CA1135644A - Method of transporting viscous hydrocarbons - Google Patents
Method of transporting viscous hydrocarbonsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1135644A CA1135644A CA000347996A CA347996A CA1135644A CA 1135644 A CA1135644 A CA 1135644A CA 000347996 A CA000347996 A CA 000347996A CA 347996 A CA347996 A CA 347996A CA 1135644 A CA1135644 A CA 1135644A
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- amount
- water
- imidazoline
- hydrocarbon
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Abstract
Case 6293 METHOD OF TRANSPORTING VISCOUS HYDROCARBONS
Abstract of Disclosure An improvement in the method of transporting vis-cous hydrocarbons through pipes is disclosed. Briefly, the improvement comprises adding water containing an effective amount of certain substituted imidazoline amphoteric sur-factants to the hydrocarbon. The resulting oil-in-water emulsion has a much lower viscosity and is more easily transported.
Abstract of Disclosure An improvement in the method of transporting vis-cous hydrocarbons through pipes is disclosed. Briefly, the improvement comprises adding water containing an effective amount of certain substituted imidazoline amphoteric sur-factants to the hydrocarbon. The resulting oil-in-water emulsion has a much lower viscosity and is more easily transported.
Description
113S649!
-1- C~s~ 6293 ~II.TIIOD OE` T~NSPORTING VISCO~S ~IYDROCARBONS
Backcfrourld o~ the Invelltion Field of the Invention .
The invention is in the general field of improved methods of pumping viscous hydrocarbons through a pipe, such as a well-bore or a pipeline.
General Background The movement of heavy crudes through pipes is dif-ficult because of their high viscosity and resulting low mobility. One method of improving the movement of these heavy crudes has included adding -to the crude lighter hy-drocarbons (e.g. kerosine distillate). This reduces the viscosity and thereby improves the rnobility. This method has -the disadvantage that it is expensive and the kerosine distillate is becoming difficult to obtain.
Another method of improving the movement of these heavy crudes is by heating them. This requires the instal-lation of expensive heating equipme~nt and thus is an expen-sive process.
The use of oil-in-water emulsions, which use sur-factants to form the emulsion, is known in the art.
I have discovered a method of transporting viscoushydrocarbons which comprises adding water containing an ef-fective amount of certain substituted imidazoline amphoteric surfactants to the hydrocarbon.
Brief Summary of the Invention Briefly stated, the present inyention is directed to an improvement in the method of pumping a viscous hydro-carbon through a pipe wherein the improvement comprises forming an oil-in-water emulsion by adding to said hydrocar-bon from about 10 to about 80 volume percent water containinga minor but effective amount of a substituted imidazoline amphoteric surfactant represented by the formula , '-- (3 /\
R--- C-- _-N~ --cH2cH2oR A~
CH2R" ~
wherein R, R', R" and A are as defined herein.
Detailed Description Insofar as is known my method is suitable for use with any viscous crude oil. It is well known that crude oils often contain a minor amount of water.
The amount of water which is added to the hydro-carbon is suitably in the range of about 10 to about 80 volume percent based on the hydrocarbon. A preferred amount of water is in the range of about 30 to 60 volume percent.
The water can be pure or can have a relatively high amount of dissolved solids. Any water normally found in the proxi-mity of a producing oil-well is sui-table.
Suitable substituted imidazoline amphoteric sur-factants for use in my invention are represented by the formula 20 / ~
R ---C ~ N ~ 2 2 A~
wherein R is an alkyl or alkylene group containing 8 to 18, preferably lO -to 16, carbon atoms, R' is M, H, or CH2COOM, wherein ~5 is sodium or ammonium, but preferably is sodium.
R" is COOM or CIICI-l2$~)3~1, wllerein M is Na, ~l or ~mnonium, OH
but preferably is Na, and A is hydroxyl, chloride, sulfate or sulfonate, but preferably is hydroxyl.
Suitable su~stituted imidazoline amphoterics are available from Lonza, Inc., Fair Lawn, N.J. under the trade-mark "AMPHOTERGE". They are also available from Miranol Chemical Company, Inc., Irvington, N.J., under the trademark "MIRANOL".
A suitable amount of substituted imidazoline sur-factant for use in my invention is in the range of about 400 to about 50,000 parts per million (ppm~ by weight, based on the hydrocarbon. Preferably, the amount is in the range of about 600 to about 5,000 parts per million by weight.
In order to illustrate the nature of -the present invention still more clearly the following examples will be given. It is to ~e understood, however, that the invention is not to be limited to the specific conditions or details set forth in these examples excep-t insofar as such limita-tions are specified in the appended claims.
The following materials were used in the tests described herein:
Crude Oil - Goodwin lease crude from Ca-t Canyon oil field, Santa ~laria, California Water - Goodwin synthetic (Water prepared in lab-oratory to simulate water produced at the well. Tt contained 4720 ppm total solids.) The materials tested, which illustrate the inven-tion, were the following: "Amphoterge" W, "Amphoterge" W-2, "Amphoter~e" K, "Amphoterge" K-2, "Amphoterge" SB. These materials had the following values for the formula shown previously:
~35644 ~, Materi.al R R' r~ A
W (1) 11 23 ~a COONa Oll W-2 (2)C11 23 Cl;2COONa COONa Oll K (3) C11~23 Na COONa OH
1~-2 (3)CllH23 CH2COONa COONa OH
SB (4)Cl11i23 ~1 1 2 3 OH
OH
(1) Contained 7-8% NaCl
-1- C~s~ 6293 ~II.TIIOD OE` T~NSPORTING VISCO~S ~IYDROCARBONS
Backcfrourld o~ the Invelltion Field of the Invention .
The invention is in the general field of improved methods of pumping viscous hydrocarbons through a pipe, such as a well-bore or a pipeline.
General Background The movement of heavy crudes through pipes is dif-ficult because of their high viscosity and resulting low mobility. One method of improving the movement of these heavy crudes has included adding -to the crude lighter hy-drocarbons (e.g. kerosine distillate). This reduces the viscosity and thereby improves the rnobility. This method has -the disadvantage that it is expensive and the kerosine distillate is becoming difficult to obtain.
Another method of improving the movement of these heavy crudes is by heating them. This requires the instal-lation of expensive heating equipme~nt and thus is an expen-sive process.
The use of oil-in-water emulsions, which use sur-factants to form the emulsion, is known in the art.
I have discovered a method of transporting viscoushydrocarbons which comprises adding water containing an ef-fective amount of certain substituted imidazoline amphoteric surfactants to the hydrocarbon.
Brief Summary of the Invention Briefly stated, the present inyention is directed to an improvement in the method of pumping a viscous hydro-carbon through a pipe wherein the improvement comprises forming an oil-in-water emulsion by adding to said hydrocar-bon from about 10 to about 80 volume percent water containinga minor but effective amount of a substituted imidazoline amphoteric surfactant represented by the formula , '-- (3 /\
R--- C-- _-N~ --cH2cH2oR A~
CH2R" ~
wherein R, R', R" and A are as defined herein.
Detailed Description Insofar as is known my method is suitable for use with any viscous crude oil. It is well known that crude oils often contain a minor amount of water.
The amount of water which is added to the hydro-carbon is suitably in the range of about 10 to about 80 volume percent based on the hydrocarbon. A preferred amount of water is in the range of about 30 to 60 volume percent.
The water can be pure or can have a relatively high amount of dissolved solids. Any water normally found in the proxi-mity of a producing oil-well is sui-table.
Suitable substituted imidazoline amphoteric sur-factants for use in my invention are represented by the formula 20 / ~
R ---C ~ N ~ 2 2 A~
wherein R is an alkyl or alkylene group containing 8 to 18, preferably lO -to 16, carbon atoms, R' is M, H, or CH2COOM, wherein ~5 is sodium or ammonium, but preferably is sodium.
R" is COOM or CIICI-l2$~)3~1, wllerein M is Na, ~l or ~mnonium, OH
but preferably is Na, and A is hydroxyl, chloride, sulfate or sulfonate, but preferably is hydroxyl.
Suitable su~stituted imidazoline amphoterics are available from Lonza, Inc., Fair Lawn, N.J. under the trade-mark "AMPHOTERGE". They are also available from Miranol Chemical Company, Inc., Irvington, N.J., under the trademark "MIRANOL".
A suitable amount of substituted imidazoline sur-factant for use in my invention is in the range of about 400 to about 50,000 parts per million (ppm~ by weight, based on the hydrocarbon. Preferably, the amount is in the range of about 600 to about 5,000 parts per million by weight.
In order to illustrate the nature of -the present invention still more clearly the following examples will be given. It is to ~e understood, however, that the invention is not to be limited to the specific conditions or details set forth in these examples excep-t insofar as such limita-tions are specified in the appended claims.
The following materials were used in the tests described herein:
Crude Oil - Goodwin lease crude from Ca-t Canyon oil field, Santa ~laria, California Water - Goodwin synthetic (Water prepared in lab-oratory to simulate water produced at the well. Tt contained 4720 ppm total solids.) The materials tested, which illustrate the inven-tion, were the following: "Amphoterge" W, "Amphoterge" W-2, "Amphoter~e" K, "Amphoterge" K-2, "Amphoterge" SB. These materials had the following values for the formula shown previously:
~35644 ~, Materi.al R R' r~ A
W (1) 11 23 ~a COONa Oll W-2 (2)C11 23 Cl;2COONa COONa Oll K (3) C11~23 Na COONa OH
1~-2 (3)CllH23 CH2COONa COONa OH
SB (4)Cl11i23 ~1 1 2 3 OH
OH
(1) Contained 7-8% NaCl
(2) Contained 10-11~ NaCl
(3) No NaCl
(4) Contained 5-8% Salt The concentrations tested are shown in the examples.
In addition, to provide a comparison, test results are shown on "Amphoterge" J-2. This material is represented 15 by the formula - /C~ ~
C _ -N~ CH2CH2OCH2COONa OH
CH2COONa . .
Viscosities were determined using a Brookfield viscometer, Model. LVT with No. 3 spindle. The procedure is described below.
Test Procedu.re Three hundred ml of crude oil, preheated in a large container to about 93C. in a iaboratory oven, was transferred to a Waring blender and stirred at medium speed until homogeneous. Stirring was stopped, temperature re-corded, and the viscosity measured using the Brookfield viscometer at RPM's ~revolutions per minute) of 6, 12, 30 and 60. Viscosi-ty was calculated by using a multiplication factor of 200, 100, 40 and 20 for the respective speeds times the dial reading on the viscometer.
It Inay be well to mention that the final result at 6 RPM is an indication of the stability of -the solution being tested.
The difference in viscosity values on the crude alone in the examples is due to the varying amount of water naturally present in the crude. For this reason the surfac-tant viscosity values was obtained on a crude corresponding to that used for the crude alone value.
In some of the examples only the data for the initial and final 6 RPM are shown since these values are sufficient to indicate the improvement in performance ob-tained by using the surfactants of my invention.
It should be emphasized that a definite correlation exists between the viscosity of the oil-in-water emulsion and the pumpability thereof. A lower viscosity provides improved pumpability.
This example illustrates the improyement obtained using 50 volume percent water containing 800 ppm of "Amphoterge" W. The results are shown in Table I.
TABLE I
Crude Oil Plus 300 ml Goodwin Synthetic Water Crude O11 AloneContaining 800 ppm of the (300 ml) Described Surfactant RPM _Viscosity, cp Viscosity, cp 30 60 Offscale 88 248~ 152 Test Temperature 89~C Test Temperature 74C
This example illustrates the improvement obtained using 50 volume percent water containing 800 ppm of "Amphoterge" W-2. The results are shown in Table II.
TABL~ II
Crude Oil Plus 300 ml Goodwin Synthetic Water Crude Oil AloneContaining 800 ppm of the (300 ml) Described Surfactant RPM _Visco_ity, cp Viscosity, cp 10 60 Offscale 54 Test Temperature 89C Test Temperature 81C
This example illustrates the improvement obtained using 50 volume percent water containing 800 ppm of the fol-lowing: "Amphoterge" K, "Amphoterge" K-2 and "Amphoterge" SB.
Only the initial and final 6 RPM values are shown.
The results are shown in Table III.
TABLE III
Crude Oil Plus 300 ml ~oodwin Synthetic Water Crude Oil AloneContaining 800 ppm of the (300 ml) Described Surfactant MaterialViscosity, cp_Viscosity, cp "Amphoterge" Initial Final Initial Final This example is comparative. It shows the results obtained using 50 volume percent water containing 800 ppm of "Amphoterge" J-2. The results are shown in Table IY.
TABLE IV
__ Crude Oil Plus 300 ml Coodwin Synthetic Water Crude Oil Alone Containing 800 ppm of the S (300 ml~ Described Surfactant RPM _ sc _lty, c _ Viscosity, _ 30232Q Offscale 10 60 Offscale Offscale 2240 Offscale Test Temperature 91CTest Temperature 78C
Thus, having described the invention in detail, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that cer-tain variations and modifications may be made without depart-ing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined herein and in the appended claims.
In addition, to provide a comparison, test results are shown on "Amphoterge" J-2. This material is represented 15 by the formula - /C~ ~
C _ -N~ CH2CH2OCH2COONa OH
CH2COONa . .
Viscosities were determined using a Brookfield viscometer, Model. LVT with No. 3 spindle. The procedure is described below.
Test Procedu.re Three hundred ml of crude oil, preheated in a large container to about 93C. in a iaboratory oven, was transferred to a Waring blender and stirred at medium speed until homogeneous. Stirring was stopped, temperature re-corded, and the viscosity measured using the Brookfield viscometer at RPM's ~revolutions per minute) of 6, 12, 30 and 60. Viscosi-ty was calculated by using a multiplication factor of 200, 100, 40 and 20 for the respective speeds times the dial reading on the viscometer.
It Inay be well to mention that the final result at 6 RPM is an indication of the stability of -the solution being tested.
The difference in viscosity values on the crude alone in the examples is due to the varying amount of water naturally present in the crude. For this reason the surfac-tant viscosity values was obtained on a crude corresponding to that used for the crude alone value.
In some of the examples only the data for the initial and final 6 RPM are shown since these values are sufficient to indicate the improvement in performance ob-tained by using the surfactants of my invention.
It should be emphasized that a definite correlation exists between the viscosity of the oil-in-water emulsion and the pumpability thereof. A lower viscosity provides improved pumpability.
This example illustrates the improyement obtained using 50 volume percent water containing 800 ppm of "Amphoterge" W. The results are shown in Table I.
TABLE I
Crude Oil Plus 300 ml Goodwin Synthetic Water Crude O11 AloneContaining 800 ppm of the (300 ml) Described Surfactant RPM _Viscosity, cp Viscosity, cp 30 60 Offscale 88 248~ 152 Test Temperature 89~C Test Temperature 74C
This example illustrates the improvement obtained using 50 volume percent water containing 800 ppm of "Amphoterge" W-2. The results are shown in Table II.
TABL~ II
Crude Oil Plus 300 ml Goodwin Synthetic Water Crude Oil AloneContaining 800 ppm of the (300 ml) Described Surfactant RPM _Visco_ity, cp Viscosity, cp 10 60 Offscale 54 Test Temperature 89C Test Temperature 81C
This example illustrates the improvement obtained using 50 volume percent water containing 800 ppm of the fol-lowing: "Amphoterge" K, "Amphoterge" K-2 and "Amphoterge" SB.
Only the initial and final 6 RPM values are shown.
The results are shown in Table III.
TABLE III
Crude Oil Plus 300 ml ~oodwin Synthetic Water Crude Oil AloneContaining 800 ppm of the (300 ml) Described Surfactant MaterialViscosity, cp_Viscosity, cp "Amphoterge" Initial Final Initial Final This example is comparative. It shows the results obtained using 50 volume percent water containing 800 ppm of "Amphoterge" J-2. The results are shown in Table IY.
TABLE IV
__ Crude Oil Plus 300 ml Coodwin Synthetic Water Crude Oil Alone Containing 800 ppm of the S (300 ml~ Described Surfactant RPM _ sc _lty, c _ Viscosity, _ 30232Q Offscale 10 60 Offscale Offscale 2240 Offscale Test Temperature 91CTest Temperature 78C
Thus, having described the invention in detail, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that cer-tain variations and modifications may be made without depart-ing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined herein and in the appended claims.
Claims (8)
- THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
l. In the method of pumping a viscous hydrocarbon through a pipe the improvement which comprises forming an oil-in-water emulsion by adding to said hydrocarbon from about 10 to about 80 volume percent water containing an effective amount, in the range of about 400 to about 50,000 parts per million, by weight, based on said hydrocarbon, of a substituted imidazoline represented by the formula wherein R is an alkyl or alkylene group containing 8 to 18 carbon atoms, R' is M, H, or CH2COOM, wherein M is sodium or ammonium, R" is COOM or , wherein M is sodium, hydrogen or ammonium, and A is hydroxyl, chloride, sulfate or sulfonate. - 2. The method of claim l wherein, in the substituted imidazoline, R is an alkyl or alkylene group containing 10 to 16 carbon atoms, A is a hydroxyl group, and M is sodium.
- 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the amount of substituted imidazoline is about 600 to about 5,000 parts per million.
- 4. The method of claim 3 wherein the amount of water is from about 30 to about 60 volume percent.
- 5. The method of claims 2, 3 and 4 wherein the hydro-carbon is a crude oil.
- 6. The method of claim 1 wherein:
(a) the amount of water is about 50 volume percent, (b) the amount of imidazoline compound is about 800 parts per million, (c) the hydrocarbon is a crude oil, and (d) in the imidazoline (i) R is a C11H23 group, (ii) R' is Na, (iii) R" is a COONa group, and (iv) A is a hydroxy group. - 7. The method of claim 1 wherein:
(a) the amount of water is about 50 volume percent, (b) the amount of imidazoline compound is about 800 parts per million, (c) the hydrocarbon is a crude oil, and (d) in the imidazoline (i) R is a C11H23 group, (ii) R' is a CH2COONa group, (iii) R" is a COONa group, and (iv) A is a hydroxy group. - 8. The method of claim 1 wherein:
(a) the amount of water is about 50 volume percent, (b) the amount of imidazoline compound is about 800 parts per million, (c) the hydrocarbon is a crude oil, and (d) in the imidazoline (i) R is a C11H23 group, (ii) R' is hydrogen, (iii) R" is a group, and (iv) A is a hydroxy group.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US6031279A | 1979-07-25 | 1979-07-25 | |
| US60,312 | 1979-07-25 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1135644A true CA1135644A (en) | 1982-11-16 |
Family
ID=22028702
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000347996A Expired CA1135644A (en) | 1979-07-25 | 1980-03-19 | Method of transporting viscous hydrocarbons |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1135644A (en) |
Cited By (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4966235A (en) * | 1988-07-14 | 1990-10-30 | Canadian Occidental Petroleum Ltd. | In situ application of high temperature resistant surfactants to produce water continuous emulsions for improved crude recovery |
| US4978365A (en) * | 1986-11-24 | 1990-12-18 | Canadian Occidental Petroleum Ltd. | Preparation of improved stable crude oil transport emulsions |
| US4983319A (en) * | 1986-11-24 | 1991-01-08 | Canadian Occidental Petroleum Ltd. | Preparation of low-viscosity improved stable crude oil transport emulsions |
| US5000872A (en) * | 1987-10-27 | 1991-03-19 | Canadian Occidental Petroleum, Ltd. | Surfactant requirements for the low-shear formation of water continuous emulsions from heavy crude oil |
| US5083613A (en) * | 1989-02-14 | 1992-01-28 | Canadian Occidental Petroleum, Ltd. | Process for producing bitumen |
| US5156652A (en) * | 1986-12-05 | 1992-10-20 | Canadian Occidental Petroleum Ltd. | Low-temperature pipeline emulsion transportation enhancement |
| US5263848A (en) * | 1986-11-24 | 1993-11-23 | Canadian Occidental Petroleum, Ltd. | Preparation of oil-in-aqueous phase emulsion and removing contaminants by burning |
-
1980
- 1980-03-19 CA CA000347996A patent/CA1135644A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4978365A (en) * | 1986-11-24 | 1990-12-18 | Canadian Occidental Petroleum Ltd. | Preparation of improved stable crude oil transport emulsions |
| US4983319A (en) * | 1986-11-24 | 1991-01-08 | Canadian Occidental Petroleum Ltd. | Preparation of low-viscosity improved stable crude oil transport emulsions |
| US5263848A (en) * | 1986-11-24 | 1993-11-23 | Canadian Occidental Petroleum, Ltd. | Preparation of oil-in-aqueous phase emulsion and removing contaminants by burning |
| US5156652A (en) * | 1986-12-05 | 1992-10-20 | Canadian Occidental Petroleum Ltd. | Low-temperature pipeline emulsion transportation enhancement |
| US5000872A (en) * | 1987-10-27 | 1991-03-19 | Canadian Occidental Petroleum, Ltd. | Surfactant requirements for the low-shear formation of water continuous emulsions from heavy crude oil |
| US4966235A (en) * | 1988-07-14 | 1990-10-30 | Canadian Occidental Petroleum Ltd. | In situ application of high temperature resistant surfactants to produce water continuous emulsions for improved crude recovery |
| US5083613A (en) * | 1989-02-14 | 1992-01-28 | Canadian Occidental Petroleum, Ltd. | Process for producing bitumen |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |