CA1157411A - Method of transporting viscous hydrocarbons - Google Patents
Method of transporting viscous hydrocarbonsInfo
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- CA1157411A CA1157411A CA000379234A CA379234A CA1157411A CA 1157411 A CA1157411 A CA 1157411A CA 000379234 A CA000379234 A CA 000379234A CA 379234 A CA379234 A CA 379234A CA 1157411 A CA1157411 A CA 1157411A
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Abstract
Case 6393 METHOD OF TRANSPORTING VISCOUS HYDROCARBONS
Abstract of Disclosure An improvement in the method of transporting vis-cous hydrocarbons through pipes is disclosed. Briefly, the method comprises adding water containing an effective amount of a combination of an alkaryl sulfonate having a molecular weight of 415 to 470 and a C1-C4 alcohol.
Abstract of Disclosure An improvement in the method of transporting vis-cous hydrocarbons through pipes is disclosed. Briefly, the method comprises adding water containing an effective amount of a combination of an alkaryl sulfonate having a molecular weight of 415 to 470 and a C1-C4 alcohol.
Description
~7~ ~
-1~ Case 6393 METEIOD OF TRANSPORTING VISCOUS HYDROCARBONS
__ Background oE the Inven-tion Field of the Invention The invention is in the general Eield of improved methods oE pumping viscous hydrocarbons through a pipe, such as a well-bore or a pipeline~
General Background The mo~ement oE heavy crudes through pipes is dif-~icult because of their high viscosity and resulting low mobility. One method of improving the movement of t.hese heavy crudes has included adding to the crude li~hter hy-drocarbons (e.g. kerosine distillate~. This reduces the viscosity and thereby improves the mobility. This metho~
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. Thi.s requires the instal-lation of expensive heating equipment 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.
U. S. Patent No. 3,943,954 teaches lowering theviscosity of viscous hydrocarbons by adding an aqueous solu-tion containing an anionic surfactant together with a guani dine salt and optionally with an alkalinity agent and/or a nonionic surfactant. The patent teaches that the guanidine salt is required.
Commonly asigned U.S. Patent No. ~,2399052 discloses a method of transpor-ting a viscous hydrocarbon through pipes wherein the method uses water containing an effective amount o an alkaryl sulfonate having a molecular weight below about 410. The application contains data which shows that high molecular weight sulfonates are not effec-tive in the me-thod.
We have found that using a Cl-C4 alcohol with an alkar~l sulfona-te having a molecular weight of about 415 to about 470 provides a composition, which when used in water ~74~ 1 and added to a viscous hydrocarbon, provides a reduction in viscosity.
Brief Summary of the I _ention Briefly stated, the present inven-tion is directed to an improvement in the method of pumpiny a viscous hydro~
carbon through a pipe wherein the improvement comprises add-ing from about 20 to about 80 volume percent water containing an effective amount of a combination of an alkaryl sulfonate having a molecular weight of about ~15 to about 470 and a Cl-C4 alcohol~
Detailed Description Insofar as is known our method is suitable for use with any viscous crude oil. ~t is well known that crude oils o~ten contain a minor amount of water.
The amount of water which is added to the hydro-carbon is suitably in the range of about 20 to about 80 volume percent based on the hydrocarbon. A preferred amount of water is in -the range o-f 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 prox-imity of a producing oil-well is suitable.
Suitable alkaryl sulfonates for use in my invention have a molecular weight of about ~15 to about 480 and are represented by the formula R - Ar - SO3M
wherein Ar is an aromatic moiety which is phenyl, tolyl, xylyl or ethylphenyl, R is a linear or branched-chain alkyl group containing 17 to 22 carbon atoms, with the -total number of carbon atoms in the combined RAr moiety being in the range of 17 to 22, and M is sodi~, potassium or ammonium, but preferably is sodium.
The preferred alkaryl sulfonates are sodium alkyl-benzene sulfonates, wherein the alkyl grollp contains 17 to 22, more suitably 17 to 21, and preferably 18 to 20, carbon a-toms.
~7~ 1 The alkaryl sulfonates can be natural or synthetic.
Usually, they are mixtures containing alkyl groups in the carbon range specified.
Suitable alcohols are those having at least some solubili~y in water. From a practical viewpoint the C4 isomers are the highest carbon number suitable. Accordingly, suitable alcohols are Gl-C4 aliphatic alcohols. The preferred alcohols are methanol, ethanol and isopropanol.
A suitable amount oE alkaryl sulfonate is in the range of about 500 to about 10,000 parts per million based on the hydrocarbon. On the same basis the preferred amount of alkaryl sulfonate is in the range of about 1,000 to about 5,000 parts per million.
A suitable amount of alcohol is in the range of 0.1:1 to 10:1, expressed as parts by weigh-t basea on the alkaryl sulfonate. On the same basis the preferred amount of alcohol is in the range of 0.5:1 to 5:1.
In order to illustrate the nature of the present invention still more clearly the following examples will be given. It is to be unders~ood, however, that the in~ention is not to be limited to the specific conditions or details set forth in -these examples except 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 Cat Canyon oil field, Santa Maria, California Water - Goodwin synthetic (Water prepared in la~-oratory to simulate water produced at the well. It con-tained 5000 ppm total solids.) Viscosities were determined using a Brook~ield viscometer, Model L~T with No. 3 spindle. The procedure is described below.
The ~ollowing materials were used in the tests:
Methyl alcohol - reagent grade Surfactant "A" - an alkylbenzene sulfonate having a molecular weight in the range o~ 415-430 l~57~
Surfactant "s" - an alkylbenzene sulfonate having a molec~llar weight in the range of 440-470 SurEactant "C" - an alkylbenzene sulfonate having a molecular weight in the range of 490-510 Test Procedure Three hundred ml of crude oil, preheated in a large container to about 93C. in a laboratory oven, was transferred to a T~aring blender and stirred at medium speed until homogeneous. Stirring was stopped, temperature re-corded, and the viscosity measured using the Brookfieldviscometer at RPM's (revolutions per minute) of 6, :L2, 30 and 60 and then back down 30, 12, and 6 RPM. Viscosity 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 may be well to mention that the final result at 6 RPM is an indication of the stability of the solution being tested.
The test was repea-ted using 300 ml crude oil plus 300 ml of the Goodwin synthetic water containing varying amounts of the described surfactants and combinations of the described surfactants with methyl alcohol.
An additional procedure was used on the crude oil-water-surfactant composition and the crude oil-wate r- surfac-tant-alcohol composition. This procedure consisted of stirring the emulsions a second time, allowing them to set for two minutes upon completion of stirring, then making the viscosity determination as previously. This procedure is a more severe test of long term stability ~or emulsions.
The difference in viscosity values on the crude a]one in the examples is due to the varying amount of water naturally present in the crude. For this reason the viscos ity value of the crude alone was obtained in each example.
The crude corresponded to that used in combination with the aqueous surfactant.
~lS74~1 EXA~PLE 1 This example is both comparative and illustrati~e.
It shows the beneficial effect of adding methyl alcohol to Surfactant "A". Viscosity values were obtained on the fol-lowing:
(a) 300 ml crude oil alone, (b) 300 ml crude oil plus 300 ml water containing 1.21 g (62 percent active) Surfactant "A" (2500 ppm), and (c) 300 ml crude oil plus 300 ml water containing 1.21 g (62 percent active) Surfactant "A" (2500 ppm) and 2.0 ml methyl alcohol (~5300 ppm~
The results for runs (a~ and (b) are shown in Table I while the results for run (c) are shown in Table II.
TABLE I
Crude Oil Plus 300 ml Water Containing 1.21 g Crude Oil Alone (62% Active) Surfactant "A"
(300 ml) (2500 ppm~
Viscosity, cp ~iscosity, cp 20RPM No. 1 No. 1 No. 2 6 11,200 ~00 12,~00 12 9,950 650 o.S.
O.S. 320 O.~.
O.S. 204 O.S.
2530 O.S. 300 O.S.
12 9,500 580 4, lao 6 9,500 1,600 5,200 O.S. = Offscale O.S. = Offscale Test Temperature 87C Test Temperat-ure 7~C, 66C
Composition foamed badly ~7~
TABLE II
C~ude Oil Rlus 300 ml Water Containing 1~21 g (62% Active) Surfactant 'IA" (2500 ppm) _ And 2_0 ml Me_ yl Alcohol Viscosity, cp RPM No. 1 No. 2 __ 6 80 1~0 Test Temperature 78C, 74C
Composition had very little foam EXAMæLE 2 This example is both comparative and illustrative.
It shows the beneficial effect of adding methyl alcohol to Surfactan-t IIB'I. Viscosity values were obtained on the ol-lowing:
(a) 300 ml crude oil alone, (b) 300 ml crude oil plus 300 ml water containing 1.21 g (62 percent active) Surfactant 'IBlt (2500 ppm), and (c) 300 ml crude oil plus 300 ml water containing 1.21 g (62 percent acti~e~ Surfactant "s" (2500 ppm) and 2.0 ml methyl alcohol (~ 5300 ppm).
The results for runs (a) and (b) are shown in Table III while the results for run (c) are shown in Table I~.
... ~
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TABLE_ I I I
Crude Oil Pl7ls 300 ml Water Containing 1.21 g (62% Active) Surfactant "B"
Crude Oil Alone (2500 ppm) (300 ml) Viscosi~.y, cp RP~lVisc _ity, cp No. 1 No. 2 6 11,880 960 2,100 12 O.S. 1,200 1,650 10 30 O.S. 800 1,320 ~0 o.S. 100 130 o.S. 112 172 12 O.S. 160 260 6 10,400 340 360 15O.S. = Offscale Test Temperature 78C, 70C
Test Temperature 91C Composition had moderate foa~
TABLE IV
Crude Oil Plus 300 m]. Water Containing 1.21 g (62% Active) Surfactant "B" (2500 ppm) 20And 2.0 ml Methyl Alcohol Viscosi~y, cp RPM No. 1 No. 2 6 ~0 160 Test Temperature 77C, 73C
Composition had very little foam EXA~5P LE 3 This example is comparative in that it shows that addition of methyl alcohol has no beneficial effect on an alkylbenzene sulEonate having a molecular weight of 490-510 (SurEactant "C"). Viscosity values were obtained on the fol-lowing:
(a) 300 ml crude oil alone, (b) 300 ml crude oil plus 300 ml water containing 1.21 g (62 percent active) Surfactant "C" (2500 ppm), and 1157~1 (c) 300 ml crude oil plus 300 ml water containing 1.21 g (62 percent active) Sur~actant "C" ~2500 ppm) plus 2.0 ml methyl alcohol (,~5300 ppm~.
The results for runs (a~ and (b) are shown in 5 Table V while the results for ,run (c) are shown in Table YI.
TABLE V
CrudP Oil P].us 300 ml ~ater Containing 1.21 g (62g~ Act;ve) Surfactant "C"
Crude Oil Alone(2500 ppm~
_ (300 ml~ _~iscos_ty, cp RPM~iscosity, cpNo~ l No. 2 6 12,260 0.5. O.S.
12 O.S. O.S~ O.S
O.S. O.S. O.S.
O.S~ O~S. O.S.
O.S~ O.S~ O.S.
12 O.S. O.S. O.S.
6 lll600 O.S. O.S.
20O.S. = Offscale O.S. - Offscale Test Temperature 90C Test Temperature 79C, -Composition ~ailed TABLE YI
_, Crude Oil Plus 300 ml ~ater Containing 251.21 g (62~ Active) Sur~actant "C" (2500 ppm) And 2~0 ml Methyl Alcohol ~llSCOSi RPM No. 1 No. 2 __ 6 o.S. O.S.
12 O.S. O.S.
O.S. O.S.
O.S. O.S.
30. O.$. O.S.
12 O.S. O.S.
: 35 6 O.S. O.S.
O.S. - Offscale Test Temperature 7~C, -Composition failed The tes.t results Ero~ the examples show cle~rly that addi.tion of a small amolmt of ,methyl alcohol to Sur-,~actants "A" and "B'l provided a significant :reduction in vîscosity. The test results show that addition o~ methyl 11~74~1 , 9-- .
alcohol to Surfactant "C" (molecular weigh-t 490-510) did not provide any improvement.
Examples 1-3 are repeated substituting ethyl alco-hol and isopropyl alcohol ~or methyl alcohol. Similar results are obtained.
Thus, having described the invention in detail, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that certain variations and modifications may be made without departing from t.he spirit and scope of the in~ention as defined herein and in the appended claims.
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-1~ Case 6393 METEIOD OF TRANSPORTING VISCOUS HYDROCARBONS
__ Background oE the Inven-tion Field of the Invention The invention is in the general Eield of improved methods oE pumping viscous hydrocarbons through a pipe, such as a well-bore or a pipeline~
General Background The mo~ement oE heavy crudes through pipes is dif-~icult because of their high viscosity and resulting low mobility. One method of improving the movement of t.hese heavy crudes has included adding to the crude li~hter hy-drocarbons (e.g. kerosine distillate~. This reduces the viscosity and thereby improves the mobility. This metho~
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. Thi.s requires the instal-lation of expensive heating equipment 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.
U. S. Patent No. 3,943,954 teaches lowering theviscosity of viscous hydrocarbons by adding an aqueous solu-tion containing an anionic surfactant together with a guani dine salt and optionally with an alkalinity agent and/or a nonionic surfactant. The patent teaches that the guanidine salt is required.
Commonly asigned U.S. Patent No. ~,2399052 discloses a method of transpor-ting a viscous hydrocarbon through pipes wherein the method uses water containing an effective amount o an alkaryl sulfonate having a molecular weight below about 410. The application contains data which shows that high molecular weight sulfonates are not effec-tive in the me-thod.
We have found that using a Cl-C4 alcohol with an alkar~l sulfona-te having a molecular weight of about 415 to about 470 provides a composition, which when used in water ~74~ 1 and added to a viscous hydrocarbon, provides a reduction in viscosity.
Brief Summary of the I _ention Briefly stated, the present inven-tion is directed to an improvement in the method of pumpiny a viscous hydro~
carbon through a pipe wherein the improvement comprises add-ing from about 20 to about 80 volume percent water containing an effective amount of a combination of an alkaryl sulfonate having a molecular weight of about ~15 to about 470 and a Cl-C4 alcohol~
Detailed Description Insofar as is known our method is suitable for use with any viscous crude oil. ~t is well known that crude oils o~ten contain a minor amount of water.
The amount of water which is added to the hydro-carbon is suitably in the range of about 20 to about 80 volume percent based on the hydrocarbon. A preferred amount of water is in -the range o-f 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 prox-imity of a producing oil-well is suitable.
Suitable alkaryl sulfonates for use in my invention have a molecular weight of about ~15 to about 480 and are represented by the formula R - Ar - SO3M
wherein Ar is an aromatic moiety which is phenyl, tolyl, xylyl or ethylphenyl, R is a linear or branched-chain alkyl group containing 17 to 22 carbon atoms, with the -total number of carbon atoms in the combined RAr moiety being in the range of 17 to 22, and M is sodi~, potassium or ammonium, but preferably is sodium.
The preferred alkaryl sulfonates are sodium alkyl-benzene sulfonates, wherein the alkyl grollp contains 17 to 22, more suitably 17 to 21, and preferably 18 to 20, carbon a-toms.
~7~ 1 The alkaryl sulfonates can be natural or synthetic.
Usually, they are mixtures containing alkyl groups in the carbon range specified.
Suitable alcohols are those having at least some solubili~y in water. From a practical viewpoint the C4 isomers are the highest carbon number suitable. Accordingly, suitable alcohols are Gl-C4 aliphatic alcohols. The preferred alcohols are methanol, ethanol and isopropanol.
A suitable amount oE alkaryl sulfonate is in the range of about 500 to about 10,000 parts per million based on the hydrocarbon. On the same basis the preferred amount of alkaryl sulfonate is in the range of about 1,000 to about 5,000 parts per million.
A suitable amount of alcohol is in the range of 0.1:1 to 10:1, expressed as parts by weigh-t basea on the alkaryl sulfonate. On the same basis the preferred amount of alcohol is in the range of 0.5:1 to 5:1.
In order to illustrate the nature of the present invention still more clearly the following examples will be given. It is to be unders~ood, however, that the in~ention is not to be limited to the specific conditions or details set forth in -these examples except 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 Cat Canyon oil field, Santa Maria, California Water - Goodwin synthetic (Water prepared in la~-oratory to simulate water produced at the well. It con-tained 5000 ppm total solids.) Viscosities were determined using a Brook~ield viscometer, Model L~T with No. 3 spindle. The procedure is described below.
The ~ollowing materials were used in the tests:
Methyl alcohol - reagent grade Surfactant "A" - an alkylbenzene sulfonate having a molecular weight in the range o~ 415-430 l~57~
Surfactant "s" - an alkylbenzene sulfonate having a molec~llar weight in the range of 440-470 SurEactant "C" - an alkylbenzene sulfonate having a molecular weight in the range of 490-510 Test Procedure Three hundred ml of crude oil, preheated in a large container to about 93C. in a laboratory oven, was transferred to a T~aring blender and stirred at medium speed until homogeneous. Stirring was stopped, temperature re-corded, and the viscosity measured using the Brookfieldviscometer at RPM's (revolutions per minute) of 6, :L2, 30 and 60 and then back down 30, 12, and 6 RPM. Viscosity 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 may be well to mention that the final result at 6 RPM is an indication of the stability of the solution being tested.
The test was repea-ted using 300 ml crude oil plus 300 ml of the Goodwin synthetic water containing varying amounts of the described surfactants and combinations of the described surfactants with methyl alcohol.
An additional procedure was used on the crude oil-water-surfactant composition and the crude oil-wate r- surfac-tant-alcohol composition. This procedure consisted of stirring the emulsions a second time, allowing them to set for two minutes upon completion of stirring, then making the viscosity determination as previously. This procedure is a more severe test of long term stability ~or emulsions.
The difference in viscosity values on the crude a]one in the examples is due to the varying amount of water naturally present in the crude. For this reason the viscos ity value of the crude alone was obtained in each example.
The crude corresponded to that used in combination with the aqueous surfactant.
~lS74~1 EXA~PLE 1 This example is both comparative and illustrati~e.
It shows the beneficial effect of adding methyl alcohol to Surfactant "A". Viscosity values were obtained on the fol-lowing:
(a) 300 ml crude oil alone, (b) 300 ml crude oil plus 300 ml water containing 1.21 g (62 percent active) Surfactant "A" (2500 ppm), and (c) 300 ml crude oil plus 300 ml water containing 1.21 g (62 percent active) Surfactant "A" (2500 ppm) and 2.0 ml methyl alcohol (~5300 ppm~
The results for runs (a~ and (b) are shown in Table I while the results for run (c) are shown in Table II.
TABLE I
Crude Oil Plus 300 ml Water Containing 1.21 g Crude Oil Alone (62% Active) Surfactant "A"
(300 ml) (2500 ppm~
Viscosity, cp ~iscosity, cp 20RPM No. 1 No. 1 No. 2 6 11,200 ~00 12,~00 12 9,950 650 o.S.
O.S. 320 O.~.
O.S. 204 O.S.
2530 O.S. 300 O.S.
12 9,500 580 4, lao 6 9,500 1,600 5,200 O.S. = Offscale O.S. = Offscale Test Temperature 87C Test Temperat-ure 7~C, 66C
Composition foamed badly ~7~
TABLE II
C~ude Oil Rlus 300 ml Water Containing 1~21 g (62% Active) Surfactant 'IA" (2500 ppm) _ And 2_0 ml Me_ yl Alcohol Viscosity, cp RPM No. 1 No. 2 __ 6 80 1~0 Test Temperature 78C, 74C
Composition had very little foam EXAMæLE 2 This example is both comparative and illustrative.
It shows the beneficial effect of adding methyl alcohol to Surfactan-t IIB'I. Viscosity values were obtained on the ol-lowing:
(a) 300 ml crude oil alone, (b) 300 ml crude oil plus 300 ml water containing 1.21 g (62 percent active) Surfactant 'IBlt (2500 ppm), and (c) 300 ml crude oil plus 300 ml water containing 1.21 g (62 percent acti~e~ Surfactant "s" (2500 ppm) and 2.0 ml methyl alcohol (~ 5300 ppm).
The results for runs (a) and (b) are shown in Table III while the results for run (c) are shown in Table I~.
... ~
~15~
TABLE_ I I I
Crude Oil Pl7ls 300 ml Water Containing 1.21 g (62% Active) Surfactant "B"
Crude Oil Alone (2500 ppm) (300 ml) Viscosi~.y, cp RP~lVisc _ity, cp No. 1 No. 2 6 11,880 960 2,100 12 O.S. 1,200 1,650 10 30 O.S. 800 1,320 ~0 o.S. 100 130 o.S. 112 172 12 O.S. 160 260 6 10,400 340 360 15O.S. = Offscale Test Temperature 78C, 70C
Test Temperature 91C Composition had moderate foa~
TABLE IV
Crude Oil Plus 300 m]. Water Containing 1.21 g (62% Active) Surfactant "B" (2500 ppm) 20And 2.0 ml Methyl Alcohol Viscosi~y, cp RPM No. 1 No. 2 6 ~0 160 Test Temperature 77C, 73C
Composition had very little foam EXA~5P LE 3 This example is comparative in that it shows that addition of methyl alcohol has no beneficial effect on an alkylbenzene sulEonate having a molecular weight of 490-510 (SurEactant "C"). Viscosity values were obtained on the fol-lowing:
(a) 300 ml crude oil alone, (b) 300 ml crude oil plus 300 ml water containing 1.21 g (62 percent active) Surfactant "C" (2500 ppm), and 1157~1 (c) 300 ml crude oil plus 300 ml water containing 1.21 g (62 percent active) Sur~actant "C" ~2500 ppm) plus 2.0 ml methyl alcohol (,~5300 ppm~.
The results for runs (a~ and (b) are shown in 5 Table V while the results for ,run (c) are shown in Table YI.
TABLE V
CrudP Oil P].us 300 ml ~ater Containing 1.21 g (62g~ Act;ve) Surfactant "C"
Crude Oil Alone(2500 ppm~
_ (300 ml~ _~iscos_ty, cp RPM~iscosity, cpNo~ l No. 2 6 12,260 0.5. O.S.
12 O.S. O.S~ O.S
O.S. O.S. O.S.
O.S~ O~S. O.S.
O.S~ O.S~ O.S.
12 O.S. O.S. O.S.
6 lll600 O.S. O.S.
20O.S. = Offscale O.S. - Offscale Test Temperature 90C Test Temperature 79C, -Composition ~ailed TABLE YI
_, Crude Oil Plus 300 ml ~ater Containing 251.21 g (62~ Active) Sur~actant "C" (2500 ppm) And 2~0 ml Methyl Alcohol ~llSCOSi RPM No. 1 No. 2 __ 6 o.S. O.S.
12 O.S. O.S.
O.S. O.S.
O.S. O.S.
30. O.$. O.S.
12 O.S. O.S.
: 35 6 O.S. O.S.
O.S. - Offscale Test Temperature 7~C, -Composition failed The tes.t results Ero~ the examples show cle~rly that addi.tion of a small amolmt of ,methyl alcohol to Sur-,~actants "A" and "B'l provided a significant :reduction in vîscosity. The test results show that addition o~ methyl 11~74~1 , 9-- .
alcohol to Surfactant "C" (molecular weigh-t 490-510) did not provide any improvement.
Examples 1-3 are repeated substituting ethyl alco-hol and isopropyl alcohol ~or methyl alcohol. Similar results are obtained.
Thus, having described the invention in detail, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that certain variations and modifications may be made without departing from t.he spirit and scope of the in~ention as defined herein and in the appended claims.
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Claims (14)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. In the method of pumping a viscous hydrocar-bon through a pipe the improvement which comprises forming an oil-in-water emulsion by adding to said hydrocarbon about 20 to about 80 volume percent of an aqueous solution contain ing an effective amount of a combination of (a) about 500 to about 10,000 parts per million, based on said hydrocarbon, of an alkaryl sulfonate having a molecu-lar weight of about 415 to about 470 and being represented by the formula R - Ar - SO3M
wherein Ar is an aromatic moiety which is phenyl, tolyl, xylyl or ethylphenyl, R is a linear or branched-chain alkyl group containing 17 to 22 carbon atoms, with the total number of carbon atoms in the combined RAr moiety being in the range of 17 to 22 and M is sodium, potassium or ammonium, and (b) a C1-C4 aliphatic alcohol, wherein the amount of alcohol is in the range of 0.1:1 to 10.1, parts by weight based on the alkaryl sulfonate.
wherein Ar is an aromatic moiety which is phenyl, tolyl, xylyl or ethylphenyl, R is a linear or branched-chain alkyl group containing 17 to 22 carbon atoms, with the total number of carbon atoms in the combined RAr moiety being in the range of 17 to 22 and M is sodium, potassium or ammonium, and (b) a C1-C4 aliphatic alcohol, wherein the amount of alcohol is in the range of 0.1:1 to 10.1, parts by weight based on the alkaryl sulfonate.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the alkaryl sulfonate is a sodium alkylbenzene sulfonate wherein the alkyl group contains 17 to 22 carbon atoms.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the amount of alkylbenzene sulfonate is about 1,00 to about 5,000 parts per million.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the alcohol is methanol.
5. The method of claim 3 wherein the alcohol is isopropenyl.
6. The method of claims 4 or 5 wherein the amount of alcohol is in the range of about 0.5:1 to 5:1.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the amount of aqueous solution added to said hydrocarbon is about 30 to about 60 volume percent based on said hydrocarbon.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the alkaryl sulfonate is a sodium alkylbenzene sulfonate wherein the alkyl group contains 17 to 22 carbon atoms.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the amount of alkylbenzene sulfonate is about 1,000 to about 5,000 parts per million.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the alcohol is methanol.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein the alcohol is isopropanol.
12. The method of claim 10 or 11 wherein the amount of alcohol is in the range of about 0.5:1 to 5:1.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein there is used about 50 percent of an aqueous solution containing about 2500 parts per million of a sodium alkylbenzene sulfonate having a molecular weight in the range of about 415 to about 430 and about 5300 parts per million of methanol.
14. The method of claim 1 wherein there is used about 50 percent of an aqueous solution containing about 2500 parts per million of a sodium alkylbenzene sulfonate having a molecular weight in the range of about 440 to about 470 and about 5300 parts per million of methanol.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000379234A CA1157411A (en) | 1981-06-08 | 1981-06-08 | Method of transporting viscous hydrocarbons |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000379234A CA1157411A (en) | 1981-06-08 | 1981-06-08 | Method of transporting viscous hydrocarbons |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1157411A true CA1157411A (en) | 1983-11-22 |
Family
ID=4120170
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000379234A Expired CA1157411A (en) | 1981-06-08 | 1981-06-08 | Method of transporting viscous hydrocarbons |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1157411A (en) |
-
1981
- 1981-06-08 CA CA000379234A patent/CA1157411A/en not_active Expired
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