US4646771A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
One-step system for transforming a water-in-oil emulsion into an oil-in-water emulsion
Assignee: Nexen Inc
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Filing: 1985-11-27
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Granted: 1987-03-03
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Expires: 2005-11-27
Abstract
Abstract There is provided a process for the formulation of an oil-in-water emulsion from a produced hydrocarbon crude which includes a water-in-oil emulsion. A substantially oil insoluble nonyl phenol emulsifier is added with agitation to the crude when such crude is at a temperature of from about 100° to about 200° F., in a quantity sufficient to formulate and then sustain an oil-in-water emulsion at pipeline conditions of temperature and shear. Water-content is from about 15 percent to about 35 percent by weight. Viscosity is sufficiently low for pipeline transportation. Any excess water is separated from the formed oil-in-water emulsion prior to pipelining. The oil-in-water emulsion is one that can easily be dewatered and desalted to the necessary marketing specifications at the downstream end of the pipeline, using known technology.
Inventors
- 👤 Rama R. S. Prasad
- 👤 Theodore C. Frankiewicz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 15:39
CPC Classifications
F; F17; F17D; F17D1/00; F17D1/08; F17D1/16; F17D1/17; C; C10; C10L; C10L1/00; C10L1/32; C10L1/328; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/0318; Y10T137/0391
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
A process for the production of an oil-in-water emulsion for pipeline transmission which comprises: (a) producing a hydrocarbon crude including a water-in-oil emulsion; (b) adding to said hydrocarbon crude when said crude is at a temperature of from about 100° to about 200° F., an emulsifier system comprising at least one substantially oil insoluble emulsifier which is a nonyl phenol compound of the formula: ##STR6## wherein y is from about 9 to about 100 and is capable of forming and sustaining an oil-in-water emulsion at said temperature and at ambient pipeline transmission temperatures, the amount of emulsifier system added being sufficient to form and sustain an oil-in-water emulsion having a selected water content of from about 15 percent to about 35 percent by weight water and a viscosity sufficiently low for pipeline transmission; (c) agitating the hydrocarbon crude including a water-in-oil emulsion and the added emulsifier system, to form an oil-in-water emulsion; and (d) separating any excess water from the formed oil-in-water emulsion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
A process for the production of an oil-in-water emulsion for pipeline transmission which comprises: (a) producing a hydrocarbon crude including a water-in-oil emulsion; (b) adding to said hydrocarbon crude when said crude is at a temperature of from about 100° to about 200° F., an emulsifier system comprising at least one substantially oil insoluble emulsifier which is a nonyl phenol compound of the formula: ##STR6## wherein y is from about 9 to about 100 and is capable of forming and sustaining an oil-in-water emulsion at said temperature and at ambient pipeline transmission temperatures, the amount of emulsifier system added being sufficient to form and sustain an oil-in-water emulsion having a selected water content of from about 15 percent to about 35 percent by weight water and a viscosity sufficiently low for pipeline transmission; (c) agitating the hydrocarbon crude including a water-in-oil emulsion and the added emulsifier system, to form an oil-in-water emulsion; and (d) separating any excess water from the formed oil-in-water emulsion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 in which the temperature of the hydrocarbon crude including a water-in-oil emulsion, is from about 130° to about 170° F. during formation of the oil-in-water emulsion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 in which the emulsifier system comprises at least one nonyl phenol compound in which y is from about 40 to about 100.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 in which the emulsifier system is provided in a concentration of from about 100 to about 5000 ppm by weight of the hydrocarbon crude.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 in which the emulsifier system is provided in a concentration of from about 500 to about 2500 ppm by weight of the hydrocarbon crude.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 in which the hydrocarbon crude including a water-in-oil emulsion, contains less than 15 percent by weight water, and water is added for formation of the oil-in-water emulsion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 in which the hydrocarbon crude contains "bound" and "free" water, and at least a portion of the "free" water is separated from the hydrocarbon crude prior to forming the oil-in-water emulsion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
169 words
A process for the production of an oil-in-water emulsion for pipeline transmission which comprises: (a) producing a hydrocarbon crude including a water-in-oil emulsion and containing in excess of 35 percent by weight water; (b) elevating the temperature of the hydrocarbon crude including a water-in-oil emulsion to a temperature from about 100° to about 200° F., and adding an emulsifier system comprising at least one substantially oil insoluble nonyl phenol compound of the formula: ##STR7## wherein y is from about 9 to about 100 capable of forming and then sustaining an oil-in-water emulsion at said temperature and at ambient pipeline transmission temperatures, the amount of emulsifier system added being sufficient to form and sustain an oil-in-water emulsion having a selected water content of from about 15 percent to about 35 percent by weight and a viscosity sufficiently low for pipeline transportation; (c) agitating the hydrocarbon crude including a water-in-oil emulsion and the added emulsifier system, to form an oil-in-water emulsion; and (d) separating excess water from the formed oil-in-water emulsion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
169 words
A process for the production of an oil-in-water emulsion for pipeline transmission which comprises: (a) producing a hydrocarbon crude including a water-in-oil emulsion and containing in excess of 35 percent by weight water; (b) elevating the temperature of the hydrocarbon crude including a water-in-oil emulsion to a temperature from about 100° to about 200° F., and adding an emulsifier system comprising at least one substantially oil insoluble nonyl phenol compound of the formula: ##STR7## wherein y is from about 9 to about 100 capable of forming and then sustaining an oil-in-water emulsion at said temperature and at ambient pipeline transmission temperatures, the amount of emulsifier system added being sufficient to form and sustain an oil-in-water emulsion having a selected water content of from about 15 percent to about 35 percent by weight and a viscosity sufficiently low for pipeline transportation; (c) agitating the hydrocarbon crude including a water-in-oil emulsion and the added emulsifier system, to form an oil-in-water emulsion; and (d) separating excess water from the formed oil-in-water emulsion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process as claimed in claim 8 in which the temperature of the hydrocarbon crude including a water-in-oil is from about 130° to about 170° F. during formation of the oil-in-water emulsion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process as claimed in claim 8 in which the emulsifier system comprises at least one nonyl phenol compound in which y is from about 40 to about 100.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process as claimed in claim 8 in which the emulsifier system is provided in a concentration of from about 100 to about 5000 ppm by weight of the hydrocarbon crude.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process as claimed in claim 8 in which the emulsifier system is provided in a concentration of from about 500 to about 5000 ppm by weight of the hydrocarbon crude.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process as claimed in claim 8 in which the hydrocarbon crude including a water-in-oil emulsion contains up to 95 percent by weight water.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process as claimed in claim 10 in which the hydrocarbon crude including a water-in-oil emulsion contains up to 95 percent by weight water.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
187 words
A process for the production of an oil-in-water emulsion for pipeline transmission which comprises: (a) producing a hydrocarbon crude including a water-in-oil emulsion and containing more than 35 percent by weight water in the form of "bound" and "free" water; (b) separating at least a portion of the "free" water from the hydrocarbon crude; (c) elevating the temperature of the hydrocarbon crude including a water-in-oil emulsion from about 100° to about 200° F., and adding an emulsifier system comprising at least one substantially oil insoluble nonyl phenol of the formula: ##STR8## wherein y is from about 9 to about 100 capable of forming then sustaining an oil-in-water emulsion at said temperature and at ambient pipeline transmission temperatures, the amount of emulsifier system added being sufficient to form and sustain an oil-in-water emulsion having a selected water content of from about 15 percent to about 35 percent by weight water and a viscosity sufficiently low for pipeline transportation; (d) agitating the hydrocarbon crude including a water-in-oil emulsion and the added emulsifier system, to form an oil-in-water emulsion; and (e) separating any excess water from the formed water-in-oil emulsion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
187 words
A process for the production of an oil-in-water emulsion for pipeline transmission which comprises: (a) producing a hydrocarbon crude including a water-in-oil emulsion and containing more than 35 percent by weight water in the form of "bound" and "free" water; (b) separating at least a portion of the "free" water from the hydrocarbon crude; (c) elevating the temperature of the hydrocarbon crude including a water-in-oil emulsion from about 100° to about 200° F., and adding an emulsifier system comprising at least one substantially oil insoluble nonyl phenol of the formula: ##STR8## wherein y is from about 9 to about 100 capable of forming then sustaining an oil-in-water emulsion at said temperature and at ambient pipeline transmission temperatures, the amount of emulsifier system added being sufficient to form and sustain an oil-in-water emulsion having a selected water content of from about 15 percent to about 35 percent by weight water and a viscosity sufficiently low for pipeline transportation; (d) agitating the hydrocarbon crude including a water-in-oil emulsion and the added emulsifier system, to form an oil-in-water emulsion; and (e) separating any excess water from the formed water-in-oil emulsion.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process as claimed in claim 15 in which the temperature of the crude is from about 130° to about 170° F. during formation of the oil-in-water emulsion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process as claimed in claim 15 in which the emulsifier system contains at least one nonyl phenol compound wherein y is from about 40 to about 100.
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) | 1990-03-02 | 1990-09-01 | 1991-03-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-03-02 | 1994-09-01 | 1995-03-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-03-02 | 1998-09-01 | 1999-03-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |