US4795478A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Viscous hydrocarbon-in-water emulsions
Assignee: Intevep SA
•
Filing: 1987-09-11
•
Granted: 1989-01-03
•
Expires: 2007-09-11
Abstract
Abstract Method for the formation, processing, transportation and end use of a hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion.
Inventors
- 👤 Ignacio A. Layrisse R.
- 👤 Domingo R. Polanco
- 👤 Hercilio Rivas
- 👤 Euler Jimenez G.
- 👤 Lirio Quintero
- 👤 Jose Salazar P.
- 👤 Mayela Rivero
- 👤 Antonio Cardenas
- 👤 Maria L. Chirinos
- 👤 Daysi Rojas
- 👤 Humberto Marquez
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 12:41
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10L; C10L1/00; C10L1/32; C10L1/328; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/0318; Y10T137/0391
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 48
Claim 1
Independent Claim
258 words
A process for the preparation of a naturally occurring viscous hydrocarbon material for further processing comprising the steps of: (a) forming a first hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion from said naturally occurring viscous hydrocarbon material using an emulsifier wherein said hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion has a water content of at least 15 wt. %, a viscosity of no more than 5000 centipoise at 122° F. and an oil droplet size of no more than 300 microns; (b) degassing said first hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion at a temperature of as low as 95° F. at a pressure of at least 20 psi so as to obtain a degassing efficiency of said hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion of greater than or equal to 90% so as to produce a degassed hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion having a gas content of less than 5 cubic ft. of gas per barrel of emulsion; (c) adjusting the density difference between the hydrocarbon-in-water phases of said degassed hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion such that the density difference between the phases is greater than or equal to 2×10 -3 g/cm 3 at a temperature T wherein the temperature T is greater than or equal to 15° C. below the cloud point of said emulsifier used in the formation of the first hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion; (d) breaking said density adjusted hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion in a separator at said temperature T and recovering said naturally occurring hydrocarbon material separated; (e) re-emulsifying said separated naturally occurring hydrocarbon material using an emulsifier and conditioning same for further processing so as to form a stable second hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion suitable for transportation; and (f) transporting said second hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
258 words
A process for the preparation of a naturally occurring viscous hydrocarbon material for further processing comprising the steps of: (a) forming a first hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion from said naturally occurring viscous hydrocarbon material using an emulsifier wherein said hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion has a water content of at least 15 wt. %, a viscosity of no more than 5000 centipoise at 122° F. and an oil droplet size of no more than 300 microns; (b) degassing said first hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion at a temperature of as low as 95° F. at a pressure of at least 20 psi so as to obtain a degassing efficiency of said hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion of greater than or equal to 90% so as to produce a degassed hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion having a gas content of less than 5 cubic ft. of gas per barrel of emulsion; (c) adjusting the density difference between the hydrocarbon-in-water phases of said degassed hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion such that the density difference between the phases is greater than or equal to 2×10 -3 g/cm 3 at a temperature T wherein the temperature T is greater than or equal to 15° C. below the cloud point of said emulsifier used in the formation of the first hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion; (d) breaking said density adjusted hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion in a separator at said temperature T and recovering said naturally occurring hydrocarbon material separated; (e) re-emulsifying said separated naturally occurring hydrocarbon material using an emulsifier and conditioning same for further processing so as to form a stable second hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion suitable for transportation; and (f) transporting said second hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process according to claim 1 including the step of conditioning said re-emulsified naturally occurring hydrocarbon material for burning as a natural fuel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process according to claim 2 including forming a portion of said first hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion downhole.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to claim 2 including forming a portion of said first hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion at the well head.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 4 including providing a static mixer at the well head for forming homogeneous hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process according to claim 1 including collecting said emulsion and feeding said collected emulsion to a static mixer for forming a homogeneous hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion prior to degassing said hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process according to claim 1 including providing an emulsifier for forming said first hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion selected from the group consisting of non-ionic surfactants, polymers, biosurfactants, cationic surfactants, anionic surfactants, alkalies and mixtures thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process according to claim 7 including providing an emulsifier for forming said first hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion selected from the group consisting of ethoxylated alkyl phenols, ethoxylated alcohols, ethoxylated sorbitan esters and mixtures thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process according to claim 1 including providing an emulsifier for forming said second hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion wherein said emulsifier is selected from the group consisting of non-ionic surfactants and alkalies.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
A process according to claim 1 including providing an emulsifier for forming said second hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion wherein said emulsifier is selected from the group consisting of non-ionic surfactants and an additive selected from the group consisting of Na + , K + , Li + , Ca ++ , Ba ++ , Mg ++ , Fe +++ and mixtures thereof
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claims 7 or 8 including providing a non-ionic surfactant having an EO content of greater than 70%.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claims 9 or 10 including providing a non-ionic surfactant having an EO content of greater than 70%.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process according to claim 3 including forming said portion of said first hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion downhole by injecting a mixture of said emulsifier and water.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process according to claim 13 including providing an emulsifier for forming said first hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion selected from the group consisting of non-ionic surfactants, polymers, biosurfactants, cationic surfactants, anionic surfactants, alkalies and mixtures thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process according to claim 13 including providing an emulsifier for forming said first hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion selected from the group consisting of ethoxylated alkyl phenols, ethoxylated alcohols, ethoxylated sorbitan esters and mixtures thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process according to claim 13 including providing an emulsifier for forming said second hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion wherein said emulsifier is selected from the group consisting of non-ionic surfactants and alkalies.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 13 including injecting said emulsifier and water below the submersible pump for forming the emulsion.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 17 including injecting said emulsifier and water above the submersible pump for forming the emulsion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process according to claim 17 including injecting said emulsifier and water below the submersible pump into the pump casing between the stationary valve and the travelling valve for forming the emulsion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 1 including the step of conditioning said re-emulsified naturally occurring hydrocarbon material for further refining.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process according to claim 20 including forming a portion of said first hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion downhole.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to claim 20 including forming a portion of said first hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion at the well head.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 20 including providing a static mixer at the well head for forming homogeneous hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process according to claim 20 including providing an emulsifier for forming said second hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion comprising a non-ionic surfactant in combination with an alkali.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
40 words
A process according to claim 24 wherein said emulsifier comprises an alkyl phenol ethoxylate having an EO content of greater than or equal to 70% and an alkali selected from the group consisting of ammonia, monovalent hydroxides and mixtures thereof.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the gas content is less than 2 cubic ft. of gas per barrel of emulsion.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
135 words
A process for recovering a naturally occurring viscous hydrocarbon material for further processing comprising the steps of: (a) forming a first hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion from said naturally occurring viscous hydrocarbon material using an emulsifier wherein, said hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion has a water content of at least 15 wt. %, a viscosity of no more than 5000 centipoise at 122° F. and an oil droplet size of no more than 300 microns; and (b) degassing said first hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion at a temperature of as low as 95° F. at a pressure of at least 30 psi so as to obtain a degassing efficiency of said hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion of greater than or equal to 90% so as to produce a degassed hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion having a gas content of less than 5 cubic ft. of gas per barrel of emulsion.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
135 words
A process for recovering a naturally occurring viscous hydrocarbon material for further processing comprising the steps of: (a) forming a first hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion from said naturally occurring viscous hydrocarbon material using an emulsifier wherein, said hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion has a water content of at least 15 wt. %, a viscosity of no more than 5000 centipoise at 122° F. and an oil droplet size of no more than 300 microns; and (b) degassing said first hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion at a temperature of as low as 95° F. at a pressure of at least 30 psi so as to obtain a degassing efficiency of said hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion of greater than or equal to 90% so as to produce a degassed hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion having a gas content of less than 5 cubic ft. of gas per barrel of emulsion.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process according to claim 27 including forming a portion of said first hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion downhole.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to claim 27 including forming a portion of said first hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion at the well head.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 29 including providing a static mixer at the well head for forming homogeneous hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process according to claim 27 including collecting said emulsion and feeding said collected emulsion to a static mixer for forming a homogeneous hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion prior to degassing said hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process according to claim 27 including providing an emulsifier for forming said first hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion selected from the group consisting of non-ionic surfactants, polymers, biosurfactants, cationic surfactants, anionic surfactants, alkalies and mixtures thereof.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process according to claim 32 including providing an emulsifier for forming said first hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion selected from the group consisting of ethoxylated alkyl phenols, ethoxylated alcohols, ethoxylated sorbitan esters and mixtures thereof.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 27 including injecting said emulsifier and water below the submersible pump for forming the emulsion.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 34 including injecting said emulsifier and water above the submersible pump for forming the emulsion.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process according to claim 34 including injecting said emulsifier and water below the submersible pump into the pump casing between the stationary valve and the travelling valve for forming the emulsion.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
125 words
A process for breaking of a hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion comprising the steps of: (a) adjusting the density difference between the hydrocarbon-in-water phases of said hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion such that the density difference between the phases is greater than or equal to 2×10 g/cm at a temperature T wherein the temperature T is greater than or equal to 15° C. below the cloud point of said emulsifier used in the formation of the first hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion; (b) breaking said density adjusted hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion in a separator at said temperature T and recovering said naturally occurring hydrocarbon material separated; and (c) re-emulsifying said separated naturally occurring hydrocarbon material using an emulsifier and conditioning same for further processing so as to form a stable secondary hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion suitable for transportation.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
125 words
A process for breaking of a hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion comprising the steps of: (a) adjusting the density difference between the hydrocarbon-in-water phases of said hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion such that the density difference between the phases is greater than or equal to 2×10 g/cm at a temperature T wherein the temperature T is greater than or equal to 15° C. below the cloud point of said emulsifier used in the formation of the first hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion; (b) breaking said density adjusted hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion in a separator at said temperature T and recovering said naturally occurring hydrocarbon material separated; and (c) re-emulsifying said separated naturally occurring hydrocarbon material using an emulsifier and conditioning same for further processing so as to form a stable secondary hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion suitable for transportation.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process according to claim 37 including adjusting the density difference by adding a salt to said emulsion.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process according to claim 37 including adjusting the density difference by adding a diluent to said emulsion.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 37 including adjusting the density difference by adding a mixture of salt and diluent to said emulsion.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
45 words
A process according to claim 37 including adjusting the density difference by adding a de-emulsifier selected from the group consisting of salts of Ca ++ , Mg ++ , Al +++ and cationics such as SO 4 = and HPO 3 = to said emulsion.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
13 words
A process according to claim 41 wherein said de-emulsifier is an ionic surfactant.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process according to claim 37 including providing an emulsifier for forming said second hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion wherein said emulsifier is a non-ionic surfactant in combination with an alkali.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
57 words
A process according to claim 37 including providing an emulsifier for forming said second hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion wherein said emulsifier is a non-ionic surfactant in combination with an additive selected from the group consisting of Na + , K + , Li + , Ca ++ , Ba ++ , Mg ++ , Fe +++ and mixtures thereof.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process according to claim 44 wherein said additive is added to said emulsion in a molar ratio amount of additive to sulfur in the hydrocarbon of greater than or equal to 0.050.
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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) | 1992-01-03 | 1992-07-04 | 1993-01-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-01-03 | 1996-07-04 | 1997-01-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-01-03 | 2000-07-04 | 2001-01-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |