Treating subterranean formations with gelled hydrocarbon fluids

0001This invention relates to gelled liquid hydrocarbon fluids.

0002High viscosity gelled hydrocarbon liquids have heretofore been utilised in treating subterranean formations penetrated by well bores, e.g. hydraulic fracturing stimulation treatments. In such treatments, a high viscosity gelled liquid hydrocarbon fracturing fluid having particulate proppant material, e.g. sand, suspended therein is pumped through a well bore into a subterranean formation to be stimulated at a rate and pressure such that one or more fractures are formed and extended in the formation. The suspended proppant material is deposited in the fractures when gelled hydrocarbon fracturing fluid is broken and returned to the surface. The proppant material functions to prevent the formed fractures from closing whereby conductive channels remain through which produced fluids can readily flow to the well bore.

0003Polyvalent metal salts of orthophosphoric acid esters have heretofore been utilized as gelling agents for forming high viscosity gelled liquid hydrocarbon fracturing fluids. Such gelled liquid hydrocarbon fracturing fluids have included fracture proppant material and delayed breakers for causing the fracturing fluids to break into relatively thin fluids whereby the proppant material is deposited in formed fractures and the fracturing fluid is produced back. Descriptions of such heretofore utilized high viscosity gelled liquid hydrocarbon fracturing fluids and methods of their use are set forth in <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="US4622155A"><text>U.S. patents nos. 4,622,155</text></patcit> and <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="US5846915A"><text>5,846,915</text></patcit>. The gelled liquid hydrocarbon fracturing fluids described in the above patents utilise ferric iron or aluminium polyvalent metal salts of phosphoric acid esters as gelling agents and delayed breakers such as hard burned magnesium oxide which is slowly soluble in water.

0004While the heretofore utilized high viscosity gelled liquid hydrocarbon fracturing fluids and methods have been used successfully for forming fractures in subterranean formations, problems have been encountered as a result of the use of the gelling agent, i.e., the polyvalent metal salt of a phosphoric acid ester. That is, in recent years plugging of refinery towers which process oil produced from formations fractured with gelled liquid hydrocarbon fracturing fluids has caused many expensive, unplanned shut-downs. The plugging material is high in phosphorus and has been attributed to the phosphate esters used as gelling agents. The phosphate esters contribute volatile phosphorus which condenses on distillation tower trays, causing plugging. The volatile phosphorus may also carry over the tops of the distillation towers causing contamination of the hydrocarbon products produced.

0005Thus, there are needs for improved methods of using and preparing gelled liquid hydrocarbons which upon breaking and being refined substantially reduce volatile phosphorus in distillation towers, improved liquid hydrocarbon gelling agents and improved gelled liquid hydrocarbon compositions. More specifically, in fracturing oil producing subterranean formations in areas where volatile phosphorus is a problem in refineries, there is a need to reduce the production of volatile phosphorus in the refineries to levels where the above described unscheduled refinery shut downs are not required without compromising CO₂ compatibility with the gelled oil fracturing fluids used. Concentrations of CO₂ as high as 40-50% are commonly used in gelled oil fracturing fluids which form miscible mixtures with the fluids. The presence of the CO₂ enhances fluid recovery, minimizes the amount of oil based fracturing fluid which must be recovered, and reduces costs in areas where CO₂ is less expensive than the oil based fracturing fluid.

0006In one aspect of the present invention, we have devised an additive which will cause certain hydrocarbon gels gelled with a ferric iron polyvalent metal salt, to break by reduction of the ferric iron to ferrous.

0007Thus, the invention provides the use of an additive for causing a water-containing liquid hydrocarbon gel formed with a gelling agent comprised of a ferric iron polyvalent metal salt of a phosphonic acid ester or of a phosphoric acid ester to break and revert to a thin fluid, characterised in that said additive comprises a water-soluble reducing agent which upon dissolving in said water and contacting said liquid hydrocarbon gel reduces the ferric iron in the gel to ferrous iron.

0008In a second aspect, we have devised a liquid hydrocarbon gel which comprises a hydrocarbon liquid, a ferric iron polyvalent metal salt of a phosphoric acid ester, water and an additive for breaking said gel into a thin fluid, said additive being a water soluble reducing agent which upon dissolving in said water and contacting said liquid hydrocarbon gel reduces said ferric iron in the gel to ferrous iron.

0009In an embodiment, a gelled liquid hydrocarbon fracturing fluid of the invention is comprised of a hydrocarbon liquid, a gelling agent comprised of a ferric iron polyvalent metal salt of a phosphonic acid ester, a proppant material, water and an amount of a delayed gel breaker effective to break the gelled hydrocarbon fracturing fluid. The phosphonic acid ester utilized in the gelling agent which minimizes volatile phosphorus in refinery distillation towers has the formula <chemistry id="chem0001" num="0001"><img file="EP1234948B1_D0001.tif" /></chemistry> where R is an alkyl group having from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms and R' is an alkyl group having from about 1 to about 4 carbon atoms. After the gelled liquid hydrocarbon fracturing fluid is prepared, the subterranean formation to be fractured is contacted with the gelled liquid hydrocarbon fracturing fluid under conditions effective to create at least one fracture in the subterranean formation.

0010In an embodiment, the improved methods of this invention for preparing gelled liquid hydrocarbons basically comprise adding a phosphonic acid ester having the formula <chemistry id="chem0002" num="0002"><img file="EP1234948B1_D0002.tif" /></chemistry> wherein R is an alkyl group having from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms and R' is an alkyl group having from about 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, and preferably, at least a stoichiometric amount of a ferric iron polyvalent metal salt to a hydrocarbon liquid. The polyvalent metal salt reacts with the phosphonic acid ester to form a ferric iron or aluminum polyvalent metal salt thereof. Water and an amount of a delayed gel breaker effective to break the gelled liquid hydrocarbon fracturing fluid is also added to the hydrocarbon liquid.

0011In an embodiment, the improved liquid hydrocarbon gelling agents of this invention are comprised of a ferric iron polyvalent metal salt of a phosphonic acid ester, the phosphonic acid ester having the formula <chemistry id="chem0003" num="0003"><img file="EP1234948B1_D0003.tif" /></chemistry> wherein R is an alkyl group having from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms and R' is an alkyl group having from about 1 to about 4 carbon atoms.

0012In an embodiment, the improved gelled liquid hydrocarbon compositions of this invention are comprised of a hydrocarbon liquid, a gelling agent comprising a polyvalent metal salt of a phosphonic acid ester produced from a phosphoric acid ester and a ferric iron salt, the phosphonic acid ester having the formula <chemistry id="chem0004" num="0004"><img file="EP1234948B1_D0004.tif" /></chemistry> wherein R is an alkyl group having from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms and R' is an alkyl group having from about 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, water and a delayed gel breaker present in an amount effective to break the gel formed by the gelling agent and the hydrocarbon liquid.

0013It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide improved methods and compositions useful in treating subterranean formations as well as in other similar applications.

0014Other and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the description of preferred embodiments which follows.

Description of Preferred Embodiments

0015The present invention provides methods of treating subterranean formations penetrated by well bores with gelled liquid hydrocarbon fluids. For example, the gelled liquid hydrocarbon fluids are suitable for use in fracturing treatments carried out in subterranean formations whereby the production of hydrocarbons from the subterranean formations is stimulated. In accordance with the present invention, a fracturing fluid comprised of a gelled liquid hydrocarbon or mixture of hydrocarbons containing a proppant material and a delayed gel breaker is pumped through a well bore into a subterranean formation to be stimulated. The fracturing fluid is pumped at a rate and pressure such that one or more fractures are formed and extended in the subterranean formation. The proppant material which is suspended in the fracturing fluid is deposited in the fractures when the gel is broken and returned to the surface. The proppant material remains in the fractures and functions to prevent the fractures from closing whereby conductive channels are formed through which produced fluids can readily flow from the subterranean formation into the well bore.

0016As mentioned above, gelled liquid hydrocarbon fracturing fluids have heretofore been formed with a gelling agent comprised of a ferric iron polyvalent metal salt of a phosphoric, or phosphoric, acid ester. The phosphoric acid ester suffers from the problem that it decomposes in refinery distillation towers to form volatile phosphorus which condenses on the trays of the distillation towers and causes plugging. Also, the phosphoric acid ester may itself be volatile, dependent upon its molecular weight. By the present invention, improved methods and compositions for fracturing subterranean formations with gelled liquid hydrocarbon fracturing fluids are provided wherein the gelling agent utilized is a ferric iron or aluminum polyvalent metal salt of a phosphonic acid ester. Unlike the phosphoric acid esters utilized heretofore, the phosphonic acid esters of the present invention have much higher thermal stability and consequently do not as readily decompose or disassociate.

0017Thus, an embodiment of the improved methods of fracturing subterranean formations of the present invention are basically comprised of the following steps. A gelled liquid hydrocarbon fracturing fluid is prepared comprised of a hydrocarbon liquid, a ferric iron polyvalent metal salt of a phosphonic acid ester, a proppant material, water and an amount of a delayed gel breaker effective to break the gelled liquid hydrocarbon fracturing fluid. The phosphonic acid ester has the formula <chemistry id="chem0005" num="0005"><img file="EP1234948B1_D0005.tif" /></chemistry> wherein R is an alkyl group having from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms and R' is an alkyl group having from about 1 to about 4 carbon atoms. After the gelled liquid hydrocarbon fracturing fluid is prepared, the subterranean formation to be fractured is contacted with the fracturing fluid under conditions effective to create at least one fracture in the subterranean formation.

0018The hydrocarbon liquid utilized to form the gelled liquid hydrocarbon fracturing fluid can be any of the various previously used hydrocarbon liquids including, but not limited to, olefins, kerosene, diesel oil, gas oil (also known as gas condensate), fuel oil, other petroleum distillates, and certain mixtures of crude oil. Liquid hydrocarbon fracturing fluids which are specifically designed for use with CO₂ are generally preferred. Such a liquid hydrocarbon fracturing fluid is commercially available from the Trysol Corporation of Sundre, Alberta, Canada under the trade name "FRACSOL™."

0019As mentioned above, the gelling agent utilized for gelling the hydrocarbon liquid whereby it has a high viscosity sufficient to carry suspended proppant material and produce fractures in a subterranean formation is a ferric iron polyvalent metal salt of a phosphonic acid ester having the formula set forth above. The polyvalent metal salt of the phosphonic acid ester is preferably produced at the well site by adding the phosphoric acid ester, and preferably, at least a stoichiometric amount of a ferric iron polyvalent metal salt. In addition, if water is not already contained in the hydrocarbon liquid or added thereto as a component in a cross-linker solution or the like, water is added to the hydrocarbon liquid in an amount, for example, of about 0.05% or greater by weight of the hydrocarbon liquid. The presence of the water allows slowly water soluble or encapsulated breakers to be dissolved or released. See, for example, <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="US5846915A"><text>Smith et al. U.S. Patent No. 5,846,915</text></patcit> issued on December 8, 1995.

0020The ferric iron salt utilized to form the gelling agent is preferably selected from ferric sulfate or ferric chloride with ferric sulfate being preferred. The ferric iron salt is typically mixed with amines, surfactants and water to form a liquid cross-linking solution. An example of a commercially available ferric iron cross-linking solution is "EA-3™" cross-linking solution sold by Ethox Chemicals, Inc. of Greenville, South Carolina. In an embodiment, the polyvalent metal compound utilized reacts with the phosphonic acid ester to form the hydrocarbon liquid gelling agent of this invention which gels the hydrocarbon liquid. The phosphonic acid ester is added to the hydrocarbon liquid along with the polyvalent metal source to form the gelling agent in the hydrocarbon liquid in an amount in the range of from about 0.1% to about 2.5% by weight of the hydrocarbon liquid.

0021As mentioned above, the phosphonic acid ester which can be utilized to form the hydrocarbon liquid gelling agent of this invention has the formula <chemistry id="chem0006" num="0006"><img file="EP1234948B1_D0006.tif" /></chemistry> wherein R is an alkyl group having from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms and R' is an alkyl group having from about 1 to about 4 carbon atoms. Techniques which can be utilized for the preparation of the phosphonic acid esters useful in accordance with this invention are, for example, described in <patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="US3798162A"><text>U.S. Patent No. 3,798,162 issued to Dickert, Jr. on March 19, 1974</text></patcit>.

0022Proppant materials which can be utilized in the fracturing fluids of this invention are well known in the art. For example, proppant materials such as graded sand, resin coated sand, sintered bauxite, various particulate ceramic materials, glass beads and the like can be utilized. The particular size of the proppant material employed depends on the particular formation being fractured and other variables. Generally, the proppant particle sizes are in the range of from about 2 to about 200 mesh on the U.S. Sieve Series scale.

0023A variety of delayed gel breakers can be utilized in accordance with the present invention to cause the gelled liquid hydrocarbon fracturing fluid to revert to a thin fluid that is produced back after fractures are formed in a subterranean formation. The gel breakers can be materials which are slowly soluble in water which, as mentioned above, is combined with or otherwise present in the hydrocarbon liquid. The breaking of the gel does not take place until the slowly soluble breakers are dissolved in the water. Examples of water soluble and other similar encapsulating materials which can be utilized include, but are not limited to, porous solid materials such as precipitated silica, elastomers, polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), nylon, waxes, polyurethanes, cross-linked partially hydrolyzed acrylics and the like.

0024The breaker utilized in the invention is a reducing agent that reduces ferric iron to ferrous iron. Since only ferric iron is capable of forming a viscous coordination complex with a phosphonic acid ester or a phosphoric acid ester, the complex can be disassociated by reducing the ferric iron to the ferrous state. The disassociation causes the gelled hydrocarbon liquid to break. Examples of reducing agents which can be utilized include, but are not limited to, stannous chloride, thioglycolic acid (2-mercaptoacetic acid), hydrazine sulfate, sodium diethyldithiocarbamate, sodium dimethyldithiocarbamate, sodium hypophosphite, potassium iodide, hydroxylamine hydrochloride, thioglycol (2-mercaptoethanol), ascorbic acid, sodium thiosulfate, sodium dithionite and sodium sulfite. Of these, the preferred reducing agents for use at a temperature of about 90°C are stannous chloride, thioglycolic acid, hydrazine sulfate, sodium diethyldithiocarbamate and sodium dimethyldithiocarbamate. The most preferred reducing agent is thioglycolic acid which may be delayed by salt formation or encapsulation. As mentioned above in connection with other breakers that can be used, the reducing agent utilized can also be delayed by encapsulating it with a slowly water soluble or other similar encapsulating material.

0025The gel breaker utilized in a water-containing gelled liquid hydrocarbon fracturing fluid of this invention is generally present therein in an amount in the range of from about 0.01% to about 3% by weight of the hydrocarbon liquid, more preferably in an amount in the range of from about 0.05% to about 1%.

0026A preferred method of fracturing a subterranean formation in accordance with the present invention is comprised of the steps of: (a) preparing a gelled liquid hydrocarbon fracturing fluid comprised of a hydrocarbon liquid, a ferric iron polyvalent metal salt of a phosphonic acid ester, the phosphonic acid ester having the formula <chemistry id="chem0007" num="0007"><img file="EP1234948B1_D0007.tif" /></chemistry> wherein R is an alkyl group having from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms and R' is an alkyl group having from about 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, a proppant material, water and an amount of a delayed gel breaker effective to break the gelled hydrocarbon fracturing fluid; and (b) contacting the subterranean formation with the gelled hydrocarbon fracturing fluid under conditions effective to create at least one fracture in the subterranean formation.

0027The ferric iron polyvalent metal salt of the phosphonic acid ester may be present in the fracturing fluid in an amount in the range of from about 0.1% to about 2.5% by weight of the hydrocarbon liquid in the fracturing fluid, more preferably in an amount in the range of from about 0.2% to about 1%. The proppant material is present in the fracturing fluid in an amount in the range of from about 1 to about 14 pounds (0.45 to 6.35 kg) of proppant material per gallon (3.8 litres) of hydrocarbon liquid in the fracturing fluid. As mentioned, water is added to or otherwise contained in the hydrocarbon liquid so that the delayed gel breaker utilized is dissolved in the water. The delayed gel breaker is present in the fracturing fluid in an amount in the range of from about 0.01% to about 3% by weight of the hydrocarbon liquid in the fracturing fluid, more preferably in an amount in the range of from about 0.05% to about 1%.

0028A preferred method of preparing a gelled liquid hydrocarbon fluid of this invention is comprised of adding a phosphonic acid ester to a hydrocarbon liquid, the phosphonic acid ester having the formula <chemistry id="chem0008" num="0008"><img file="EP1234948B1_D0008.tif" /></chemistry> wherein R is an alkyl group having from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms and R' is an alkyl group having from about 1 to about 4 carbon atoms, at least a stoichiometric amount of a polyvalent metal source selected from ferric iron salts which reacts with the phosphonic acid ester to form a ferric iron polyvalent metal salt thereof, water and an amount of a delayed gel breaker effective to break the gelled hydrocarbon fracturing fluid.

0029The ferric iron polyvalent metal salt of the phosphonic acid ester formed in the hydrocarbon liquid is present therein in an amount in the range of from about 0.1% to about 2.5% by weight of the hydrocarbon liquid, more preferably in an amount in the range of from about 0.2% to about 1%. The delayed gel breaker utilized is present in the hydrocarbon liquid in an amount in the range of from about 0.01% to about 3% by weight of the hydrocarbon liquid, more preferably in an amount in the range of from about 0.05% to about 1%.

0030A preferred hydrocarbon liquid gelling agent of this invention is comprised of a ferric iron polyvalent metal salt of a phosphonic acid ester, the phosphonic acid ester having the formula <chemistry id="chem0009" num="0009"><img file="EP1234948B1_D0009.tif" /></chemistry> wherein R is an alkyl group having from about 8 to about 24 carbon atoms and R' is an alkyl group having from about 1 to about 4 carbon atoms.

0031A more preferred hydrocarbon liquid gelling agent is comprised of a ferric iron polyvalent metal salt of a phosphonic acid ester, the ester having the formula <chemistry id="chem0010" num="0010"><img file="EP1234948B1_D0010.tif" /></chemistry> wherein R is an alkyl group having from about 14 to about 24 carbon atoms and R' is a methyl group.

0032A preferred gelled liquid hydrocarbon composition of this invention is comprised of: a hydrocarbon liquid; a gelling agent comprising a polyvalent metal salt of a phosphonic acid ester produced from a phosphonic acid ester and a ferric iron salt, the phosphonic acid ester having the formula <chemistry id="chem0011" num="0011"><img file="EP1234948B1_D0011.tif" /></chemistry> wherein R is an alkyl group having from about 14 to about 24 carbon atoms and R' is a methyl group, water and a delayed gel breaker present in an amount effective to break the gel formed by the gelling agent and the hydrocarbon liquid.

0033The delayed gel breaker is a reducing agent that reduces ferric iron to ferrous iron encapsulated with a slowly water soluble or other similar encapsulating material. The delayed gel breaker is present in the gelled hydrocarbon liquid in an amount in the range of from about 0.01% to about 3% by weight of the hydrocarbon, liquid, more preferably in an amount in the range of from about 0.05% to about 1%.

0034As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the use of the improved liquid hydrocarbon gelling agents and gelled liquid hydrocarbon compositions is not limited to fracturing subterranean formations. For example, the gelled liquid hydrocarbon compositions can be used for forming gravel packs in well bores, in pipeline pigging operations and in other operations where a gelled hydrocarbon liquid which subsequently breaks into a thin fluid is utilized.

0035In order to further illustrate the different embodiments of the of the present invention, the following examples are given.. For the avoidance of doubt it is pointed out that example 11 is the example of the claimed invention.

Example 1

0036A number of monoesters of alkylphosphonic acids were prepared in the laboratory as follows: solid dodecylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester, solid tetradecylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester, solid hexadecylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester, solid octadecylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester, solid C_20-24 phosphonic acid monomethyl ester, solid octadecylphosphonic acid monobutyl ester, liquid octylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester and liquid decylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester.

0037The following laboratory procedure was utilizied in the preparation of the above listed esters. Alkyphosphonic acid dimethyl (or dibutyl) esters were first prepared by charging a 250 milliliter three necked round bottom flask with 0.2 mole of 1-alkene and 0.5 mole of dimethyl or dibutyl phosphite. The flask was fitted with a reflux condenser, thermometer, temperature controller, septum stopper and nitrogen purge. The mixture was magnetically stirred and heated to 150°C or the boiling point of the 1-alkene, whichever was lower. 2.5 milliliters of t-butyl peroxide was slowly added with a syringe over the course of 1 hour. The mixture was heated at 150°C for another 1.5 hours. The excess dialkyl phosphite was removed using vacuum distillation.

0038The following laboratory procedure was utilized in the preparation of monomethyl (or monobutyl) esters that are liquids at room temperature. That is, alkylphosphonic acid monomethyl (or monobutyl) esters were prepared using the alkylphosphonic acid dimethyl (or dibutyl) esters prepared in accordance with the above described procedure as follows. 0.045 mole of alkylphosphonic acid dimethyl (or dibutyl) ester was charged to a 100 milliliter round bottom flask. A solution of 1.9 grams (0.048 mole) of sodium hydroxide in 38 milliliters of methanol was added to the flask and the flask was fitted with a reflux condenser. The mixture was stirred magnetically and heated to reflux for 3 hours. 10 milliliters of water and 50 milliliters of hexane were added and the resulting mixture was shaken. The phases were separated and the hexane layer containing the unreacted dimethyl (or dibutyl) ester was discarded. The aqueous layer was washed twice with 20 milliliter portions of hexane and the hexane layer was discarded. 3.6 milliliters of 38% hydrochloric acid (0.045 mole) was added to the aqueous phase followed by 40 milliliters of water. The mixture was extracted 3 times with 20 milliliter portions of hexane. The combined organic fractions were washed with water and dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. The solvent was removed using a rotary evaporator. The alkylphosphonic acid monomethyl (or monobutyl) esters produced were liquids at room temperature.

0039Alkylphosphonic acid monoesters which are solids at room temperature were also prepared. These were the C12 to C24 alkyl phosphonic acid mono methyl esters. The following laboratory procedure was utilized. A 100 milliliters round bottom flask was charged with 0.05 mole of alkylphosphonic acid dimethyl ester and the flask was warmed to melt the solid. A solution of 2.5 g (0.063 mole) of sodium hydroxide in 38 milliliters of methanol was added and the flask was fitted with a reflux condenser. The mixture was stirred magnetically and heated to reflux for 3 hours. The flask was cooled and 5 milliliters 38% hydrochloric acid (0.062 mole) was added, followed by the addition of 125 milliliters of water. The slurry was extracted into hexane. The hexane solution was washed with water, dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, and concentrated on a rotary evaporator. The product was allowed to recrystallize, then it was collected on a büchner funnel, washed with hexane, and air dried.

Example 2

0040A commercially available octylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester was obtained which contained 55-65% octylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester, 20-30% octylphosphonic acid and 10-20% octylphosphonic acid dimethyl ester. 2 milliliters of the commercial octylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester and 2 milliliters of a ferric iron cross-linker commercially available from Clearwater Inc. of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania under the trade designation "HGA-65™" were added to 200 milliliters of kerosene. Initial cross-linking was observed after 20 seconds of stirring with an overhead stirrer. A strong cross-linked gel was observed after 1 minute.

0041This test shows that the phosphonic acid ester does not have to be pure, i.e., it can contain portions of the phosphonic acid and the phosphonic acid dialkyl ester.

Example 3

00422 milliliters of the commercially available octylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester described in Example 2 were added to 200 milliliters of kerosene along with a ferric iron cross-linker composition. The ferric iron cross-linker composition was comprised of 240 grams of deionized water, 60 grams of ferric sulfate pentahydrate and 33.3 grams of triethanolamine.

0043Upon mixing, the cross-linking reaction was slower than that observed in Example 2, but good cross-linking was observed after 2 to 3 minutes.

Example 4

0044The commercially available octylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester described in Example 2 was added to No. 2 off-road diesel oil along with a commercially available ferric iron cross-linking composition obtained from Ethox Chemicals, Inc. of Greenville, S.C. sold under the trade designation "EA-3™" (see <patcit id="pcit0005" dnum="US6149693A"><text>U.S. Patent No. 6,149,693 issued to Geib on November 21, 2000</text></patcit>). Three different mixtures were prepared having the quantities of components shown in Table I below. After mixing, each of the mixtures was placed in a Model 50 viscometer at 68°C and the viscosities of the mixtures were observed over time. The results of these tests are given in Table I below. <tables id="tabl0001" num="0001"><table frame="bottom"><title><b>TABLE I</b></title><tgroup cols="4" colsep="0"><colspec colnum="1" colname="col1" colwidth="41mm" /><colspec colnum="2" colname="col2" colwidth="41mm" /><colspec colnum="3" colname="col3" colwidth="41mm" /><colspec colnum="4" colname="col4" colwidth="41mm" /><thead><row><entry namest="col1" nameend="col4" align="center" valign="middle"><b>Viscosities Of Gelled Diesel Oil Using Commercially Available Gelling Agent Components At 68°C</b></entry></row><row><entry morerows="1" align="center" valign="middle">Time, minutes</entry><entry namest="col2" nameend="col4" align="center" valign="middle">Viscosity, cp. @ 170/sec</entry></row><row><entry align="center" valign="middle">Mixture A¹</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">Mixture B²</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">Mixture C³</entry></row></thead><tbody><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">30</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">297</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">169</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">197</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">60</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">243</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">172</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">210</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">90</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">218</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">187</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">212</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">120</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">205</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">209</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">204</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">150</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">193</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">217</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">199</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">180</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">184</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">218</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">193</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">210</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">175</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">218</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">188</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">240</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">167</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">217</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">184</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">270</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">158</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">216</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">182</entry></row><row><entry align="center" valign="middle">300</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">152</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">217</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry></row></tbody></tgroup><tgroup cols="4" rowsep="0"><colspec colnum="1" colname="col1" colwidth="41mm" /><colspec colnum="2" colname="col2" colwidth="41mm" /><colspec colnum="3" colname="col3" colwidth="41mm" /><colspec colnum="4" colname="col4" colwidth="41mm" /><tbody><row><entry namest="col1" nameend="col4" align="justify">¹Mixture A was comprised of 6 milliliters of commercially available Albright &amp; Wilson "ITC™-996," octylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester per liter of diesel oil and 5 milliliters of "ETHOX™ EA-3" ferric iron cross-linker composition per liter of diesel oil. ²Mixture B was comprised of 5 milliliters of commercially available Albright &amp; Wilson "ITC™-996," octylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester per liter of diesel oil and 5 milliliters of "ETHOX™ EA-3" ferric iron cross-linker composition per liter of diesel oil. ³Mixture C was comprised of 5 milliliters of commercially available Albright &amp; Wilson "ITC™-996," octylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester per liter of diesel oil and 6 milliliters of "ETHOX™ EA-3" ferric iron cross-linker composition per liter of diesel oil.</entry></row></tbody></tgroup></table></tables>

0045From Table I it can be seen that the commercially available octylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester and cross-linker produced rapid cross-linking and excellent viscosities.

Example 5

(Comparative)

0046The procedure of Example 4 was repeated except that the octylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester was synthesized in accordance with the procedure set forth in Example 1 and the third mixture tested, i.e., mixture F, included magnesium oxide breaker. The results of these tests are given in Table II below. <tables id="tabl0002" num="0002"><table frame="bottom"><title><b>TABLE II</b></title><tgroup cols="4" colsep="0"><colspec colnum="1" colname="col1" colwidth="40mm" /><colspec colnum="2" colname="col2" colwidth="42mm" /><colspec colnum="3" colname="col3" colwidth="43mm" /><colspec colnum="4" colname="col4" colwidth="43mm" /><thead><row><entry namest="col1" nameend="col4" align="center" valign="middle"><b>Viscosities Of Gelled Diesel Oil Using Synthesized Octylphosphonic Acid Monomethyl Ester And Commercial Ferric Iron Cross-Linking Composition At 68°C</b></entry></row><row><entry morerows="1" align="center" valign="middle">Time, Minutes</entry><entry namest="col2" nameend="col4" align="center" valign="middle">Viscosity, cp. @ 170/sec</entry></row><row><entry align="center" valign="middle">Mixture D¹</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">Mixture E²</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">Mixture F³</entry></row></thead><tbody><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">4</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">299</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">388</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">395</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">30</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">131</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">143</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">85</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">60</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">135</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">146</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">47</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">90</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">140</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">151</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">34</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">120</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">146</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">156</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">25</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">150</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">149</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">160</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">17</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">180</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">162</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">10</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">210</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">163</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry></row><row><entry align="center" valign="middle">240</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">164</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry></row></tbody></tgroup><tgroup cols="4" rowsep="0"><colspec colnum="1" colname="col1" colwidth="40mm" /><colspec colnum="2" colname="col2" colwidth="42mm" /><colspec colnum="3" colname="col3" colwidth="43mm" /><colspec colnum="4" colname="col4" colwidth="43mm" /><tbody><row><entry namest="col1" nameend="col4" align="justify">¹Mixture D was comprised of 5 milliliters of synthesized octylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester per liter of diesel oil and 5 milliliters of "ETHOX™ EA-3" ferric iron cross-linker composition per liter of diesel oil. ²Mixture E was comprised of 5 milliliters of synthesized octylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester per liter of diesel oil and 6 milliliters of "ETHOX™ EA-3" ferric iron cross-linker composition per liter of diesel oil. ³Mixture F was comprised of 5 milliliters of synthesized octylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester per liter of diesel oil, 5 milliliters of "ETHOX™ EA-3" ferric iron cross-linker composition per liter of diesel oil and 1.2 grams magnesium oxide breaker per liter of diesel oil.</entry></row></tbody></tgroup></table></tables>

0047From Table II it can be seen that the synthesized octylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester produced excellent gels. In addition, mixture F including magnesium oxide gel breaker showed an increased viscosity as a result of neutralization of the phosphonic acid ester by the magnesium oxide breaker therein after which the gel was broken.

Example 6

0048The procedure of Example 4 was repeated except that the phosphonic acid ester used was synthesized hexadecylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester. The results of these tests are given in Table III set forth below. <tables id="tabl0003" num="0003"><table frame="bottom"><title><b>TABLE III</b></title><tgroup cols="9" colsep="0"><colspec colnum="1" colname="col1" colwidth="19mm" /><colspec colnum="2" colname="col2" colwidth="19mm" /><colspec colnum="3" colname="col3" colwidth="19mm" /><colspec colnum="4" colname="col4" colwidth="19mm" /><colspec colnum="5" colname="col5" colwidth="19mm" /><colspec colnum="6" colname="col6" colwidth="19mm" /><colspec colnum="7" colname="col7" colwidth="19mm" /><colspec colnum="8" colname="col8" colwidth="19mm" /><colspec colnum="9" colname="col9" colwidth="19mm" /><thead><row><entry namest="col1" nameend="col9" align="center" valign="middle"><b>Viscosities Of Gelled Diesel Oil Using Synthesized Hexadecylphosphonic Acid Monomethyl Ester And Commercial Ferric Iron Cross-Linking Composition At 68°C</b></entry></row><row><entry morerows="1" align="center" valign="middle">Time, minutes</entry><entry namest="col2" nameend="col9" align="center" valign="middle">Viscosity, cp. @ 170/sec</entry></row><row><entry align="center" valign="middle">Mixture G¹</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">Mixture H²</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">Mixture I³</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">Mixture J⁴</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">Mixture K⁵</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">Mixture L⁶</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">Mixture M⁷</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">Mixture N⁸</entry></row></thead><tbody><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">3.5</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">36</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">121</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">70</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">162</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">107</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">179</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">235</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">292</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">30</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">145</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">199</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">190</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">183</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">165</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">177</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">175</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">186</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">60</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">171</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">176</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">169</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">195</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">166</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">187</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">172</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">181</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">90</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">177</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">186</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">169</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">208</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">167</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">192</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">173</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">177</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">120</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">187</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">197</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">175</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">213</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">169</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">194</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">174</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">172</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">150</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">189</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">203</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">179</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">218</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">175</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">200</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">178</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">176</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">180</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">191</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">209</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">189</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">221</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">181</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">202</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">178</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">174</entry></row><row><entry align="center" valign="middle">195</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">193</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">209</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">190</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">222</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">181</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">203</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">181</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">174</entry></row></tbody></tgroup><tgroup cols="9" rowsep="0"><colspec colnum="1" colname="col1" colwidth="19mm" /><colspec colnum="2" colname="col2" colwidth="19mm" /><colspec colnum="3" colname="col3" colwidth="19mm" /><colspec colnum="4" colname="col4" colwidth="19mm" /><colspec colnum="5" colname="col5" colwidth="19mm" /><colspec colnum="6" colname="col6" colwidth="19mm" /><colspec colnum="7" colname="col7" colwidth="19mm" /><colspec colnum="8" colname="col8" colwidth="19mm" /><colspec colnum="9" colname="col9" colwidth="19mm" /><tbody><row><entry namest="col1" nameend="col9" align="justify">¹Mixture G was comprised of 0.02 M (6.4 g/L) synthesized hexadecylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester per liter of diesel oil and 4.0 milliliters of "ETHOX™ EA-3" ferric iron cross-linker composition per liter of diesel oil. ²Mixture H was comprised of 0.02 M (6.4 g/L) synthesized hexadecylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester per liter of diesel oil and 5.0 milliliters of "ETHOX™ EA-3" ferric iron cross-linker composition per liter of diesel oil. ³Mixture I was comprised of 0.02 M (6.4 g/L) synthesized hexadecylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester per liter of diesel oil and 5.5 milliliters of "ETHOX™ EA-3" ferric iron cross-linker composition per liter of diesel oil. ⁴Mixture J was comprised of 0.02 M (6.4 g/l) synthesized hexadecylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester per liter of diesel oil and 6.0 milliliters of "ETHOX™ EA-3" ferric iron cross-linker composition per liter of diesel oil. ⁵Mixture K was comprised of 0.02 M (6.4 g/l) synthesized hexadecylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester per liter of diesel oil and 6.5 milliliters of "ETHOX™ EA-3" ferric iron cross-linker composition per liter of diesel oil. ⁶Mixture L was comprised of 0.02 M (6.4 g/L) synthesized hexadecylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester per liter of diesel oil and 7.0 milliliters of "ETHOX™ EA-3" ferric iron cross-linker composition per liter of diesel oil. ⁷Mixture M was comprised of 0.02 M (6.4 g/L) synthesized hexadecylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester per liter of diesel oil and 9.0 milliliters of "ETHOX™ EA-3" ferric iron cross-linker composition per liter of diesel oil. ⁸Mixture N was comprised of 0.02 M (6.4 g/L) synthesized hexadecylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester per liter of diesel oil and 11.0 milliliters of "ETHOX™ EA-3" ferric iron cross-linker composition per liter of diesel oil.</entry></row></tbody></tgroup></table></tables>

0049From Table III it can be seen that synthesized hexadecylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester and the ferric iron cross-linker utilized form excellent gels in diesel oil at 68°C.

Example

7 (Comparative)

0050The test procedure of Example 4 was repeated except that synthesized octadecylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester was utilized, the temperature of the gelled diesel oil was increased over time and two of the four gelled mixtures tested contained a magnesium oxide breaker. The results of these tests are given in Table IV below. <tables id="tabl0004" num="0004"><table frame="bottom"><title><b>TABLE IV</b></title><tgroup cols="9" colsep="0"><colspec colnum="1" colname="col1" colwidth="18mm" /><colspec colnum="2" colname="col2" colwidth="17mm" /><colspec colnum="3" colname="col3" colwidth="21mm" /><colspec colnum="4" colname="col4" colwidth="17mm" /><colspec colnum="5" colname="col5" colwidth="21mm" /><colspec colnum="6" colname="col6" colwidth="17mm" /><colspec colnum="7" colname="col7" colwidth="21mm" /><colspec colnum="8" colname="col8" colwidth="17mm" /><colspec colnum="9" colname="col9" colwidth="21mm" /><thead><row><entry namest="col1" nameend="col9" align="center" valign="middle"><b>Viscosities Of Gelled Diesel Oil Using Synthesized Octadecylphosphonic Acid Monomethyl Ester And Commercial Ferric Iron Cross-Linking Composition At Various Temperatures</b></entry></row><row><entry morerows="1" align="center" valign="middle">Time, minutes</entry><entry namest="col2" nameend="col3" align="center" valign="middle">Mixture O¹</entry><entry namest="col4" nameend="col5" align="center" valign="middle">Mixture P²</entry><entry namest="col6" nameend="col7" align="center" valign="middle">Mixture Q³</entry><entry namest="col8" nameend="col9" align="center" valign="middle">Mixture R⁴</entry></row><row><entry align="center" valign="middle">Temp., °C</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">Viscosity, cp. @ 170/sec</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">Temp., °C</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">Viscosity, cp. @ 170/sec</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">Temp., °C</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">Viscosity, cp. @ 170/sec</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">Temp., °C</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">Viscosity, cp. @ 170/sec</entry></row></thead><tbody><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">0</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">33</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">236</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">32</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">165</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">26</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">210</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">27</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">260</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">30</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">66</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">243</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">66</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">200</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">67</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">245</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">55</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">295</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">60</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">67</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">247</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">68</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">220</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">68</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">250</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">88</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">320</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">90</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">67</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">247</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">68</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">222</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">68</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">253</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">117</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">355</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">120</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">67</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">247</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">68</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">227</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">68</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">255</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">141</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">375</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">150</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">86</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">254</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">85</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">265</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">86</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">280</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">145</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">390</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">180</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">132</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">44</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">129</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">60</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">131</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">45</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">152</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">310</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">210</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">145</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">37</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">145</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">42</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">145</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">35</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">162</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">150</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">240</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">146</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">36</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">146</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">42</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">146</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">32</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">173</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">27</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">270</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">174</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">16</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">300</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">183</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">15</entry></row><row><entry align="center" valign="middle">330</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">193</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">14</entry></row></tbody></tgroup><tgroup cols="9" rowsep="0"><colspec colnum="1" colname="col1" colwidth="18mm" /><colspec colnum="2" colname="col2" colwidth="17mm" /><colspec colnum="3" colname="col3" colwidth="21mm" /><colspec colnum="4" colname="col4" colwidth="17mm" /><colspec colnum="5" colname="col5" colwidth="21mm" /><colspec colnum="6" colname="col6" colwidth="17mm" /><colspec colnum="7" colname="col7" colwidth="21mm" /><colspec colnum="8" colname="col8" colwidth="17mm" /><colspec colnum="9" colname="col9" colwidth="21mm" /><tbody><row><entry namest="col1" nameend="col9" align="justify">¹Mixture O was comprised of 0.02 M (7 g/L) synthesized octadecylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester per liter of diesel oil and 5 milliliters of "ETHOX™ EA-3" ferric iron cross-linker composition per liter of diesel oil. ²Mixture P was comprised of 0.02 M (7 g/L) synthesized octadecylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester per liter of diesel oil, 5 milliliters of "ETHOX™ EA-3" ferric iron cross-linker composition per liter of diesel oil and 0.24 grams of magnesium oxide breaker per liter of diesel oil. ³Mixture Q was comprised of 0.02 M (7 g/L) synthesized octadecylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester per liter of diesel oil and 6 milliliters of "ETHOX™ EA-3" ferric iron cross-linker composition per liter of diesel oil. ⁴Mixture R was comprised of 0.04 M (14 g/L) synthesized octadecylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester per liter of diesel oil, 12 milliliters of "ETHOX™ EA-3" ferric iron cross-linker composition per liter of diesel oil and 0.48 grams of magnesium oxide breaker per liter of diesel oil.</entry></row></tbody></tgroup></table></tables>

0051As can be seen from Table IV, synthesized octadecylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester and the ferric iron cross-linker utilized form excellent gels in diesel oil over a broad temperature range. Further, the magnesium oxide breaker neutralized the acid ester which increased the viscosity attained over a broad range of temperatures.

Example 8

(Comparative)

0052The test procedure of Example 4 was repeated except that a Tempco Rheo-15 rheometer was utilized to measure apparent viscosities at various temperatures with fluids containing 40% CO₂ by volume. One of the test mixtures was formed with a #2 Off Road Diesel hydrocarbon fluid and another test mixture included magnesium oxide. The results of these tests are set forth in Table V below. <tables id="tabl0005" num="0005"><table frame="bottom"><title><b>TABLE V</b></title><tgroup cols="7" colsep="0"><colspec colnum="1" colname="col1" colwidth="23mm" /><colspec colnum="2" colname="col2" colwidth="24mm" /><colspec colnum="3" colname="col3" colwidth="24mm" /><colspec colnum="4" colname="col4" colwidth="24mm" /><colspec colnum="5" colname="col5" colwidth="24mm" /><colspec colnum="6" colname="col6" colwidth="24mm" /><colspec colnum="7" colname="col7" colwidth="24mm" /><thead><row><entry namest="col1" nameend="col7" align="center" valign="middle"><b>Viscosities Of Gelled Diesel Using Commercially Available Gelling Agent Components And 40% Carbon Dioxide By Volume At Various Temperatures</b></entry></row><row><entry morerows="1" align="center" valign="middle">Time, minutes</entry><entry namest="col2" nameend="col3" align="center" valign="middle">Mixture S¹</entry><entry namest="col4" nameend="col5" align="center" valign="middle">Mixture T²</entry><entry namest="col6" nameend="col7" align="center" valign="middle">Mixture U³</entry></row><row><entry align="center" valign="middle">Temp., °C</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">Viscosity, cp. @ 170/sec</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">Temp., °C</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">Viscosity, cp. @ 170/sec</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">Temp., °C</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">Viscosity, cp. @ 170/sec</entry></row></thead><tbody><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">0</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">10</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">120</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">7</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">120</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">7</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">100</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">10</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">66</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">155</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">52</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">195</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">60</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">295</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">20</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">85</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">115</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">66</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">205</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">63</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">330</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">30</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">85</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">95</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">68</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">195</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">66</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">340</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">40</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">85</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">85</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">71</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">190</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">68</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">345</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">50</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">85</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">85</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">74</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">175</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">71</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">350</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">60</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">85</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">85</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">77</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">165</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">72</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">350</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">70</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">82</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">145</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">74</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">340</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">80</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">85</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">130</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">77</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">335</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">90</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">88</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">110</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">79</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">320</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">100</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">91</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">90</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">85</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">315</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">110</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">93</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">80</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">88</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">300</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">120</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">96</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">65</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">90</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">285</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">130</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">99</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">45</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">91</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">265</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">140</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">102</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">35</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">93</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">240</entry></row><row><entry align="center" valign="middle">150</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">-</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">104</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">20</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">96</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">210</entry></row></tbody></tgroup><tgroup cols="7" rowsep="0"><colspec colnum="1" colname="col1" colwidth="23mm" /><colspec colnum="2" colname="col2" colwidth="24mm" /><colspec colnum="3" colname="col3" colwidth="24mm" /><colspec colnum="4" colname="col4" colwidth="24mm" /><colspec colnum="5" colname="col5" colwidth="24mm" /><colspec colnum="6" colname="col6" colwidth="24mm" /><colspec colnum="7" colname="col7" colwidth="24mm" /><tbody><row><entry namest="col1" nameend="col7" align="justify">¹Mixture S was comprised of 5 milliliters of commercially available Albright &amp; Wilson "ITC™-966" octylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester per liter of #2 Off Road Diesel Fuel containing 40% by volume carbon dioxide and 5 milliliters of Ethox "EA-3™" ferric iron cross-linker composition per liter of #2 Off Road Diesel Fuel containing 40% by volume carbon dioxide. ²Mixture T was comprised of 7 milliliters of commercially available Albright &amp; Wilson "ITC™-966" octylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester per liter of diesel oil containing 40% by volume carbon dioxide and 7 milliliters of Ethox "EA-3™" ferric iron cross-linker composition per liter of diesel oil containing 40% by volume carbon dioxide. ³Mixture U was comprised of 7 milliliters of commercially available Albright &amp; Wilson "ITC™-966" octylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester per liter of #2 Off Road Diesel Fuel containing 40% by volume carbon dioxide, 7 milliliters of Ethox "EA-3™" ferric iron cross-linker composition per liter of #2 Off Road Diesel Fuel containing 40% by volume carbon dioxide and 0.240 grams of magnesium oxide breaker per liter of diesel oil containing 40% by volume carbon dioxide.</entry></row></tbody></tgroup></table></tables>

0053From Table V it can be seen that excellent gels were formed even though the gels contained 40% by volume carbon dioxide. Also, a significant increase in viscosity was realized when the gel included only enough magnesium oxide breaker to partially neutralize the octyl phosphonic acid monomethyl ester.

Example 9

0054Various synthesized phosphonic acid esters were added in various amounts to diesel oil or kerosene along with various amounts of ETHOX "EA-3™" ferric iron cross-linker compositions and the resulting gels were observed. The results of these tests are set forth in Table VI below. <tables id="tabl0006" num="0006"><table frame="bottom"><title><b>TABLE VI</b></title><tgroup cols="6" colsep="0"><colspec colnum="1" colname="col1" colwidth="26mm" /><colspec colnum="2" colname="col2" colwidth="39mm" /><colspec colnum="3" colname="col3" colwidth="26mm" /><colspec colnum="4" colname="col4" colwidth="24mm" /><colspec colnum="5" colname="col5" colwidth="26mm" /><colspec colnum="6" colname="col6" colwidth="27mm" /><thead><row><entry namest="col1" nameend="col6" align="center" valign="middle"><b>Observations Of Various Gels Formed With Alkylphosphonic Acid Monomethyl Esters And Commercial Cross-Linkers</b></entry></row><row><entry align="center" valign="middle">Hydrocarbon Liquid Used</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">Ester</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">Ester Amount In Hydrocarbon Liquid</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">Cross-Linker</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">Cross-Linker Amount, ml/L of hydrocarbon liquid</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">Observations</entry></row></thead><tbody><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center">Off-road Diesel</entry><entry align="center">Octylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester</entry><entry align="center">2.0 ml/L</entry><entry align="center">Ethox "EA-3™"</entry><entry align="center">2</entry><entry align="center">weak elastic gel</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center">Off-road Diesel</entry><entry align="center">Octylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester</entry><entry align="center">33.0 ml/L</entry><entry align="center">Ethox "EA-3™"</entry><entry align="center">3</entry><entry align="center">weak lipping gel</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center">Off-road Diesel</entry><entry align="center">Octylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester</entry><entry align="center">5.0 ml/L</entry><entry align="center">Ethox "EA-3™"</entry><entry align="center">5</entry><entry align="center">strong lipping gel</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center">Off-road Diesel</entry><entry align="center">Decylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester</entry><entry align="center">5.0 ml/L</entry><entry align="center">Ethox "EA-3™"</entry><entry align="center">10</entry><entry align="center">weak elastic gel</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center">Off-road Diesel</entry><entry align="center">Decylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester</entry><entry align="center">10.0 ml/L</entry><entry align="center">Ethox "EA-3™"</entry><entry align="center">5</entry><entry align="center">lipping gel</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center">Kerosene</entry><entry align="center">Hexadecylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester</entry><entry align="center">9.9 g/L</entry><entry align="center">Ethox "EA-3™"</entry><entry align="center">10</entry><entry align="center">very strong lipping gel</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center">Kerosene</entry><entry align="center">Octadecylphosphonic acid monobutyl ester</entry><entry align="center">8.0 g/L</entry><entry align="center">Ethox "EA-3™"</entry><entry align="center">6</entry><entry align="center">very strong lipping gel</entry></row><row><entry align="center">Kerosene</entry><entry align="center">Octylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester'</entry><entry align="center">10.0 ml/L</entry><entry align="center">Aluminum compound²</entry><entry align="center">0.8</entry><entry align="center">good lipping gel</entry></row></tbody></tgroup><tgroup cols="6" rowsep="0"><colspec colnum="1" colname="col1" colwidth="26mm" /><colspec colnum="2" colname="col2" colwidth="39mm" /><colspec colnum="3" colname="col3" colwidth="26mm" /><colspec colnum="4" colname="col4" colwidth="24mm" /><colspec colnum="5" colname="col5" colwidth="26mm" /><colspec colnum="6" colname="col6" colwidth="27mm" /><tbody><row><entry namest="col1" nameend="col6" align="justify">¹Albert &amp; Wilson "ITC-966™" ester ²Aluminum cross-linker commercially available from Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. of Duncan, Oklahoma. (outside the scope of the claims)</entry></row></tbody></tgroup></table></tables>

Example 10

(Comparative)

0055The procedure described in Example 4 was repeated except that magnesium oxide breaker was included in the three mixtures that were tested. In addition, one of the gels was produced utilizing a hydrocarbon liquid commercially available from Trisol Corp. of Sundre, Alberta, Canada under the trade name "FRACSOL™" to which was added 40% by total volume carbon dioxide. The results of the tests are given in VII below. <tables id="tabl0007" num="0007"><table frame="bottom"><title><b>TABLE VII</b></title><tgroup cols="7" colsep="0"><colspec colnum="1" colname="col1" colwidth="26mm" /><colspec colnum="2" colname="col2" colwidth="22mm" /><colspec colnum="3" colname="col3" colwidth="26mm" /><colspec colnum="4" colname="col4" colwidth="22mm" /><colspec colnum="5" colname="col5" colwidth="26mm" /><colspec colnum="6" colname="col6" colwidth="22mm" /><colspec colnum="7" colname="col7" colwidth="25mm" /><thead><row><entry namest="col1" nameend="col7" align="center" valign="middle"><b>Break Times Of Various Gels With Magnesium Oxide</b></entry></row><row><entry morerows="1" align="center" valign="middle">Time, minutes</entry><entry namest="col2" nameend="col3" align="center" valign="middle">Mixture V¹</entry><entry namest="col4" nameend="col5" align="center" valign="middle">Mixture W²</entry><entry namest="col6" nameend="col7" align="center" valign="middle">Mixture X³</entry></row><row><entry align="center" valign="middle">Temp., °C</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">Viscosity, cp. @ 170/sec</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">Temp., °C</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">Viscosity, cp. @ 170/sec</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">Temp., °C</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">Viscosity, cp. @170/sec</entry></row></thead><tbody><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">5</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">31</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">366</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">33</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">375</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">39</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">370</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">10</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">46</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">365</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">48</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">307</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">68</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">365</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">15</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">54</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">365</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">55</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">240</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">85</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">360</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">20</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">59</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">364</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">58</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">173</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">85</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">200</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">25</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">62</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">363</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">61</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">105</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">85</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">70</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">30</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">64</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">360</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">62</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">83</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">85</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">30</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">35</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">65</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">357</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">64</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">76</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">85</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">15</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">40</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">66</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">353</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">65</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">67</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">85</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">13</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">45</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">67</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">335</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">65</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">62</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">85</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">10</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">50</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">67</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">318</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">66</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">56</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">85</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">9</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">55</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">67</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">302</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">66</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">51</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">85</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">5</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">60</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">68</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">293</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">66</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">47</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">85</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">2</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">90</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">68</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">185</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">66</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">34</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle" /><entry align="center" valign="middle" /></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">120</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">68</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">97</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">67</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">25</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle" /><entry align="center" valign="middle" /></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">150</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">68</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">74</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">67</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">17</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle" /><entry align="center" valign="middle" /></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">180</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">68</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">67</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">67</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">11</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle" /><entry align="center" valign="middle" /></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">210</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">68</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">60</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle" /><entry align="center" valign="middle" /><entry align="center" valign="middle" /><entry align="center" valign="middle" /></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">240</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">68</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">54</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle" /><entry align="center" valign="middle" /><entry align="center" valign="middle" /><entry align="center" valign="middle" /></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">270</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">68</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">47</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle" /><entry align="center" valign="middle" /><entry align="center" valign="middle" /><entry align="center" valign="middle" /></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">300</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">68</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">35</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle" /><entry align="center" valign="middle" /><entry align="center" valign="middle" /><entry align="center" valign="middle" /></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">330</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">68</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">25</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle" /><entry align="center" valign="middle" /><entry align="center" valign="middle" /><entry align="center" valign="middle" /></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">360</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">68</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">18</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle" /><entry align="center" valign="middle" /><entry align="center" valign="middle" /><entry align="center" valign="middle" /></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center" valign="middle">390</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">68</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">14</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle" /><entry align="center" valign="middle" /><entry align="center" valign="middle" /><entry align="center" valign="middle" /></row><row><entry align="center" valign="middle">420</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">68</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">12</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle" /><entry align="center" valign="middle" /><entry align="center" valign="middle" /><entry align="center" valign="middle" /></row></tbody></tgroup><tgroup cols="7" rowsep="0"><colspec colnum="1" colname="col1" colwidth="26mm" /><colspec colnum="2" colname="col2" colwidth="22mm" /><colspec colnum="3" colname="col3" colwidth="26mm" /><colspec colnum="4" colname="col4" colwidth="22mm" /><colspec colnum="5" colname="col5" colwidth="26mm" /><colspec colnum="6" colname="col6" colwidth="22mm" /><colspec colnum="7" colname="col7" colwidth="25mm" /><tbody><row><entry namest="col1" nameend="col7" align="justify">¹Mixture V was comprised of 5 milliliters of commercially available Albright &amp; Wilson "ITC™-966" octylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester per liter of off-road diesel oil, 5 milliliters of Ethox "EA3™" ferric iron cross-linker composition per liter of off-road diesel oil and 2.4 grams of magnesium oxide breaker per liter of off-road diesel oil. The off-road diesel oil contained water. ²Mixture W was comprised of 5 milliliters of synthesized octylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester per liter of off-road diesel oil, 5 milliliters of Ethox "EA-3™" ferric iron cross-linker composition per liter of off-road diesel oil and 1.2 grams of magnesium oxide breaker per liter of off-road diesel oil. The off-road diesel oil contained water. ³Mixture X was comprised of 7 milliliters of commercially available Albright &amp; Wilson "TTC™-966" octylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester per liter of "FRACSOL™" hydrocarbon liquid mixed with 40% by volume carbon dioxide, 7 milliliters of Ethox "EA-3™" ferric iron cross-linker composition per liter of "FRACSOL™" hydrocarbon liquid mixed with 40% by volume carbon dioxide and 1.1 grams of magnesium oxide breaker per liter of "FRACSOL™" hydrocarbon liquid mixed with 40% by volume carbon dioxide. Mixture X also contained water.</entry></row></tbody></tgroup></table></tables>

0056From Table VII, it can be seen that complete progressive breaks were obtained by the presence of the magnesium oxide. The synthesized phosphonic acid ester required significantly less breaker and still showed a faster break rate than the commercial phosphonic acid ester. The gel containing 60% by volume "FRACSOL™" hydrocarbon liquid and 40% by volume carbon dioxide also achieved a progressive and complete break as a result of the presence of the magnesium oxide.

Example 11

0057Gelled hydrocarbon liquid test samples were prepared by combining 0.02M (6.4 g/L) of hexadecylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester and 5 milliliters of ethox "EA-3™" ferric iron cross-linker composition to 1 liter of off-road diesel oil. Various reducing agents for reducing ferric iron to ferrous iron and thereby breaking the gels were added to the test samples. Thereafter, the viscosities of the test samples over time were measured to determine the effectiveness of the reducing agents in breaking the gels. The results of these tests are given in Table VIII below. <tables id="tabl0008" num="0008"><table frame="bottom"><title><b>TABLE VIII</b></title><tgroup cols="6" colsep="0"><colspec colnum="1" colname="col1" colwidth="46mm" /><colspec colnum="2" colname="col2" colwidth="24mm" /><colspec colnum="3" colname="col3" colwidth="24mm" /><colspec colnum="4" colname="col4" colwidth="24mm" /><colspec colnum="5" colname="col5" colwidth="24mm" /><colspec colnum="6" colname="col6" colwidth="24mm" /><thead><row><entry namest="col1" nameend="col6" align="center" valign="middle"><b>Break Times Of Diesel Oil Gel¹ Containing Various Reducing Agents @ 90°C</b></entry></row><row><entry morerows="1" align="center" valign="middle">Reducing Agent Used</entry><entry namest="col2" nameend="col6" align="center" valign="middle">Viscosity, cp. @ 170/sec At Time</entry></row><row><entry align="center" valign="middle">0</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">2 hrs.</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">21 hrs.</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">45 hrs.</entry><entry align="center" valign="middle">242 hrs.</entry></row></thead><tbody><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center">Blank - No Reducing Agent</entry><entry align="center">60</entry><entry align="center">66</entry><entry align="center">66</entry><entry align="center">66</entry><entry align="center">66</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center">Stannous Chloride dihydrate</entry><entry align="center">7</entry><entry align="center">3</entry><entry align="center">-</entry><entry align="center">-</entry><entry align="center">-</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center">Thioglycolic Acid</entry><entry align="center">45</entry><entry align="center">3</entry><entry align="center">-</entry><entry align="center">-</entry><entry align="center">-</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center">Sodium Diethyldithiocarbamate</entry><entry align="center">141</entry><entry align="center">18</entry><entry align="center">3</entry><entry align="center">-</entry><entry align="center">-</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center">Sodium Dimethyldithiocarbamate</entry><entry align="center">123</entry><entry align="center">42</entry><entry align="center">30</entry><entry align="center">3</entry><entry align="center">-</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center">Hydrazine Sulfate</entry><entry align="center">45</entry><entry align="center">96</entry><entry align="center">57</entry><entry align="center">33</entry><entry align="center">3</entry></row><row><entry align="center">Hydroxylamine Hydrochloride</entry><entry align="center">75</entry><entry align="center">69</entry><entry align="center">15</entry><entry align="center">3</entry><entry align="center">-</entry></row></tbody></tgroup><tgroup cols="6" rowsep="0"><colspec colnum="1" colname="col1" colwidth="46mm" /><colspec colnum="2" colname="col2" colwidth="24mm" /><colspec colnum="3" colname="col3" colwidth="24mm" /><colspec colnum="4" colname="col4" colwidth="24mm" /><colspec colnum="5" colname="col5" colwidth="24mm" /><colspec colnum="6" colname="col6" colwidth="24mm" /><tbody><row><entry namest="col1" nameend="col6" align="justify">¹0.02M (0.64 wt%) hexadecyl phosphonic acid mono methyl ester per liter of off-road diesel oil, 5 milliliters of Ethox "EA-3™" ferric iron cross-linker composition per liter of off-road diesel oil and 0.01M reducing agent per liter of off-road diesel oil. [0.1 Molar for stannous chloride dihydrate = 22.56 g/L; 0.1 M for thioglycolic acid (mercaptoacetic acid) = 9.21 g/L; 0.1 M for sodium diethyldithiocarbamate = 22.53 g/L; 0.1 M for sodium dimethyldithiocarbamate = 14.32 g/L; 0.1 m hydroxylamine hydrochloride = 6.95 g/L] The off-road diesel oil gels contained water.</entry></row></tbody></tgroup></table></tables>

0058From Table VIII it can be seen that reducing agents comprised of stannous chloride, thioglycolic acid, sodium diethyldithiocarbamate, sodium dimethyldithiocarbamate and hydrazine sulfate can be utilized as efficient reducing agent breakers for the hydrocarbon gels of this invention, at 90°C.

0059Additional reducing agents were evaluated but found to be too weak with phosphonates gels, at 90°C. However, it is understood the additional reducing agents could be the preferred reducing agents at higher temperatures where a slower rate of reaction is required. The additional reducing agents include, but are not limited to, sodium hypophosphite, potassium iodide, 2-mercaptoethanol (thioglycol), ascorbic acid, sodium thiosulfate, sodium dithionite, sodium sulfite and salts thereof.

Example 12

0060Various alkylphosphonic acid monomethyl esters were dissolved in a high boiling point mineral oil in amounts such that 0.1 M solutions were formed. The solutions were each distilled in accordance with ASTM D-86 and the distillates obtained were analyzed for phosphorus by Inductively Coupled Plasma methodology (ASTM D-4951). The results of these tests are given in Table IX. <tables id="tabl0009" num="0009"><table frame="bottom"><title><b>TABLE IX</b></title><tgroup cols="2" colsep="0"><colspec colnum="1" colname="col1" colwidth="86mm" /><colspec colnum="2" colname="col2" colwidth="73mm" /><thead><row><entry namest="col1" nameend="col2" align="center" valign="top"><b>Volatile Phosphorus Formed From Distillation Of Alkylphosphonic Acid Monomethyl Esters In Mineral Oil</b></entry></row><row><entry align="center" valign="top">Ester</entry><entry align="center" valign="top">Phosphorus in Distillate, ppm</entry></row></thead><tbody><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center">octylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester</entry><entry align="center">148</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center">decylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester</entry><entry align="center">38</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center">dodecylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester</entry><entry align="center">12</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center">tetradecylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester</entry><entry align="center">6</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center">hexadecylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester</entry><entry align="center">5</entry></row><row rowsep="0"><entry align="center">octadecylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester</entry><entry align="center">3</entry></row><row><entry align="center">C_20-24 alkanephosphonic acid monomethyl ester</entry><entry align="center">&lt;1</entry></row></tbody></tgroup></table></tables>

0061Table IX shows a clear trend in which the volatile phosphorus produced by the alkylphosphonic acid monomethyl esters is a function of molecular weight. Tetradecylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester shows a 96% reduction in volatile phosphorus over the octylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester. The fact that the C_20-24 alkylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester had no detectable volatile phosphorus shows that decomposition due to hydrolysis has been eliminated under the test conditions.

0062From Table IX it is apparent the alkylphosphonic acid monomethyl esters of C14 (tetradecyl) or higher are preferred to minimize volatile phosphorus. Of these, tetradecylphosphonic acid monomethyl ester is most preferred to reduce volatile phosphorus while retaining good solubility properties at room temperature.

0063Thus, the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the benefits and advantages mentioned as well as those which are inherent therein. While numerous changes to the methods and compositions can be made by those skilled in the art, such changes are encompassed within the scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.