US3722592A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Paraffin deposition inhibition in oil
Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Co
•
Filing: 1971-12-14
•
Granted: 1973-03-27
•
Expires: 1991-12-14
Abstract
Abstract A method for inhibiting the deposition of paraffin in liquid oil either in the oil well, gas wells, etc., or on the earth''s surface by utilizing a stable aqueous emulsion of polyethylene wherein the polyethylene is branched at least in part and has a molecular weight in excess of 6,000, the emulsifier being selected from the group consisting of anionic, nonionic, and cationic emulsifiers.
Inventors
- 👤 S Bucaram
- 👤 A Mortimer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 19:18
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/52; C09K8/524; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S507/00; Y10S507/922; Y10S507/927; Y10S507/929; Y10S507/931
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said emulsifier is selected from the group consisting of anionic and nonionic emulsifiers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said emulsifier is selected from the group consisting of alkyl-phenoxy polyoxyethylene glycol having the structure
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said emulsion after introduction into said wellbore is displaced outwardly of said wellbore into an oil bearing formation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein said emulsion is displaced outwardly of said wellbore by increasing the pressure in the interior of said wellbore.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein said pressure is sufficient to cause fracturing of any oil bearing formation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein said pressure is sufficient to force said emulsion into the pores of said oil bearing formation without causing fracturing of any oil bearing formation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein said emulsion is broken after displacement into at least one oil bearing formation to cause separation of polyethylene from said emulsion and deposition of said separated polyethylene in said formation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein after displacement of said emulsion into at least one oil bearing formation, contacting said emulsion with an amount of salt water effective to cause substantial deposition of polyethylene from said emulsion in the interior of said oil bearing formation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein said salt water contains at least about 1000 ppm of dissolved water soluble salts.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein said salt water is injected into said at least one oil bearing formation from said wellbore after said emulsion is injected into said formation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein said salt water is produced from the interIor of said at least one oil bearing formation after injection of said emulsion into said formation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein sufficient salt water is employed to cause a substantial breakdown of said emulsion as evidenced by agglomeration of polyethylene particles and separation of the agglomerates from the aqueous phase of the emulsion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein said emulsifier is selected from the group consisting of alkyl-phenoxy polyoxyethylene glycol having the structure
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein said polyethylene is dispersed in said emulsion in the form of nonoxidized particles in the size range of from about 0.02 to about 0.5 micron, said emulsifier contains less than 1 weight percent molecular oxygen, and said emulsion is substantially free of coagulating agent for said polyethylene particles.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein said polyethylene emulsion is prepared by the emulsion polymerization of ethylene monomer in an aqueous medium using an effective catalytic amount of at least one water soluble alkali metal persulphate and in the presence of said emulsifier.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein said emulsion is introduced into said wellbore in an amount of at least about 0.5 gallon.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein said polyethylene has a molecular weight of at least about 20,000 and is at least about 25 percent branched.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said polyethylene is dispersed in said emulsion in the form of nonoxidized particles in the size range of from about 0.02 to about 0.5 micron, said emulsifier contains less than 1 weight percent molecular oxygen, and said emulsion is substantially free of coagulating agent for said polyethylene particles.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said polyethylene emulsion is prepared by the emulsion polymerization of ethylene monomer in an aqueous medium using an effective catalytic amount of at least one water soluble alkali metal persulphate and in the presence of said emulsifier.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said emulsion is introduced into said wellbore in an amount of at least about 0.5 gallon.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said emulsion is introduced into said wellbore in an amount sufficient to provide at least about 0.05 ppm polyethylene in the crude oil produced from the wellbore.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said polyethylene has a molecular weight of at least about 20,000 and is at least about 25 percent branched.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for inhibiting the deposition of paraffin in liquid oil comprising incorporating in said oil a stable aqueous polyethylene emulsion, the polyethylene in said emulsion being the dispersed phase and having at least 10 weight percent of branched carbon atoms in the polymer chain and having a molecular weight in excess of 6,000, the emulsifier in the emulsion being selected from the group consisting of anionic, nonionic, and cationic emulsifiers, said emulsion being incorporated in an effective paraffin deposition inhibiting amount.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 24 wherein said emulsifier is selected from the group consisting of anionic and nonionic emulsifiers.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 24 wherein said emulsifier is selected from the group consisting of alkyl-phenoxy Polyoxyethylene glycol having the structure
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 24 wherein said emulsion is incorporated in said oil in an amount sufficient to provide at least about 0.05 ppm polyethylene in said oil.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method according to claim 24 wherein said polyethylene is dispersed in said emulsion in the form of nonoxidized particles in the size range of from about 0.02 to about 0.5 micron, said emulsifier contains less than 1 weight percent molecular oxygen, and said emulsion is substantially free of coagulating agent for said polyethylene particles.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to claim 24 wherein said polyethylene emulsion is prepared by the emulsion polymerization of ethylene monomer in an aqueous medium using an effective catalytic amount of at least one water soluble alkali metal persulphate and in the presence of said emulsifier.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 24 wherein said polyethylene has a molecular weight of at least about 20,000 and is at least about 25 percent branched.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-26 | 1976-09-25 | 1977-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-26 | 1980-09-25 | 1981-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-26 | 1984-09-25 | 1985-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |