The invention relates to an emulsion containing or consisting of (A) 40.00 to 97.98 wt. % of at least one hydrocarbon, (B) 2.00 to 59.98 wt. % of water or an aqueous solution of a salt which does not fall under the following definition according to (C) and (C) 0.02 to 8.00 wt. % of a salt of an amino amide of a fatty acid, containing at least one primary, secondary or tertiary amino group, and an acid component of general formula (I) ##STR00001## in which R.sup.1 is a linear or branched, saturated or mono-unsaturated or poly-unsaturated hydrocarbon radical with 1 to 40 C atoms, R.sup.2 is an alkylene radical or arylalkylene radical with 2 to 20 C atoms and X is a radical which contains at least one acid group, m=0 or 1, n=1 to 30, wherein the weight proportions of components (A), (B) and (C) relate to the sum of the masses of these components and this is 100 wt. %. The invention also relates to a method for the production of the emulsion, to an oil-based drilling mud and to a method for creating and stabilizing a drill hole.

A water-in-oil emulsion that includes an oil phase (O) and an aqueous phase (A) at an O/A ratio of from about 1:8 to about 10:1; wherein the water-in-oil emulsion includes the oil phase as a continuous phase that includes an inert hydrophobic liquid, at least one water-insoluble hydrophobic monomer, and at least one surfactant, and the aqueous phase as a dispersed phase of distinct particles in the oil phase that includes water and a water soluble polymer that includes: (i) at least one acrylamide monomer and (ii) at least one acrylic acid monomer; wherein the water soluble polymer is present in an amount from about 10 to about 35 weight percent of the water-in-oil emulsion. Also provided is water-in-oil emulsion that includes an oil phase (O) and an aqueous phase (A) at an O/A ratio of from about 1:8 to about 10:1; wherein the water-in-oil emulsion includes the oil phase as a continuous phase that includes an inert hydrophobic liquid and at least one surfactant, and the aqueous phase as a dispersed phase of distinct particles in the oil phase that includes water and a water soluble polymer that includes: (i) at least one acrylamide monomer, (ii) at least one acrylic acid monomer, and (iii) at least one water soluble hydrophobic monomer; wherein the water soluble polymer is present in an amount from 10 to 35 weight percent of the water-in-oil emulsion. Methods of treating a portion of a subterranean formation with a water-in-oil emulsion are also provided.

The instant invention relates to a process for the encapsulation of a non-amine hydrophilic compound C, comprising the steps of: (E1) providing a reverse emulsion containing: an oil phase (O), comprising a curable mixture of isocyanate and polyalkyldiene hydroxylated or polyol dispersed in said oil phase, drops of an aqueous phase W.sup.1, containing: said non-amine hydrophilic compound C; and at least 5% by weight of a compound C carrying more than 2 amine groups; (E2) pouring the reverse emulsion of step (E1) in a second water phase W.sup.2 to make a multiple emulsion water/oil/water; and, then, (E3) curing into polyurethane all or part of the curable mixture contained in the oil phase.

A polymer-encapsulated mineral acid solution and a method for forming the polymer-encapsulated mineral acid solution. Introducing a strong mineral acid solution to a monomer solution occurs such that a primary emulsion that is a water-in-oil type emulsion forms. Introducing the primary emulsion to a second aqueous solution forms a secondary emulsion that is a water-in-oil-in-water type double emulsion. The monomer in the secondary emulsion is cured such a polymerized shell forms that encapsulates the strong mineral acid solution and forms the capsule. The strong mineral acid solution has up to 30 wt. % strong mineral acid. A method of stimulating a hydrocarbon-bearing formation using the polymer-encapsulated mineral acid solution includes introducing a capsule suspension into a fissure in the hydrocarbon-bearing formation to be stimulated through a face in a well bore. The capsule is maintained within the fissure until the polymer shell degrades.

A polymer-encapsulated mineral acid solution and a method for forming the polymer-encapsulated mineral acid solution. Introducing a strong mineral acid solution to a monomer solution occurs such that a primary emulsion that is a water-in-oil type emulsion forms. Introducing the primary emulsion to a second aqueous solution forms a secondary emulsion that is a water-in-oil-in-water type double emulsion. The monomer in the secondary emulsion is cured such a polymerized shell forms that encapsulates the strong mineral acid solution and forms the capsule. The strong mineral acid solution has up to 30 wt. % strong mineral acid. A method of stimulating a hydrocarbon-bearing formation using the polymer-encapsulated mineral acid solution includes introducing a capsule suspension into a fissure in the hydrocarbon-bearing formation to be stimulated through a face in a well bore. The capsule is maintained within the fissure until the polymer shell degrades.

An emulsion for hydraulic fracturing to provide a one-step delivery of a fracturing fluid and a breaker for hydraulic fracturing of a hydrocarbon-bearing formation is provided. The emulsion for hydraulic fracturing is a water-in-oil-in-water emulsion having an internal aqueous phase that includes a breaker, an external aqueous phase that includes a fracturing fluid and a proppant, and an intermediate hydrocarbon phase separating the internal aqueous phase and external aqueous phase. The emulsion may include nanometer-sized or micrometer-sized particles to form a Pickering emulsion.

A water-in-oil emulsion that includes an oil phase (O) and an aqueous phase (A) at an O/A ratio of from about 1:8 to about 10:1; wherein the water-in-oil emulsion includes the oil phase as a continuous phase that includes an inert hydrophobic liquid, at least one water-insoluble hydrophobic monomer, and at least one surfactant, and the aqueous phase as a dispersed phase of distinct particles in the oil phase that includes water and a water soluble polymer that includes: (i) at least one acrylamide monomer and (ii) at least one acrylic acid monomer; wherein the water soluble polymer is present in an amount from about 10 to about 35 weight percent of the water-in-oil emulsion. Also provided is water-in-oil emulsion that includes an oil phase (O) and an aqueous phase (A) at an O/A ratio of from about 1:8 to about 10:1; wherein the water-in-oil emulsion includes the oil phase as a continuous phase that includes an inert hydrophobic liquid and at least one surfactant, and the aqueous phase as a dispersed phase of distinct particles in the oil phase that includes water and a water soluble polymer that includes: (i) at least one acrylamide monomer, (ii) at least one acrylic acid monomer, and (iii) at least one water soluble hydrophobic monomer; wherein the water soluble polymer is present in an amount from 10 to 35 weight percent of the water-in-oil emulsion. Methods of treating a portion of a subterranean formation with a water-in-oil emulsion are also provided.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to double emulsified acids, specifically water in oil in water (W/O/W) double emulsions with an acidic interior water phase. The double emulsified acid may include two or more emulsifying agents. In addition to improving the stability of the emulsions, the emulsifying agents may help slow the acid reaction rate. The first emulsifying agent may have an HLB greater than 7 and the second emulsifying agent may have an HLB less than or equal to 7. Other embodiments are directed to methods for producing a double emulsified acid and methods for acidizing a carbonate formation including a double emulsified acid.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to double emulsified acids, specifically water in oil in water (W/O/W) double emulsions with an acidic interior water phase. The double emulsified acid may include two or more emulsifying agents. In addition to improving the stability of the emulsions, the emulsifying agents may help slow the acid reaction rate. The first emulsifying agent may have an HLB greater than 7 and the second emulsifying agent may have an HLB less than or equal to 7. Other embodiments are directed to methods for producing a double emulsified acid and methods for acidizing a carbonate formation including a double emulsified acid.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to double emulsified acids, specifically water in oil in water (W/O/W) double emulsions with an acidic interior water phase. The double emulsified acid may include two or more emulsifying agents. In addition to improving the stability of the emulsions, the emulsifying agents may help slow the acid reaction rate. The first emulsifying agent may have an HLB greater than 7 and the second emulsifying agent may have an HLB less than or equal to 7. Other embodiments are directed to methods for producing a double emulsified acid and methods for acidizing a carbonate formation including a double emulsified acid.