US4596653A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Demulsifying process
Assignee: BP PLC
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Filing: 1984-10-17
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Granted: 1986-06-24
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Expires: 2004-10-17
Abstract
Abstract Emulsions of oil and water are broken by treating them with a demulsifier which is a polysiloxane polyalkylene oxide copolymer in which the polyalkylene oxide segment is composed of random ethylene oxide and propylene oxide units. The demulsifier is particularly useful in breaking emulsions of water in crude oil which are normally difficult to separate and in breaking emulsions at relatively low temperatures, e.g. 30° to 45° C.
Inventors
- 👤 David E. Graham
- 👤 Werner A. Lidy
- 👤 Patrick C. McGrath
- 👤 David G. Thompson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 23:19
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08G; C08G77/00; C08G77/42; C08G77/46; B; B01; B01D; B01D17/00; B01D17/02; B01D17/04; B01D17/047; C10; C10G; C10G33/00; C10G33/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A method for the resolution of an oil and water emulsion which method comprises treating the emulsion with demulsifying amount of a polysiloxane polyalkylene oxide copolymer of general formula: ##STR4## wherein x and y are numbers in the range 1 to 200, and the total of x and y does not exceed 250, and R is a random copolymer group of general formula: --R'O(EO).sub.m (PO).sub.n R" wherein R' is an alkylene group containing 3 to 10 carbon atoms, EO is an ethylene oxide group, PO is a propylene oxide group, R" is a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group containing not more than 7 carbon atoms and m and n are numbers in the range 2 to 100 and 2 to 80 respectively, and the total of m and n does not exceed 100.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
134 words
A method for the resolution of an oil and water emulsion which method comprises treating the emulsion with demulsifying amount of a polysiloxane polyalkylene oxide copolymer of general formula: ##STR4## wherein x and y are numbers in the range 1 to 200, and the total of x and y does not exceed 250, and R is a random copolymer group of general formula: --R'O(EO).sub.m (PO).sub.n R" wherein R' is an alkylene group containing 3 to 10 carbon atoms, EO is an ethylene oxide group, PO is a propylene oxide group, R" is a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group containing not more than 7 carbon atoms and m and n are numbers in the range 2 to 100 and 2 to 80 respectively, and the total of m and n does not exceed 100.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein x and y are in the range 1 to 150, R' is a C 3 group, m and n are numbers in the ranges 3 to 50 and 3 to 40 respectively, and R" is methyl.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the polysiloxane groups ##STR5## are randomly interspersed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the polyether group R has a molecular weight in the range 200 to 5,000.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the ethylene oxide and propylene oxide units are present in a ratio m:n in the range 1:10 to 10:1.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the emulsion is of the water-in-oil type.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method according to claim 6 wherein the oil is crude oil.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the demulsifier concentration is in the range 1 to 500 ppm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the emulsion is treated at a temperature in the range ambient up to 150° C.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein the emulsion is treated at a temperature in the range 30° to 45° C.
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) | 1989-06-23 | 1989-12-23 | 1990-06-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-06-23 | 1993-12-23 | 1994-06-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-06-23 | 1997-12-23 | 1998-06-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |