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Method for demulsifying water-in-oil emulsions

Assignee: BP PLC
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Filing: 1982-06-07
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Granted: 1984-11-06
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Expires: 2002-06-07
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Abstract

Abstract A method for continuously demulsifying a viscous, stable water-in-oil emulsion, which emulsion comprises from 50 to 80% water as the dispersed phase, comprises passing the emulsion and a chemical demulsifier through a mixing device having at least one flow restriction and recycling part of the mixture leaving the mixing device back to the device at or upstream of the restriction.

Inventors

  • 👤 David S. Robertson

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 03:47
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D17/00; B01D17/02; B01D17/04; B01D17/047; B01F; B01F25/00; B01F25/30; B01F23/00; B01F23/40; B01F23/49; B01F25/50; C; C10; C10G; C10G33/00; C10G33/04

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 79 words
A method for demulsifying a water-in-oil emulsion, which emulsion comprises 50 to 80% by volume of water as the dispersed phase, comprising passing the water-in-oil emulsion and a chemical demulsifier through a mixing device having at least one flow restriction and recycling part of the mixture leaving the mixing device back to the device at, or upstream of the restriction, the ratio of the recycle flowrate to the flowrate of the emulsion and demulsifier being from 1:1 to 10:1.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 79 words
A method for demulsifying a water-in-oil emulsion, which emulsion comprises 50 to 80% by volume of water as the dispersed phase, comprising passing the water-in-oil emulsion and a chemical demulsifier through a mixing device having at least one flow restriction and recycling part of the mixture leaving the mixing device back to the device at, or upstream of the restriction, the ratio of the recycle flowrate to the flowrate of the emulsion and demulsifier being from 1:1 to 10:1.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 20 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pressure drop over the mixing device is 2 bar or less.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 23 words
A method is claimed in claim 1 wherein the mixing device comprises a single restriction which is a nozzle or a venturi tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 37 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mixing device comprises two restrictions which are a nozzle through which the emulsion and demulsifier passes and a venturi through which the emulsion, demulsifier and recycled material passes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 22 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the amount of demulsifier is at least 250 ppm by volume of the emulsion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 21 words
A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the amount of demulsifier is from 500-1000 ppm by volume of the emulsion.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1802090A Cited
US2507910A Cited
US3301328A Cited
US3512570A Cited
US4057223A Cited
SU781210A1 Cited
GB2060683A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1987-11-06 1988-05-07 1988-11-06 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1991-11-06 1992-05-07 1992-11-06 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1995-11-06 1996-05-07 1996-11-06 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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