US4011882A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for transporting sweet and sour hydrocarbon fluids in a pipeline
Assignee: ConocoPhillips Co
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Filing: 1976-03-04
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Granted: 1977-03-15
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Expires: 1996-03-04
Abstract
Abstract A method for minimizing sulfur contamination of refined hydrocarbon fluids transported in a pipeline for the transportation of sweet and sour hydrocarbon fluids by (a) mixing with the sour hydrocarbon fluids from 0 to about 2000 ppm of a corrosion inhibiting additive; (b) transporting the sour hydrocarbon through the pipeline; (c) transporting a sweet hydrocarbon wash solution containing from about 10 to about 2000 ppm of a mixture of light amines and heavy amines, up to about 2000 ppm of a corrosion inhibiting additive, up to about 500 ppm of a surfactant and up to about 1500 ppm of an alkanol containing from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms; and, (d) transporting refined hydrocarbon fluids containing up to about 200 ppm of a corrosion inhibiting additive, an amine having a molecular weight from about 31 to about 500 or mixtures thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert V. Nivens
- 👤 Billy J. Williams
- 👤 Irvin Toole, Jr.
- 👤 Elliott C. Fenton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 04:45
CPC Classifications
B; B08; B08B; B08B9/00; B08B9/02; B08B9/027; B08B9/032; C; C10; C10G; C10G75/00; C10G75/02; C11; C11D; C11D3/00; C11D3/16; C11D3/26; C11D3/30; F; F17; F17D; F17D3/00; F17D3/03; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/0318; Y10T137/0402; Y10T137/0419; Y10T137/0424
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
A method for minimizing sulfur contamination of sweet hydrocarbon fluids transported in a pipeline for the transportation of sweet and sour hydrocarbon fluids said method consisting essentially of: a. transporting a sour hydrocarbon fluid containing from 0 to about 2000 ppm of a corrosion inhibiting additive through said pipeline and thereafter; b. transporting a sweet hydrocarbon wash solution containing from about 10 to about 2000 ppm of a mixture of amines consisting essentially of light amines having a molecular weight from about 31 to 150 and heavy amines having a molecular weight from 151 to about 500 wherein the molar ratio of said light amine to said heavy amine varies from about 10:1 to about 1:10; from 0 to about 2000 ppm of a corrosion inhibiting additive; from 0 to about 500 ppm of a surfactant and from 0 to about 1500 ppm of an alkanol containing from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms in an amount sufficient to provide a wash solution contact time with the interior pipeline surfaces of at least about 1 minute and, thereafter;
Claim 2
Independent Claim
178 words
A method for minimizing sulfur contamination of sweet hydrocarbon fluids transported in a pipeline for the transportation of sweet and sour hydrocarbon fluids said method consisting essentially of: a. transporting a sour hydrocarbon fluid containing from 0 to about 2000 ppm of a corrosion inhibiting additive through said pipeline and thereafter; b. transporting a sweet hydrocarbon wash solution containing from about 10 to about 2000 ppm of a mixture of amines consisting essentially of light amines having a molecular weight from about 31 to 150 and heavy amines having a molecular weight from 151 to about 500 wherein the molar ratio of said light amine to said heavy amine varies from about 10:1 to about 1:10; from 0 to about 2000 ppm of a corrosion inhibiting additive; from 0 to about 500 ppm of a surfactant and from 0 to about 1500 ppm of an alkanol containing from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms in an amount sufficient to provide a wash solution contact time with the interior pipeline surfaces of at least about 1 minute and, thereafter;
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
c. transporting said sweet hydrocarbon fluids containing from 0 to about 200 ppm of a corrosion inhibiting additive, said mixture of amines or mixtures of said additive and said mixture of amines through said pipeline.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
c. transporting said sweet hydrocarbon fluids containing from 0 to about 200 ppm of a corrosion inhibiting additive, said mixture of amines or mixtures of said additive and said mixture of amines through said pipeline.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said additive is the reaction product formed by reacting one molar equivalent of an amine having a molecular weight from about 150 to about 500 and from about 0.1 to about 0.6 equivalents of an organic hydroxy acid, said acid having an ionization constant of at least about 1 × 10.sup. -5 .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said wash solution contains from about 20 to 500 ppm of said mixture.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said contact time is from 5 to 60 minutes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said wash solution contains from 10 to 200 ppm of said additive.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said wash solution contains from about 5 to 250 ppm of said surfactant material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said alkanol is present in an amount equal to from 25 to 250 ppm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said contact time is from 10 to 30 minutes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said additive is mixed with said sour hydrocarbon fluid in an amount equal to from 20 to 200 ppm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said additive is contained in said sweet hydrocarbon fluid transported through said pipeline during the 24 hour period following the transportation of said wash solution in an amount equal to from 5 to 100 ppm.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said time period is from 6 to 24 hours and said additive is present in an amount equal to from 10 to 20 ppm.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said sweet hydrocarbon fluid transported through said pipeline during the 24 hour period following the transportation of said wash solution contains from about 5 to about 100 ppm of an amine having a molecular weight from about 31 to about 500.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said sweet hydrocarbon contains at least about 2 ppm of said additive and wherein the total of said additive and said amine is from about 5 to about 100 ppm.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for removing sulfur and sulfur-containing compounds from surfaces contaminated with sulfur and sulfur-containing compounds by contacting said surfaces with a sweet hydrocarbon wash solution containing from 10 to 2000 ppm of a mixture of amines consisting essentially of light amines having a molecular weight from about 31 to 150 and heavy amines having a molecular weight from 151 to about 500 wherein the molar ratio of said light amine to said heavy amine varies from about 10:1 to about 1:10, from 0 to 2000 ppm of a corrosion inhibiting additive, from 0 to 500 ppm of a surfactant and from 0 to 1500 ppm of an alkanol containing from 2 to 6 carbon atoms in an amount sufficient to provide a wash solution contact time with said surfaces of at least 1 minute.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for removing sulfur and sulfur-containing compounds from surfaces contaminated with sulfur and sulfur-containing compounds by contacting said surfaces with a sweet hydrocarbon wash solution containing from 10 to 2000 ppm of a mixture of amines consisting essentially of light amines having a molecular weight from about 31 to 150 and heavy amines having a molecular weight from 151 to about 500 wherein the molar ratio of said light amine to said heavy amine varies from about 10:1 to about 1:10, from 0 to 2000 ppm of a corrosion inhibiting additive, from 0 to 500 ppm of a surfactant and from 0 to 1500 ppm of an alkanol containing from 2 to 6 carbon atoms in an amount sufficient to provide a wash solution contact time with said surfaces of at least 1 minute.
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) | 1980-03-14 | 1980-09-13 | 1981-03-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-03-14 | 1984-09-13 | 1985-03-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-03-14 | 1988-09-13 | 1989-03-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |