US4557737A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Oil gas separation
Assignee: TH GOLDSCHMIDT AG POSTFACH 101461 4300 ESSEN 1 WEST GERMANY
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Filing: 1984-09-28
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Granted: 1985-12-10
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Expires: 2004-09-28
Abstract
Abstract Polysiloxanes of specified molecular weight and molecular weight distribution are effective anti-foam agents for reducing foaming in crude oil/gas separators. They are particularly useful in breaking microgas dispersions. The polysiloxanes, preferably polydimethyl siloxane, contain not more than 10% by weight of components of molecular weight 50,000 and lower, at least 15% by weight of components of molecular weight 200,000 and higher and not more than 6% by weight of components of molecular weight 370,000 and higher, molecular weights being expressed as polystyrene equivalent molecular weights.
Inventors
- 👤 Ian C. Callaghan
- 👤 Hans-Ferdi Fink
- 👤 Clive M. Gould
- 👤 Gotz Koerner
- 👤 Hans-Jurgen Patzke
- 👤 Christian Weitemeyer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 15:26
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10G; C10G33/00; C10G33/04; B; B01; B01D; B01D19/00; B01D19/02; B01D19/04; B01D19/0404
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for breaking a microgas dispersion to separate crude oil containing associated gas into liquid oil and gas wherein said microgas dispersion separation is carried out in the presence of an effective amount of a polysiloxane anti-foam agent characterized by the fact that the polysiloxane anti-foam agent is a polysiloxane containing components of molecular weight in the range of 83,000 to 305,000 and containing not more than 2.8% by weight of components of molecular weight 7,100 or lower, not more than 28% by weight of components of molecular weight 83,000 or lower, not more than 14.5% by weight of components of molecular weight 305,000 or higher, and not more than 0.013% by weight of components of molecular weight 1,750,000 or higher, molecular weights being expressed as polystyrene equivalent molecular weights.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for breaking a microgas dispersion to separate crude oil containing associated gas into liquid oil and gas wherein said microgas dispersion separation is carried out in the presence of an effective amount of a polysiloxane anti-foam agent characterized by the fact that the polysiloxane anti-foam agent is a polysiloxane containing components of molecular weight in the range of 83,000 to 305,000 and containing not more than 2.8% by weight of components of molecular weight 7,100 or lower, not more than 28% by weight of components of molecular weight 83,000 or lower, not more than 14.5% by weight of components of molecular weight 305,000 or higher, and not more than 0.013% by weight of components of molecular weight 1,750,000 or higher, molecular weights being expressed as polystyrene equivalent molecular weights.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the polysiloxane is dispersed in a liquid hydrocarbon medium prior to addition to the crude oil.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein the liquid hydrocarbon medium is white spirit.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
29 words
A method according to claims 1 or 2 wherein the crude oil containing associated gas is crude oil and gas from which methane has been at least partially removed.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
19 words
A method according to claims 1 or 2 wherein the crude oil is obtained from an offshore oil field.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
23 words
A method according to any of claims 1 or 2 or 3 wherein the polysiloxane is employed in amount 0.1 to 10 ppm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the polysiloxane employed has a peak molecular weight M p in the range of 130,000 to 15,000.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein in the polysiloxane employed the polydispersity M w /M n is not more than 2.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1, 7 or 8 wherein the polysiloxane is a polydimethylsioloxane.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
US3700587A
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US3887487A
Cited
US4122247A
Cited
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Cited
US4274977A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-12-09 | 1989-06-10 | 1989-12-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-12-09 | 1993-06-10 | 1993-12-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-12-09 | 1997-06-10 | 1997-12-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |