US5641433A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Preparation of HIPR emulsions
Assignee: Petróleos de Venezuela SA
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Filing: 1995-06-07
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Granted: 1997-06-24
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Expires: 2015-06-07
Abstract
Abstract An HIPR (high internal phase ratio) emulsion of oil in water is prepared by directly mixing 70 to 98% by volume of a viscous oil having a viscosity in the range 200 to 250,000 mPa.s at the mixing temperature with 30 to 2% by volume of an aqueous solution of an emulsifying surfactant or an alkali, percentages being expressed as percentages by volume of the total mixture. Mixing is effected under low shear conditions in the range 10 to 1,000 reciprocal seconds in such manner that an emulsion is formed comprising highly distorted oil droplets having mean droplet diameters in the range 2 to 50 micron separated by thin interfacial films. The emulsions are much less viscous than the oils from which they are prepared and may, optionally after dilution, be pumped through a pipeline.
Inventors
- 👤 Maria Luisa Chirinos
- 👤 Alistair Stewart Taylor
- 👤 Spencer Edwin Taylor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 12:43
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01J; B01J13/00; F; F17; F17D; F17D1/00; F17D1/08; F17D1/16; F17D1/17; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/0318; Y10T137/0391
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
An HIPR emulsion of oil in water comprising 80 to 98% by volume of a viscous oil having a viscosity in the range 200 to 250,000 mPas at the temperature at which the emulsion was formed and 30 to 2% by volume of an aqueous solution of an emulsifying surfactant selected from the group consisting of non-ionic, ionic and mixtures thereof, percentages being expressed as percentages by volume of the total mixture, wherein the emulsion comprises highly distorted oil droplets having mean droplet diameters in the range 2 to 50 microns separated by thin interfacial films, a high degree of monodispersity, and a narrow range droplet size distribution wherein at least 80% of the oil droplets have a mean droplet diameter of less than 10 microns.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
An HIPR emulsion of oil in water comprising 80 to 98% by volume of a viscous oil having a viscosity in the range 200 to 250,000 mPas at the temperature at which the emulsion was formed and 30 to 2% by volume of an aqueous solution of an emulsifying surfactant selected from the group consisting of non-ionic, ionic and mixtures thereof, percentages being expressed as percentages by volume of the total mixture, wherein the emulsion comprises highly distorted oil droplets having mean droplet diameters in the range 2 to 50 microns separated by thin interfacial films, a high degree of monodispersity, and a narrow range droplet size distribution wherein at least 80% of the oil droplets have a mean droplet diameter of less than 10 microns.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
An emulsion according to claim 1 wherein the emulsion contains 80 to 90% by volume of the oil.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
An emulsion according to claim 1 wherein the oil has a viscosity of 2,000 to 250,000 mPas at the temperature at which the emulsion was formed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
An oil in water emulsion containing an emulsion according to claim 1 diluted with an aqueous phase.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
An emulsion according to claim 1 wherein the surfactant is a non-ionic surfactant the molecules of which have a hydrocarbyl, hydrophobic group having a chain length in the range 8 to 18 carbon atoms, and one or more polyoxyethylene groups containing 9 to 100 ethylene oxide units in total, the hydrophilic group or groups containing 30 or more ethylene oxide units when the hydrophobic group has a chain length of 15 carbon atoms or greater.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
An emulsion according to claim 5 wherein the surfactant is an ethoxylated alkyl phenol.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
An emulsion according to claim 1 wherein the surfactant is an ionic surfactant.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
An emulsion according to claim 7 wherein a hydrophilic polymer is employed in addition to the ionic surfactant.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
An emulsion according to claim 8 wherein the hydrophilic polymer is polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene oxide, polyvinyl pyrrolidone or a polysacharide biopolymer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
An emulsion according to claim 1 wherein at least 90% of the oil droplets have a mean droplet diameter of less than 10 microns.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
An emulsion according to claim 1 wherein at least 80% of the oil droplets have a mean droplet diameter of between 5 to 10 microns.
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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) | 2000-06-23 | 2000-12-23 | 2001-06-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-06-23 | 2004-12-23 | 2005-06-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-06-23 | 2008-12-23 | 2009-06-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |