This investigation was undertaken to find the most effective material which would reduce the friction coefficient in turbulent flow when added in small quantities to oil pipelines. For this purpose, a series of oil‐soluble polymers, namely homopolymers and copolymers of alkyl methacrylates, alkyl acrylates, and alkyl styrenes were synthesized. Emulsion polymerization techniques were used. Commercially available alkyl methacrylate and alkyl acrylate monomers were used in the synthesis. Monomeric alkyl styrenes were synthesized and structures established prior to polymerization. Intrinsic viscosities were measured and viscosity average molecular weights were calculated for several of the homopolymers synthesized in this study. Reduction of factional drag and resistance to shear degradation were measured by pumping a solution of the polymer in a hydrocarbon solvent through a pipe and recording the pressure drop across the pipe. Drag‐reducing properties of several of the polymers were correlated in terms of their viscosity average molecular weights. Drag reduction of poly (isodecyl methacrylate) was studied in various hydrocarbon solvents. Drag‐reducing behavior of polymers prepared in this study exhibited a strong dependence on molecular weight; increasing the molecular weight increased the drag reduction for a given polymer concentration and pipe size. Several of these polymers were found to be superior to commercially available polyisobutylene as drag reducers, especially in terms of shear stability.

This paper was prssantad at the SPE 1985 ProductionOperations Symposiumheld In Oklahoma City, Oiiahoma, kiamn IU-IZ, I%a. The~~iWki b -----.-. subjectto correctionby the author. Permissbn to oopyis raatrbted to an abstmct cdnot mom than SW wds. Write SPE, P.O. Sox S3SSS6,Rkhardaon, Texaa 7SOBSSSS. Telex: 7S0S89 SPE DAL. A8STRACT activatoris added to produce a gelled fluid needed for downhole conditions. Treatmentsin the Olmos Successfulstimulationof the Olmos FormationIn have evolved up to 1,800,000pounds [816, 500~] of McMullan County, Texas, has proven to be challenging. 20/40 mesh Ottawa sand and 250,000 gallons [946 m'] Initialattempte at fracturingthe Olmos using water-of gellad fluid. Jobs are pumped at 12 bbl/min base fluide and low proppant concentrationsdid not [114ms/see] for up to 10 hours, averaging 12 lb of prove to be very successful. Core studies have indi-sand/gal of fluid [1400 Kg of sand~ms of fluid] cated this formationto have a fluid retention with a maximum concentrationof 17 lb of sand/gal tendency. Gelled hydrocarbonfluids with high sand of fluid [2000 Kg of sand/mg of fluid]. The wells concentrationsare now being used as a fracturing ao treated have respondedwith more sustained system with significantlyimprovad success. productionthan wells treatedwith lees temperature .+.L1-~1..~a. .--+ei~i~gLower eon~entrationsof m&,auA= .&w&u-."-. The transitionto gallad oils capable of carry-sand. ing high eand concentrationshas preeantedcome unique challengesto t-heindustrybeeaiieẽ~itiOiiS d tb.e LabQraEoryetudies, treatmentmethode, comple-Olmos Formationare at depths approaching10,000 ft tion and productiondata will be presented. [3050m] with bottomholetemperaturaato 259°F [126°Cj. T% =Gst swcessfttlf~ECtE~in~treatment GEOLOGY in the Olmos appear to result from long fractures propped with high concentrationsof propping agent. The Olmos sand is an upper Cretaceoussand unit The long fracturescontact additionalreeerveeend in the predominantlyshale and silt sequencesof the high sand concentrationsnot only produce highly the Navarro Fonnatlonat a depth of approximately conductivefracturasbut also settled bank heights 9,800 ft [2990m]. Recent discoveriesof deep Olmos capable of filling the fracture below and through tha productionextend from western Liva Oak County Olmos zone. Fluid viscositiesrequired for these westward through McMullen$La Salle, and into Webb treatmentswere based upon pre-fracturinganalyses County. The A.W.P. field is located 3.5 miles [5.6 and computer evaluations,which determinedfluid inn]from Tilden in McMullen County (Fig. 1). The efficiencyand fracture closure times. This posed a field is approximately6 miles [9.7 km] east-westby problem as the commonlyavailable oil-basedfracturing 7 miles [11.3 km] north-south. The field currently fluids either did not have sufficientfluid viscosity comprisesapproximately100 oil and associatedgas downhole over extended periods at high tamper=?are~Q mYn~etiQn* (at least six hours at 259°F [126"C])or, if they did meat this requirementto place the pro...