US4976745A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for stabilizing a hydrocarbon in water emulsion and resulting emulsion product
Assignee: Intevep SA
•
Filing: 1989-04-24
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Granted: 1990-12-11
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Expires: 2009-04-24
Abstract
Abstract A process for the preparation of stable hydrocarbon in water emulsions employing heavy crudes and bitumens having high viscosities and the resulting viscosity stable emulsion products.
Inventors
- 👤 Domingo Rodriguez
- 👤 Lirio Quintero
- 👤 Maria T. Terrer
- 👤 Euler Jimenez
- 👤 Felix Silva
- 👤 Jose Salazar
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 02:08
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10L; C10L1/00; C10L1/32; C10L1/328; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S516/00; Y10S516/01; Y10S516/02; Y10S516/03; Y10S516/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
A process for stabilizing a hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion comprising forming a hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion by admixing a hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of heavy crudes and bitumen, having a viscosity at 122° F. of about or greater than or equal to 1,000 (CST) and a viscosity at 74° F. of about or equal to or greater than 9,000 (CST) and an API° gravity below 18, water, an emulsifier and a water soluble stabilizing additive of Al +++ in a concentration of greater than 30 ppm with respect to the total emulsion volume.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
A process for stabilizing a hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion comprising forming a hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion by admixing a hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of heavy crudes and bitumen, having a viscosity at 122° F. of about or greater than or equal to 1,000 (CST) and a viscosity at 74° F. of about or equal to or greater than 9,000 (CST) and an API° gravity below 18, water, an emulsifier and a water soluble stabilizing additive of Al +++ in a concentration of greater than 30 ppm with respect to the total emulsion volume.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said stabilizing additive is in the form of a water soluble aluminum nitrate compound.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said emulsifying agent is present in a concentration of from about 0.01 to 4 wt. % with respect to the hydrocarbon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process according to claim 3 wherein said emulsifying agent is selected from the group consisting of anionic and nonionic surfactants and mixtures thereof, cationic surfactants and mixtures of cationic surfactants and nonionic surfactants.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process according to claim 4 wherein the emulsifier is an anionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of sulfonic alkyl aryl acid salts, alkyl sulfates or mixtures thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process according to claim 4 wherein said emulsifier is a nonionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of polyoxyethylenated alcohols, polyoxyethylenated alkyl phenols and mixtures thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process according to claim 4 wherein said emulsifier is a cationic surfactant selected from the group consisting of ethoxylated amines, amido-amines, quaternary ammonium compounds and mixtures thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process according to claim 6 wherein said nonionic surfactant is polyoxyethylenated nonyl phenol having at least 20 units of ethylene oxide in a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance of greater than 14.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process according to claim 4 wherein said emulsifier is present in a concentration of from about 0.01 to 1 wt. % with respect to the hydrocarbon.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
103 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said hydrocarbon has the following chemical and physical properties: carbon 78 to 86% by weight, hydrogen 9 to 11% by weight, oxygen 0.2 to 1.3% by weight, nitrogen 0.5 to 0.7% by weight, sulfur 2 to 4.5% by weight, ashes 0.05 to 0.33% by weight, vanadium 50 to 1,000 ppm, nickel 20 to 500 ppm, iron 50 to 60 ppm, sodium 30 to 200 ppm, viscosity at 122° F. from 1,000 to 51,000 (CST), viscosity at 74° F. from 90,000 to 150,000 (CST), LHV from 15,000 to 19,000 (BTU/LB), and asphaltenes 9 to 15% by weight.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said emulsion has a water content of from about 5 to 40 wt. %.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said stabilizing additive is present in a concentration of from about 30 to 70 ppm.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
81 words
A hydrocarbon in water emulsion characterized by a stable viscosity comprising a hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of heavy crudes and bitumens, having a viscosity at 122° F. of about or greater than or equal to 1,000 (CST) and a viscosity at 74° F. of about or equal to or greater than 9,000 (CST) and an API° gravity below 18, water, an emulsifier and a water soluble stabilizing additive of Al +++ in a concentration of greater than 30 ppm.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
81 words
A hydrocarbon in water emulsion characterized by a stable viscosity comprising a hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of heavy crudes and bitumens, having a viscosity at 122° F. of about or greater than or equal to 1,000 (CST) and a viscosity at 74° F. of about or equal to or greater than 9,000 (CST) and an API° gravity below 18, water, an emulsifier and a water soluble stabilizing additive of Al +++ in a concentration of greater than 30 ppm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
A hydrocarbon in water emulsion according to claim 13 wherein the stabilizing additive is present in a concentration of from about 30 to 1,000 ppm.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
A hydrocarbon in water emulsion according to claim 13 wherein the stabilizing additive is present in a concentration of from about 30 to 70 ppm.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
106 words
A hydrocarbon in water emulsion according to claim 13 wherein said hydrocarbon has the following chemical and physical properties: carbon 78 to 86% by weight, hydrogen 9 to 11% by weight, oxygen 0.2 to 1.3% by weight, nitrogen 0.5 to 0.7% by weight, sulfur 2 to 4.5% by weight, ashes 0.05 to 0.33% by weight, vanadium 50 to 1,000 ppm, nickel 20 to 500 ppm, iron 50 to 60 ppm, sodium 30 to 200 ppm, viscosity at 122° F. from 1,000 to 51,000 (CST), viscosity at 74° F. from 90,000 to 150,000 (CST), LHV from 15,000 to 19,000 (BTU/LB), and asphaltenes 9 to 15% by weight.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
A hydrocarbon in water emulsion according to claim 13 wherein said emulsifying agent is present in a concentration of from about 0.02 to 4 wt. % with respect to the hydrocarbon.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
A hydrocarbon in water emulsion according to claim 13 wherein said emulsifier is present in a concentration of from about 0.01 to 1 wt. % with respect to the hydrocarbon.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
A hydrocarbon in water emulsion according to claim 17 wherein the water content of the emulsion is from about 5 to 40 wt. %.
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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) | 1993-12-10 | 1994-06-11 | 1994-12-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-12-10 | 1998-06-11 | 1998-12-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-12-10 | 2002-06-11 | 2002-12-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |