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US5205964A
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Method of breaking crude oil emulsions using ethylene carbonate adducts of alkylphenol-formaldehyde resins
Assignee: ChampionX LLC
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Filing: 1991-11-07
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Granted: 1993-04-27
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Expires: 2011-11-07
Abstract
Abstract A method of breaking crude oil emulsions using a water-in-oil emulsion breaker obtained by the reaction, in anhydrous conditions, for at least one hour, of an alkyl substituted phenol-formaldehyde polymer having the structure: ##STR1## wherein R is a linear or branched alkyl group having from 4-20 carbon atoms, and wherein m and n are both independent integers, the sum of which is sufficient to achieve a molecular weight of at least 1000 and further that m, but not n, may be zero with (b) ethylene carbonate, said reaction being further accomplished in a common oleophilic solvent having a boiling point of at least 180° C., the reaction further at a temperature of at least 160° C. in the presence of an alkaline catalyst, said catalyst being present at a concentration, based on total weight of reactants a & b, of at least about 0.1 weight percent.
Inventors
- 👤 W. Kirk Stephenson
- 👤 J. Derwin DeShazo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 13:56
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10G; C10G33/00; C10G33/04; B; B01; B01D; B01D17/00; B01D17/02; B01D17/04; B01D17/047; C08; C08G; C08G8/00; C08G8/28; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S507/00; Y10S507/921
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A method of breaking crude oil emulsion, which comprises treating said emulsion with an effective amount of an emulsion breaker represented by a product obtained by reacting, in anhydrous condition, for at least one hour, an alkyl substituted phenol-formaldehyde polymer having the structure: ##STR7## wherein R is a linear or branched alkyl group having from 4-20 carbon atoms, and wherein m and n are both independent integers, the sum of which is sufficient to achieve a molecular weight of at least 1000 and further that m, but not n, may be zero; with (b) ethylene carbonate, said reaction being further accomplished in an oleophilic solvent having a boiling point of at least 180° C., the reaction further at a temperature of at least 160° C. in the presence of an alkaline catalyst, said catalyst being present at a concentration, based on total weight of reactants a & b, of at least about 0.1 weight percent.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
155 words
A method of breaking crude oil emulsion, which comprises treating said emulsion with an effective amount of an emulsion breaker represented by a product obtained by reacting, in anhydrous condition, for at least one hour, an alkyl substituted phenol-formaldehyde polymer having the structure: ##STR7## wherein R is a linear or branched alkyl group having from 4-20 carbon atoms, and wherein m and n are both independent integers, the sum of which is sufficient to achieve a molecular weight of at least 1000 and further that m, but not n, may be zero; with (b) ethylene carbonate, said reaction being further accomplished in an oleophilic solvent having a boiling point of at least 180° C., the reaction further at a temperature of at least 160° C. in the presence of an alkaline catalyst, said catalyst being present at a concentration, based on total weight of reactants a & b, of at least about 0.1 weight percent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the emulsion breaker is obtained by reacting for at least two hours the phenolformaldehyde polymer with from 1-20 moles of ethylene carbonate per mole polymer at a temperature of between 165° C.-195° C. in the presence of from 0.5-5.0 weight percent, based on reactants a and b, of an alkaline catalyst chosen from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the emulsion breaker is obtained by reacting ingredients a and b in solvent chosen from the group consisting of aromatics, alkyl aromatics, alkanes, and mixtures thereof at temperatures ranging between about 165° C.-190° C. for between about 2-48 hours.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the emulsion breaker is obtained by incrementally adding in quantities of at least 0.1 weight percent of the total amount required, ethylene carbonate to the phenol-formaldehyde polymer dissolved in a solvent, said incremental adding being completed within about 20 percent of the total reaction time of from 2 to about 40 hours.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the emulsion breaker has an infrared absorbance peak at about 1750 reciprocal centimeters.
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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) | 1996-04-26 | 1996-10-26 | 1997-04-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-04-26 | 2000-10-26 | 2001-04-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-04-26 | 2004-10-26 | 2005-04-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |