Controlling The Stability Of Water In Water Emulsions

Abstract

This invention relates to compositions and methods of treating a surface in contact with a wellbore and/or a subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore, comprising forming a treatment composition comprising a rheological polymer, a partitioning agent, and a liquid medium; and injecting the treatment fluid into the well bore, wherein the treatment composition forms a heterogeneous mixture comprising a dispersed rheological polymer-rich phase and a partitioning agent-rich phase, and wherein the stability of the heterogeneous mixture is controlled by introducing a stability control agent. This invention relates to compositions and methods for forming a water in water emulsion, comprising a rheological polymer, a partitioning agent, a liquid medium; and a stability control agent, wherein the emulsion is a heterogeneous mixture comprising a dispersed rheological polymer-rich phase and a partitioning agent-rich phase.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 .- 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A water in water emulsion, comprising:
 a rheological polymer,   a partitioning agent,   a liquid medium; and   a stability control agent,   wherein the emulsion is a heterogeneous mixture comprising a dispersed rheological polymer-rich phase and a partitioning agent-rich phase.   
     
     
         11 . The emulsion of claim  8 , wherein the rheological polymer is selected from the group consisting of guar, guar derivative, cellulose, cellulose derivative, heteropolysaccharide, heteropolysaccharide derivative, polyacrylamide, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The emulsion of claim  8 , wherein the partitioning agent is selected from the group consisting of polyoxyalkylene, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, vinyl pyrrolidone-vinyl acetate copolymers, hydroxyalkylated cellulose, carboxyalkylated cellulose, and non-ionic surfactants or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The emulsion of claim  8 , wherein the stability control agent is selected from the group consisting of polyoxyalkylene, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, vinyl pyrrolidone-vinyl acetate copolymers, hydroxyalkylated cellulose, carboxyalkylated cellulose, and non-ionic surfactants or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The emulsion of claim  8 , wherein the stability control agent is a second partitioning agent. 
     
     
         15 . The emulsion of claim  8 , wherein the rheological polymer is guar, the partitioning agent is polyethylene glycol, and the stability control agent is poly(1-vinylpyrrolidone-co-vinyl acetate). 
     
     
         16 . The emulsion of claim  8 , wherein the liquid medium is water or brine. 
     
     
         17 . A method of forming a water in water emulsion, comprising:
 forming a fluid comprising a liquid medium, a rheological polymer, and a partitioning agent wherein the fluid forms a heterogeneous mixture comprising a dispersed rheological polymer-rich phase and a partitioning agent-rich phase;   introducing a stability control agent to the fluid, wherein the heterogeneous mixture stability is not of the same duration if no stability control agent were present.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the rheological polymer is guar, the partitioning agent is polyethylene glycol, and the stability control agent is poly(1-vinylpyrrolidone-co-vinyl acetate), or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the partitioning agent is selected from the group consisting of polyoxyalkylene, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, vinyl pyrrolidone-vinyl acetate copolymers, hydroxyalkylated cellulose, carboxyalkylated cellulose, and non-ionic surfactants, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the stability control agent is selected from the group consisting of polyoxyalkylene, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, vinyl pyrrolidone-vinyl acetate copolymers, hydroxyalkylated cellulose, carboxyalkylated cellulose, and non-ionic surfactants, or a combination thereof.