Patent US4343323A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4343323A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Pipeline transportation of heavy crude oil
Assignee: Alberta Innovates
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Filing: 1980-06-09
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Granted: 1982-08-10
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Expires: 2000-06-09
Abstract
Abstract Heavy crude oils are transported by pipeline from deposit location to a remote upgrading location by emulsifying the crude oil using deaerated sodium hydroxide solution, conveying the oil-in-water emulsion through the pipeline, and recovery of the oil from the oil-in-water emulsion by inverting the emulsion and dewatering the resulting water-in-oil emulsion. The emulsion inversion may be effected using slaked lime, resulting in recovery of a substantial proportion of the sodium hydroxide used in the initial emulsification. The sodium hydroxide solution may be recycled by a separate pipeline for reuse or treated for discharge.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael A. Kessick
- 👤 C. Earl St. Denis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 13:03
CPC Classifications
F; F17; F17D; F17D1/00; F17D1/08; F17D1/16; F17D1/17; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/0318; Y10T137/0391
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of transporting a heavy crude oil having an API gravity of less than 25° and containing groups capable of forming surfactants from a first location connected by a pipeline to a second location, which comprises: contacting said heavy crude oil at said first location with deaerated water containing at least sufficient strong base to provide a pH of the water of at least about 11 so as to form an oil-in-water emulsion from the crude oil having a viscosity of less than 200 centistokes at 60° F., transporting said emulsion through said pipeline to said second location, contacting said emulsion with slaked lime at said second location to invert said emulsion to form a water-in-oil emulsion, and dewatering said water-in-oil emulsion to separate said oil from said emulsion.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of transporting a heavy crude oil having an API gravity of less than 25° and containing groups capable of forming surfactants from a first location connected by a pipeline to a second location, which comprises: contacting said heavy crude oil at said first location with deaerated water containing at least sufficient strong base to provide a pH of the water of at least about 11 so as to form an oil-in-water emulsion from the crude oil having a viscosity of less than 200 centistokes at 60° F., transporting said emulsion through said pipeline to said second location, contacting said emulsion with slaked lime at said second location to invert said emulsion to form a water-in-oil emulsion, and dewatering said water-in-oil emulsion to separate said oil from said emulsion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said strong base is sodium hydroxide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said pH is at least about 12.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said emulsion is transported through said pipeline at a speed of about 5 to 6 ft/sec.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said oil-in-water emulsion has a concentration of about 40 to about 60 wt% crude oil.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said dewatering is effected using solvent extraction of the crude oil from the water-in-oil emulsion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the aqueous phase resulting from said oil separation is recycled through a second pipeline from said second location to said first location for utilization in said formation of oil-in-water emulsion at said first location.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the aqueous phase resulting from said oil separation is neutralized and discharged.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
172 words
A method of transporting a heavy crude oil having an API gravity of less than 25° and containing groups capable of forming surfactants from a first location connected by a pipeline to a second location, which comprises: contacting said heavy crude oil at said first location with deaerated water containing at least sufficient strong base to provide a pH of at least about 11 so as to form an oil-in-water emulsion from the crude oil having a viscosity of less than 200 centistokes at 60° F., transporting said emulsion through said pipeline to said second location, mixing with said oil-in-water emulsion at said second location at least sufficient slaked lime to effect immersion of said emulsion to a water-in-oil emulsion, at least sufficient water-immiscible solvent for said crude oil and at least sufficient water-soluble high molecular weight partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide to effect phase separation of the resulting mixture to form a solvent-oil solution phase, an aqueous phase and a compact mineral phase, separating said phases, and recovering oil from said solvent-oil solution.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
172 words
A method of transporting a heavy crude oil having an API gravity of less than 25° and containing groups capable of forming surfactants from a first location connected by a pipeline to a second location, which comprises: contacting said heavy crude oil at said first location with deaerated water containing at least sufficient strong base to provide a pH of at least about 11 so as to form an oil-in-water emulsion from the crude oil having a viscosity of less than 200 centistokes at 60° F., transporting said emulsion through said pipeline to said second location, mixing with said oil-in-water emulsion at said second location at least sufficient slaked lime to effect immersion of said emulsion to a water-in-oil emulsion, at least sufficient water-immiscible solvent for said crude oil and at least sufficient water-soluble high molecular weight partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide to effect phase separation of the resulting mixture to form a solvent-oil solution phase, an aqueous phase and a compact mineral phase, separating said phases, and recovering oil from said solvent-oil solution.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said aqueous phase is recycled by a second pipeline from said second location to said first location.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
206 words
A method of transporting a heavy crude oil having an API gravity of less than 25° and containing groups capable of forming surfactants from a first location connected by a first pipeline to a second location, which comprises: contacting said heavy crude oil at said first location with deaerated water containing at least sufficient sodium hydroxide to provide a pH of the water of about 12 so as to form an oil-in-water emulsion from the crude oil having a viscosity of less than 200 centistokes at 60° F. and a concentration of about 40 to about 60 wt.% crude oil, transporting said emulsion through said first pipeline to a second location, contacting said emulsion at said second location with at least sufficient slaked lime to invert said emulsion to form a water-in-oil emulsion, dewatering said water-in-oil emulsion to separate the oil therefrom and form an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide containing at least a substantial proportion of the sodium hydroxide used in said formation of said oil-in-water emulsion, recovering the separated crude oil, recycling said aqueous sodium hydroxide solution through a second pipeline from said second location to said first location, and utilizing said recycled aqueous sodium hydroxide solution in said formation of said oil-in-water emulsion.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
206 words
A method of transporting a heavy crude oil having an API gravity of less than 25° and containing groups capable of forming surfactants from a first location connected by a first pipeline to a second location, which comprises: contacting said heavy crude oil at said first location with deaerated water containing at least sufficient sodium hydroxide to provide a pH of the water of about 12 so as to form an oil-in-water emulsion from the crude oil having a viscosity of less than 200 centistokes at 60° F. and a concentration of about 40 to about 60 wt.% crude oil, transporting said emulsion through said first pipeline to a second location, contacting said emulsion at said second location with at least sufficient slaked lime to invert said emulsion to form a water-in-oil emulsion, dewatering said water-in-oil emulsion to separate the oil therefrom and form an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide containing at least a substantial proportion of the sodium hydroxide used in said formation of said oil-in-water emulsion, recovering the separated crude oil, recycling said aqueous sodium hydroxide solution through a second pipeline from said second location to said first location, and utilizing said recycled aqueous sodium hydroxide solution in said formation of said oil-in-water emulsion.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-08-09 | 1986-02-08 | 1986-08-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-08-09 | 1990-02-08 | 1990-08-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-08-09 | 1994-02-08 | 1994-08-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |