Described herein are emulsion polymers, spray dried powders made with said emulsion polymers, and cementitious compositions made with said emulsion polymers or said spray dried powders. Emulsion polymers described herein comprise a shell portion comprising an alkali soluble resin (ASR), a core portion formed from polymerized units of at least one hydrophobic ethylenically unsaturated monomer, wherein no crosslinker is present when the shell portion and core portion are combined, and a nonionic water-soluble polymer.

A method of using a gas control additive to provide gas migration control in a wellbore includes the steps of mixing the gas control additive with a cement to form a cement slurry, where the gas control additive includes a semi-permeable membrane and a scrubbing agent, such that the semi-permeable membrane forms a shell around a core such that the scrubbing agent is in the core, introducing the cement slurry to the wellbore, and reacting the scrubbing agent with an antagonistic gas to produce a helper byproduct, where the antagonistic gas migrates from a hydrocarbon-bearing formation into the wellbore and permeates through the semi-permeable membrane to the core of the gas control additive.

A method of using a gas control additive to provide gas migration control in a wellbore includes the steps of mixing the gas control additive with a cement to form a cement slurry, where the gas control additive includes a semi-permeable membrane and a scrubbing agent, such that the semi-permeable membrane forms a shell around a core such that the scrubbing agent is in the core, introducing the cement slurry to the wellbore, and reacting the scrubbing agent with an antagonistic gas to produce a helper byproduct, where the antagonistic gas migrates from a hydrocarbon-bearing formation into the wellbore and permeates through the semi-permeable membrane to the core of the gas control additive.

A method of using a gas control additive to provide gas migration control in a wellbore includes the steps of mixing the gas control additive with a cement to form a cement slurry, where the gas control additive includes a semi-permeable membrane and a scrubbing agent, such that the semi-permeable membrane forms a shell around a core such that the scrubbing agent is in the core, introducing the cement slurry to the wellbore, and reacting the scrubbing agent with an antagonistic gas to produce a helper byproduct, where the antagonistic gas migrates from a hydrocarbon-bearing formation into the wellbore and permeates through the semi-permeable membrane to the core of the gas control additive.

A method of using a gas control additive to provide gas migration control in a wellbore includes the steps of mixing the gas control additive with a cement to form a cement slurry, where the gas control additive includes a semi-permeable membrane and a scrubbing agent, such that the semi-permeable membrane forms a shell around a core such that the scrubbing agent is in the core, introducing the cement slurry to the wellbore, and reacting the scrubbing agent with an antagonistic gas to produce a helper byproduct, where the antagonistic gas migrates from a hydrocarbon-bearing formation into the wellbore and permeates through the semi-permeable membrane to the core of the gas control additive.

A method of using a gas control additive to provide gas migration control in a wellbore includes the steps of mixing the gas control additive with a cement to form a cement slurry, where the gas control additive includes a semi-permeable membrane and a scrubbing agent, such that the semi-permeable membrane forms a shell around a core such that the scrubbing agent is in the core, introducing the cement slurry to the wellbore, and reacting the scrubbing agent with an antagonistic gas to produce a helper byproduct, where the antagonistic gas migrates from a hydrocarbon-bearing formation into the wellbore and permeates through the semi-permeable membrane to the core of the gas control additive.

A method of using a gas control additive to provide gas migration control in a wellbore includes the steps of mixing the gas control additive with a cement to form a cement slurry, where the gas control additive includes a semi-permeable membrane and a scrubbing agent, such that the semi-permeable membrane forms a shell around a core such that the scrubbing agent is in the core, introducing the cement slurry to the wellbore, and reacting the scrubbing agent with an antagonistic gas to produce a helper byproduct, where the antagonistic gas migrates from a hydrocarbon-bearing formation into the wellbore and permeates through the semi-permeable membrane to the core of the gas control additive.

Capsules with a cement additive covered by a polymeric outer shell are added to wellbore cement. The additive is released from the shells by osmosis or shell ruptures. Capillary forces draw the additive into micro-annuli or cracks present in the cement, where the additive seals the micro-annuli and cracks to define a self-sealing material. The empty shells remain in the cement and act as an additive that modifies cement elasticity. The capsules are formed by combining immiscible liquids, where one of the liquids contains a signaling substance, and each of the liquids contains a reagent. When combined, the liquids segregate into a dispersed phase and a continuous phase, with the dispersed phase having the signaling agent. The reagents react at interfaces between dispersed and continuous phases and form polymer layers encapsulating the signaling agent to form the capsules. Adjusting relative concentrations of the reagents varies membrane strength and permeability.

The present invention relates generally to wall repair compounds such as joint compounds, spackling compounds, and the like used to repair imperfections in walls or fill joints between adjacent wallboard panels. Particularly, the present invention relates to such a wall repair compound comprising a dust reduction additive that reduces the quantity of airborne dust generated when the hardened compound is sanded and also exhibits improved adhesive properties. The dust reduction additive also imparts adhesion to the wall repair compounds to which it is added, for example to a joint compound. The dust reduction additive comprises micro-crystalline wax or micro-crystalline wax emulsion.

A method of monitoring conditions in a wellbore by disposing capsules with a signaling agent downhole, and monitoring the presence of the signaling agent released from the capsules that escape the wellbore. The capsules are formed by combining immiscible liquids, where one of the liquids contains the signaling substance, and each of the liquids contains a reagent. When combined, the liquids segregate into a dispersed phase and a continuous phase, with the dispersed phase having the signaling agent. The reagents react at the interfaces between dispersed and continuous phases and form polymer layers encapsulating the signaling agent to form the capsules. When disposed downhole, such as in casing cement, the capsule membranes can burst under pressure or temperature to release the signaling agent. Adjusting relative concentrations of the reagents varies membrane strength and permeability.