Patent US2785076A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3900041A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3900041A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Modification of particle hardness in waxy crude oil slurries
Assignee: Marathon Oil Co
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Filing: 1974-05-13
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Granted: 1975-08-19
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Expires: 1994-05-13
Abstract
Abstract Previously, waxy crude oils have been fractionated into a wax fraction and a liquid fraction; the wax fraction formed into particles and slurried into the liquid fraction for transportation in pipelines. Particle stability is enhanced by extruding molten wax without substantial crystalline structure into a hot wax immiscible fluid flowing cocurrent to the extruded wax and under conditions which will quickly form a smooth shell, and thereafter cooling to form hard, smooth spheres which resist mechanical degradation and which further approach a stabilized, or maximum, pressure drop at a slower rate than non-hardened particles. This treatment results in a particle which can be pumped in a pipeline at heavier particle loadings or with less pressure.
Inventors
- 👤 Keith M Kersch
- 👤 George A Pouska
- 👤 Dennis E Drayer
- 👤 Jr James E Tackett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 22:30
CPC Classifications
F; F17; F17D; F17D1/00; F17D1/08; F17D1/088
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
IN A PROCESS FOR TRANSPORTING WAXY PETROLEUM CRUDES BY FRACTIONATING THE CRUDE INTO AT LEAST A WAX FRACTION AND A LIQUID FRACTION FORMING SUBSTANTIALLY ROUND PARTICLES OF WAX SLURRYING THE WAX PARTICLES IN A LIQUID HYDROCARBON COMPRISED OF THE LIQUID FRACTION AND TRANSPORTING THE SLURRY THE STEPS COMPRISING INTRODUCING MOLTEN WAX HAVING NO SUBSTANTIAL CRYSTALLINE STRUCTURE INTO A HOT WAX IMMISCIBLE FLUID FLOWING COCURRENT TO THE INTRODUCTION OF THE MOLTEN WAX AND AT FLOW RATES SUFFICIENT TO FORM SUBSTANTIALLY ROUND PARTICLES HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY SMOOTH OUTER SHELL AND THEREAFTER INTRODUCING THE WAX PARTICLES INTO A COLDER WAX IMMISCIBLE FLUID AT A SUFFICIENTLY LOW TEMPERATURE TO SUBSTANTIALLY SOLIDIFY THE WAX PARTICLES.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
IN A PROCESS FOR TRANSPORTING WAXY PETROLEUM CRUDES BY FRACTIONATING THE CRUDE INTO AT LEAST A WAX FRACTION AND A LIQUID FRACTION FORMING SUBSTANTIALLY ROUND PARTICLES OF WAX SLURRYING THE WAX PARTICLES IN A LIQUID HYDROCARBON COMPRISED OF THE LIQUID FRACTION AND TRANSPORTING THE SLURRY THE STEPS COMPRISING INTRODUCING MOLTEN WAX HAVING NO SUBSTANTIAL CRYSTALLINE STRUCTURE INTO A HOT WAX IMMISCIBLE FLUID FLOWING COCURRENT TO THE INTRODUCTION OF THE MOLTEN WAX AND AT FLOW RATES SUFFICIENT TO FORM SUBSTANTIALLY ROUND PARTICLES HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY SMOOTH OUTER SHELL AND THEREAFTER INTRODUCING THE WAX PARTICLES INTO A COLDER WAX IMMISCIBLE FLUID AT A SUFFICIENTLY LOW TEMPERATURE TO SUBSTANTIALLY SOLIDIFY THE WAX PARTICLES.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the immiscible fluids are water.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the liquid hydrocarbon is the liquid fraction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the temperature of the molten wax as it is introduced into the hot, wax immiscible fluid is about 0* to about 175*F. above its melting point.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the temperature of the molten wax is about 20* to about 150*F. above its melting point.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the temperature of the molten wax is about 50* to about 125*F. above its melting point.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the hot, wax immiscible fluid is at least about 5* to about 150*F. below the temperature of the molten wax as the latter is dispersed therein.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the hot, wax immiscible fluid is at least about 20* to about 80* below the temperature of the molten wax as the latter is dispersed therein.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1 wherein in the temperature of the hot, wax immiscible fluid is at least about 140*F.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the molten wax is under laminar flow as it comes in contact with the hot, wax immiscible fluid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the hot, wax immiscible fluid flowing cocurrent to the molten wax is under laminar flow.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the concentration of the solidified wax particles in the liquid hydrocarbon is within the range of about 1 to about 60%.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the concentration of solidified wax particles in the liquid hydrocarbon is within the range of about 20 to about 45% by weight.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein at least a major portion of the wax particles is substantially solidified.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the waxy hydrocarbon mixture has an average pour point within the range of about 75* to about 150*F.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the molten wax, before it comes in contact with the hot, wax immiscible fluid, is heated to a temperature sufficient to remove substantially all crystalline structure in the molten wax and to obtain maximum durability of the wax particles in the slurry.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 wherein a diluent miscible with the liquid hydrocarbon is admixed with the slurry to facilitate transportation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 17 wherein the diluent is a liquid crude oil containing less than 10% wax.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
120 words
In a process for transporting waxy petroleum crudes having an average pour point of about 75* to about 150*F. by fractionating the crude into at least a wax fraction and a liquid fraction, forming substantially round particles of wax, slurrying the particles in the liquid fraction and transporting the slurry, the steps comprising introducing molten wax fraction at a temperature of about 20* to about 150*F. above its melting point into hot water flowing cocurrent to the introduction of the molten wax fraction and at flow rates sufficient to form substantially round particles having a substantially smooth outer shell and thereafter introducing the wax particles into a colder water at a sufficiently low temperature to substantially solidify the wax particles.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
120 words
In a process for transporting waxy petroleum crudes having an average pour point of about 75* to about 150*F. by fractionating the crude into at least a wax fraction and a liquid fraction, forming substantially round particles of wax, slurrying the particles in the liquid fraction and transporting the slurry, the steps comprising introducing molten wax fraction at a temperature of about 20* to about 150*F. above its melting point into hot water flowing cocurrent to the introduction of the molten wax fraction and at flow rates sufficient to form substantially round particles having a substantially smooth outer shell and thereafter introducing the wax particles into a colder water at a sufficiently low temperature to substantially solidify the wax particles.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 19 wherein the molten wax fraction is about 50* to about 125*F. above its melting point.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 19 wherein the hot water is at least about 20* to about 80*F. Below the temperature of the wax fraction as the latter is dispersed therein.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 19 wherein the temperature of the hot water is at least about 140*F.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 19 wherein the molten wax fraction is under laminar flow as it is introduced into the hot water.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 19 wherein the hot water flowing cocurrent to the molten wax fraction is under laminar flow.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 19 wherein the concentration of solidified wax particles in the liquid fraction is within the range of about 20 to about 45% by weight.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 19 wherein a liquid crude oil containing less than 10% wax is admixed with the slurry to facilitate transportation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3468986A
Cited
US3804752A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-08-18 | 1979-02-17 | 1979-08-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-18 | 1983-02-17 | 1983-08-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-18 | 1987-02-17 | 1987-08-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |