US3900391A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of making a pumpable slurry from waxy crude oil
Assignee: Marathon Oil Co
•
Filing: 1973-04-26
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Granted: 1975-08-19
•
Expires: 1993-04-26
Abstract
Abstract Hydrocarbon mixtures (e.g., ''''waxy'''' crude oil) having an average pour point above the average minimum temperature of a transporting system are effectively transported by first fractionating the mixture into at least a relatively high pour point fraction and a relatively low pour point fraction, congealing the high pour point fraction, preferably by prilling, and thereafter slurrying at least a portion of the congealed fraction with a low pour point hydrocarbon fraction and transporting the slurry, preferably in a conduit, at temperatures which maintain the congealed fraction in the solid or semi-solid state. Fractionation is preferably effected by distillation. Diluents, e.g., crude oil, low pour point hydrocarbons such as reservoir condensates, fractions of crude oil, can be mixed with the slurry to improve the pumpability thereof. Also, a portion, e.g. equivalent up to 50% by volume of the otherwise high pour point fraction, can be cracked during fractionation to improve the fluidity of the slurry.
Inventors
- 👤 Jr La Vaun S Merrill
- 👤 Dennis E Drayer
- 👤 William B Gogarty
- 👤 George A Pouska
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 21:03
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01J; B01J2/00; B01J2/02; B01J2/04; F; F17; F17D; F17D1/00; F17D1/08; F17D1/16; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/0318; Y10T137/0391
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A PROCESS FOR PREPARING A HYDROCARBON SLURRY FROM A HYDROCARBON MIXTURE THAT CAN BE EFFECTIVELY TRANSPORTED, THE PROCESS COMPRISING FRACTIONATING THE HYDROCARBON MIXTURE INTO AT LEAST A RELATIVELY LOW POUR POINT FRACTION AND A RELATIVELY HIGH POUR POINT FRACTION, TAKING AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE HIGH POUR POINT FRACTION AND CONGEALING ALL OF SAID PORTION TO OBTAIN SUBSTANTIALLY CONGEALED PARTICLES AND THEREAFTER SLURRYING AT A TEMPERATURE BELOW ABOUT THE SOLUTION TEMPERATURE OF THE CONGEALED PARTICLES IN THE SLURRY, AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE SUBSTANTIALLY CONGEALED PARTICLES IN A LIQUID HYDROCARBON COMPRISED OF AT LEAST POUR PORTION OF THE RELATIVELY LOW POUR FRACTION, TO OBTAIN THE HYDROCARBON SLURRY SUITABLE FOR TRANSPORT AT PREDETERMINED TEMPERATURES.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
A PROCESS FOR PREPARING A HYDROCARBON SLURRY FROM A HYDROCARBON MIXTURE THAT CAN BE EFFECTIVELY TRANSPORTED, THE PROCESS COMPRISING FRACTIONATING THE HYDROCARBON MIXTURE INTO AT LEAST A RELATIVELY LOW POUR POINT FRACTION AND A RELATIVELY HIGH POUR POINT FRACTION, TAKING AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE HIGH POUR POINT FRACTION AND CONGEALING ALL OF SAID PORTION TO OBTAIN SUBSTANTIALLY CONGEALED PARTICLES AND THEREAFTER SLURRYING AT A TEMPERATURE BELOW ABOUT THE SOLUTION TEMPERATURE OF THE CONGEALED PARTICLES IN THE SLURRY, AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE SUBSTANTIALLY CONGEALED PARTICLES IN A LIQUID HYDROCARBON COMPRISED OF AT LEAST POUR PORTION OF THE RELATIVELY LOW POUR FRACTION, TO OBTAIN THE HYDROCARBON SLURRY SUITABLE FOR TRANSPORT AT PREDETERMINED TEMPERATURES.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
substantially congealing at least a portion of the relatively high pour point fraction taking at least a portion of the relatively high pour point fraction and congealing said portion to obtain congealed particles, and
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
substantially congealing at least a portion of the relatively high pour point fraction taking at least a portion of the relatively high pour point fraction and congealing said portion to obtain congealed particles, and
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the hydrocarbon mixture is a ''''waxy'''' crude oil.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
thereafter slurrying at least a portion of the congealed particles in a liquid hydrocarbon, comprised of at least a portion of the relatively low pour point fraction, at a temperature below about the solution temperature of the congealed particles in the slurry to obtain the hydrocarbon slurry suitable for transport in a conduit at predetermined temperatures.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
thereafter slurrying at least a portion of the congealed particles in a liquid hydrocarbon, comprised of at least a portion of the relatively low pour point fraction, at a temperature below about the solution temperature of the congealed particles in the slurry to obtain the hydrocarbon slurry suitable for transport in a conduit at predetermined temperatures.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the waxy crude oil has an average wax concentration of about 1 to about 80% by weight.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the waxy crude oil has an average pour point above the average seasonably minimum temperature of the transportation system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the hydrocarbon mixture is a crude oil having an average pour point of about -10* to about 200*F.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the slurry is transported in a conduit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 6 wherein the slurry is subjected to a shearing action before being transported in the conduit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the concentration of the congealed particles in the slurry is about 1 to about 80% by weight.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the concentration of the congealed particles in the slurry is about 5 to about 55% by weight.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the concentration of the congealed particles in the slurry is about 10 to about 50% by weight.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 1 wherein slurrying is effected at a temperature at least about 5*F. below the average solution temperature of the congealed particles in the slurry.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the relatively high pour point fraction is congealed at a temperature at least about 5*F. below its pour point.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 1 wherein congelation is effected by prilling.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 1 wherein an equivalent amount of up to about 50% by weight of the high pour point fraction is cracked before it is congealed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the average diameter of the congealed particles is about 0.05 to about 20 mm.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the slurry contains up to about 20% by weight water.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process of preparing a hydrocarbon slurry from a waxy crude oil that can be Transported in a conduit, the process comprising:
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process of preparing a hydrocarbon slurry from a waxy crude oil that can be Transported in a conduit, the process comprising:
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 17 wherein the concentration of the congealed particles in the slurry is about 5 to about 55% by weight.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 17 wherein the average pour point of the crude oil is between about -10 to about 200*F.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 17 wherein an equivalent amount of up to about 50% by weight of the relatively high pour point fraction is cracked before it is congealed.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 17 wherein an equivalent amount of up to about 33% by weight of the relatively high pour point fraction is cracked before it is congealed.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 17 wherein congelation is effected in a prilling tower.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 17 wherein fractionation is effected by distillation.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 17 wherein fractionation is effected by distillation and wherein at least a portion of the crude oil is cracked during the distillation.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 17 wherein an oleophilic surfactant is admixed with the high pour point fraction before it is congealed.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 25 wherein about 0.0001 to about 20% by volume, based on the high pour point fraction, of the surfactant is admixed.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 17 wherein a gas miscible with the low pour point fraction is admixed with the slurry.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
10 words
The process of claim 27 wherein the gas is CO2.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 17 wherein the slurry contains up to about 10% by weight of water.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 17 wherein a drag reducing agent is admixed with the slurry.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 17 wherein a liquid diluent is admixed with liquid hydrocarbon containing the low pour point fraction either before, during or after slurrying.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 31 wherein the liquid diluent is crude oil.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 17 wherein the average diameter of the congealed particles is about 0.05 to about 20 mm.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 17 wherein the congealed particles are substantially coated with a solid material.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process of claim 34 wherein the solid material is an inorganic salt or an organic salt of the metals of Group II, III, IV-A, V, VI, VII, and VIII of the Periodic Table.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 17 wherein the average diameter of the congealed particles is about 0.1 to about 5 mm.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 36 wherein the congealed particles are substantially coated with calcium carbonate.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 17 wherein the concentration of the congealed particles in the slurry is about 10 to about 50% by weight.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 17 wherein the average diameter of the congealed particles are about 0.1 to about 5 mm. and wherein the congealed particles are substantially spherical in shape.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 17 wherein the slurry is subjected to a shearing action.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 17 wherein all of the relatively low pour point fraction is slurried to obtain the hydrocarbon slurry.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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 |