as magnesium peroxide or another oxygen source, to form a mixture followed by compression inside a mold. The mixture is cured at a an elevated temperature, for instance above 325° C., for an effective period of time to form a dense object. The object is then boiled in water, optionally under pressure, to remove the salt to give a structure that is open and porous which may be used as a filtration device on a downhole tool for hydrocarbon recovery. If a powdered salt is not used, a thermally crosslinked, solid, void-free polysulfone is made which may be strong and rigid at ambient, surface temperatures, but is an elastomer at elevated downhole temperatures, and is thus suitable for use as a packer or an O-ring.
Abstract:
A polymer nanocomposite comprises a polymer; and a nanoparticle derivatized to include functional groups including carboxy, epoxy, ether, ketone, amine, hydroxy, alkoxy, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkaryl, lactone, functionalized polymeric or oligomeric groups, or a combination comprising at least one of the forgoing functional groups. The variability in tensile strength and percent elongation for the polymer nanocomposite is less than the variability of these properties obtained where an underivatized nanoparticle is included in place of the derivatized nanoparticle.
Abstract:
A method for making a polymer composite comprises mixing, a thermosetting polymer precursor, and 0.01 to 30 wt % of a derivatized nanoparticle based on the total weight of the polymer composite, the derivatized nanoparticle including functional groups comprising carboxy, epoxy, ether, ketone, amine, hydroxy, alkoxy, alkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkaryl, lactone, functionalized polymeric or oligomeric groups, or a combination comprising at least one of the forgoing functional groups.
Abstract:
Ball seats comprising at least one sealing material facilitate restricting fluid flow through the ball seat when a plug, such as a ball, is landed on the seat. The plug is forced into the sealing material causing the sealing material to be deformed and to at least partially deform to a shape reciprocal to the shape of the plug, thereby reducing leakage around the plug and through the seat. In one particular embodiment, the ball seat is an extrudable ball seat. Suitable sealing materials include polymers and elastomers.
Abstract:
A fluid control device includes a support structure configured to be deployed to a selected location in a borehole, and a filtration medium disposed at the support structure and configured to filter a fluid, the filtration medium configured to be compacted from an initial shape to a compacted shape prior to deployment in the borehole. The filtration medium includes a first polymeric material configured to withstand a temperature at the selected location, the first polymeric material forming a porous structure including a plurality of fluid passages, and a second polymeric material including a shape memory polymer disposed within the fluid passages, the shape memory polymer configured to expand in the plurality of fluid passages and cause the filtration medium to expand in the borehole.
Abstract:
A method for operation in wellbore, the method comprises: pumping a fluid barrier into a wellbore through a tubular, the fluid barrier being operable to separate a cement slurry from a second fluid; the fluid barrier comprising a polyurethane member derived from a polyurethane forming composition comprising a para-phenylene diisocyanate terminated polycarbonate prepolymer and an aromatic diol
Abstract:
A degradable polymer composite comprises a polyurethane comprising one or more of the following groups: ester groups; carbonate groups; or ether groups, in a backbone of the polyurethane; and about 1 to about 30 parts by weight of an acidic or basic powder comprising particles having an average size of about 5 microns to about 1 millimeter per 100 parts of the polyurethane.
Abstract:
A sealing system for a flow channel comprises a mandrel; a swellable element disposed about the mandrel; and a degradable polymeric element disposed on a surface of the swellable element and configured to delay swelling of the swellable element; wherein the degradable polymeric element comprises one or more of the following: polyurethane; cured cyanate ester; an epoxy; polyimide; unsaturated polyester; or nylon.
Abstract:
A degradable polymer composite comprises a polyurethane comprising one or more of the following groups: ester groups; carbonate groups; or ether groups, in a backbone of the polyurethane; and about 1 to about 30 parts by weight of an acidic or basic powder comprising particles having an average size of about 5 microns to about 1 millimeter per 100 parts of the polyurethane.