Patent US4014801A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4014801A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for breaking polymer-containing emulsions
Assignee: Marathon Oil Co
•
Filing: 1974-09-30
•
Granted: 1977-03-29
•
Expires: 1994-09-30
Abstract
Abstract Oil and water emulsions containing a high molecular weight polymer (e.g. a partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide) and a surfactant (e.g. monovalent cation-containing petroleum sulfonate) are broken with a de-emulsifying agent made up of a divalent cation-containing salt, e.g. CaCl 2 , and a strong oxidizing or reducing agent, e.g. sodium hypochlorite or hydrazine.
Inventors
- 👤 James H. Fullinwider
- 👤 Bruce L. Knight
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 23:16
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10G; C10G33/00; C10G33/04; B; B01; B01D; B01D17/00; B01D17/02; B01D17/04; B01D17/047; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S507/00; Y10S507/921
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
In a process of breaking an emulsion containing hydrocarbon, water, surfactant, and a high molecular weight polymer, the step comprising incorporating in the emulsion an aqueous solution comprising at least about 1,000 ppm of a chloride salt hydrate or a mixture thereof of a divalent cation wherein the cation is calcium, cadmium, manganese or magnesium fluoride is chloride, bromide, iodide or fluoride and at least about 1,000 ppm of a strong oxidizing agent selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium and ammonium hypochlorites and hypobiomites.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
In a process of breaking an emulsion containing hydrocarbon, water, surfactant, and a high molecular weight polymer, the step comprising incorporating in the emulsion an aqueous solution comprising at least about 1,000 ppm of a chloride salt hydrate or a mixture thereof of a divalent cation wherein the cation is calcium, cadmium, manganese or magnesium fluoride is chloride, bromide, iodide or fluoride and at least about 1,000 ppm of a strong oxidizing agent selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium and ammonium hypochlorites and hypobiomites.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the emulsion is contacted with the aqueous solution in a subterranean oil-bearing formation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the emulsion is contacted with the aqueous solution after the emulsion has been produced from an oil-bearing subterranean formation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the salt concentration in the aqueous solution is about 50,000 to about 200,000 ppm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the aqueous solution is saturated with CaCl 2 or a hydrate thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the strong oxidizing agent is sodium hypochlorite.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 7 wherein the strong oxidizing agent concentration in the aqueous solution is about 10,000 to about 150,000 ppm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the polymer is a partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the polymer is a copolymer of acrylamide and sodium acrylate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the polymer is a polysaccharide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1 which further comprises subjecting the emulsion and aqueous solution to a temperature above ambient temperature.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 wherein about 10 to about 100% by volume of aqueous solution is incorporated into the emulsion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
85 words
In a process of breaking an emulsion containing oil, water, surfactant and high molecular weight polymer, the step comprising incorporating in the emulsion an aqueous solution comprising about 1,000 to about 315,000 ppm of a chloride salt selected from the group consisting of CaCl 2 , MgCl 2 , CdCl 2 , MnCl 2 , the hydrates thereof and a mixture of two or more of the salts and/or hydrates, and about 1,000 to about 225,000 ppm of sodium hypochlorite, potassium hypochlorite or ammonium hypochlorite.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
85 words
In a process of breaking an emulsion containing oil, water, surfactant and high molecular weight polymer, the step comprising incorporating in the emulsion an aqueous solution comprising about 1,000 to about 315,000 ppm of a chloride salt selected from the group consisting of CaCl 2 , MgCl 2 , CdCl 2 , MnCl 2 , the hydrates thereof and a mixture of two or more of the salts and/or hydrates, and about 1,000 to about 225,000 ppm of sodium hypochlorite, potassium hypochlorite or ammonium hypochlorite.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 13 wherein the polymer is a partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 13 wherein the polymer is a copolymer of acrylamide and sodium acrylate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 13 wherein the polymer is a polysaccharide.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 13 wherein said chloride salt is CaCl 2 .
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
10 words
The process of claim 13 wherein sodium hypochlorite is used.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 13 which further comprises subjecting the emulsion and the aqueous solution to a temperature above ambient temperature.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 13 wherein about 10 to about 100% by volume of aqueous solution is incorporated into the emulsion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2064541A
Cited
US2566980A
Cited
US2572223A
Cited
US3363399A
Cited
US3752233A
Cited
US3858657A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-03-28 | 1980-09-27 | 1981-03-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-03-28 | 1984-09-27 | 1985-03-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-03-28 | 1988-09-27 | 1989-03-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |