SE423552B

SE423552B - Process for transporting and/or storing oil in the form of small non-tacky particles when obtaining asphalt- containing crude oil

Info

Publication number: SE423552B
Application number: SE7908453A
Authority: SE
Inventors: C A Bergholm
Original assignee: Nynaes Petroleum Ab
Priority date: 1979-10-11
Filing date: 1979-10-11
Publication date: 1982-05-10
Also published as: SE7908453L

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for transporting and/or storing oil that contains 50% or more of asphalt. The oil is treated with a solvent, preferably a hydrocarbon, to free it from the asphalt directly after obtaining the crude oil. This gives two fractions, one of which is a solution of the oil constituent of the crude oil, while the other is a mixture of its asphaltenes and the heavier parts of its hydrocarbon moiety. After the removal of the solvent, the mixture contains at least 60% of asphaltenes and has a penetration value of less than 1 when tested by the modified ASTM-D5 method at 115 degrees F under a load of 100 g. The two fractions are separated from each other and freed from the solvent. The fraction consisting of a mixture of the asphaltenes of the starting oil and the heavier components of the hydrocarbon moiety is converted into small non-tacky particles.

Description

:ningsmedlet avdrivas från fasen eller faserna. 7908453-et blandning av asfaltenerna och den tyngre resten av oljedelen överföres till icke klibbande småpartiklar genom extrudering, varpå det erhållna granulatet transporteras vidare och/eller lagras för kommande behov. : the agent is stripped from the phase or phases. The mixture of the asphaltenes and the heavier residue of the oil part is transferred to non-sticky small particles by extrusion, whereupon the granules obtained are transported further and / or stored for future needs.

Den operation, varigenom en kraftig asfaltenhaltig åter- stodsolja kan erhållas, är vanligen en destillation, vid vil- ken man avdriver olika tyngre kolvätefraktioner inom smörj- oljornas kokintervall. I fråga om tunga râoljor skall dessa underkastas den speciella avasfalteringsprocessen i omedelbar anslutning till den plats, vid vilken oljan brytes.The operation by which a strong asphaltene-containing residual oil can be obtained is usually a distillation, in which various heavier hydrocarbon fractions are driven off within the boiling range of the lubricating oils. In the case of heavy crude oils, they must be subjected to the special asphalting process immediately adjacent to the place where the oil is mined.

Vid avasfalteringen behandlas återstodsoljan eller råoljan :med ett lättflyktigt lösningsmedel, företrädesvis butan, pen- tan, hexan eller heptan. Härvid delar blandningen upp sig i två faser, varav den ena är lättare och utgöres av en lösning av den relativt lågmolekylära kolväteoljedelen av återstode- oljan i det lättflyktiga lösningsmedlet och den andra inne- håller utgångsoljans högmolekylära föreningar i första hand asfaltener eventuellt i blandning med en tyngre kolväteolje-f _ del. Sedan de båda faserna separerats från varandra kan lös- Det är också känt att egenskaperna hos den asfaltenhalti- K ga delen av utgångsoljan kan varieras genom val av lösnings- medlets typ, mängden lösningsmedel, temperaturen vid bland- ningsoperationen och trycket} Man kan på så sätt uppnå en fas innehållande asfaltener och en relativt högmolekylär kolväte- olja, som är så sammansatt, att den kan extruderas genom ett _ lämpligt munstycke och den erhållna strängen eller strängarna därefter sönderdelas till korta strängpartiklar (granulat), vilka senare icke klibbar fast vid varandra vid temperaturer av +50°C eller lägre. Fackmannen har i sin hand att variera hårdheten hos de erhållna smâpartiklarna. Om partiklarna fram- ställes tillräckligt hårda, kan de lagras i hög, hanteras med lastmaskiner, lagras i silo, transporteras pneumatiskt eller 'hydrauliskt m.m. Efter hydraulisk transport kan partikelmate- rialet lätt avvattnas och torkas.During the asphalting, the residual oil or crude oil is treated: with a volatile solvent, preferably butane, pentane, hexane or heptane. The mixture is divided into two phases, one of which is lighter and consists of a solution of the relatively low molecular weight hydrocarbon oil part of the residual oil in the volatile solvent and the other contains the high molecular weight compounds of the starting oil primarily asphaltenes optionally in admixture with a heavier hydrocarbon oil-f _ part. It is also known that the properties of the asphaltene-containing part of the starting oil can be varied by choosing the type of solvent, the amount of solvent, the temperature of the mixing operation and the pressure}. a phase containing asphaltenes and a relatively high molecular weight hydrocarbon oil which is so complex that it can be extruded through a suitable die and the resulting strand or strands are subsequently decomposed into short strand particles (granules) which later do not stick together. at temperatures of + 50 ° C or lower. The person skilled in the art is in a position to vary the hardness of the small particles obtained. If the particles are produced hard enough, they can be stored in piles, handled with loaders, stored in silos, transported pneumatically or hydraulically, etc. After hydraulic transport, the particulate matter can be easily dewatered and dried.

I fråga om den angivna gränsen för halten asfaltener i den I vid avasfalteringsprocessen erhållna blandningen innehållande asfaltenerna, vilken gräns angetts till 60%, skall densamma be- ståmmas enligt IP 143/57 (varvid IP avser Institute of Petro- leum, London).As regards the stated limit for the content of asphaltenes in the mixture containing the asphaltenes obtained in the asphalting process, which limit is set at 60%, the same shall be determined in accordance with IP 143/57 (IP refers to the Institute of Petroleum, London).

Lagring av den fasta delen av utgångsoljan i en hög i det fria ställer stora krav på klibbfrihet hos produkten, enär temperaturen vid solbestrålning i varma länder lätt kan gå upp till mycket höga temperaturer (100°C eller däröver).Storing the solid part of the starting oil in a pile in the open places great demands on the freedom of tack of the product, since the temperature during solar radiation in warm countries can easily rise to very high temperatures (100 ° C or above).

Detta beror på att det svarta materialet absorberar värme- strålning. Av denna anledning kan det vara lämpligt att lagra det partikelformiga materialet under vatten. Vid lastning i båt eller annat transportmedel användes lämpligen hydraulisk transport. Före användning som bränsle kan det partikelformiga materialet torkas med luft, vilket lämpligen kan ske i s.k. fluidiserad bädd.This is because the black material absorbs heat radiation. For this reason, it may be appropriate to store the particulate material under water. When loading in a boat or other means of transport, hydraulic transport is suitably used. Before use as a fuel, the particulate material can be dried with air, which can suitably be done in so-called fluidized bed.

Alternativt kan man undvika att det lagrade materialet uppnår höga temperaturer vid lagring utomhus, genom att ytan hos massan av småpartiklar besprutas med vatten.Alternatively, it can be avoided that the stored material reaches high temperatures when stored outdoors, by spraying the surface of the mass of small particles with water.

Föreliggande förfarande innebär att man kan uppnå mycket stora besparingar vid transport och lagring av oljor av det ifrågavarande slaget. Genom att det fasta materialet kan lagras utomhus kan man uppnå stora besparingar i fråga _om lagerhållning. Miljöskador undviks genom att det korn- formiga materialet göres tillräckligt grovkornigt för att icke följa med vinden vid blåsigt väder. För detta ändamål bör partiklarna bibringas en minsta dimension av minst 2 mm. i genomsnitt hos fraktionen.The present process means that very large savings can be achieved in the transport and storage of oils of the type in question. Because the solid material can be stored outdoors, large savings can be achieved in terms of storage. Environmental damage is avoided by making the granular material coarse-grained enough not to follow the wind in windy weather. For this purpose, the particles should be given a minimum dimension of at least 2 mm. on average in the fraction.

Det fasta partikelformiga materialet kan lämpligen an- vändas som bränsle, varvid det först bör avvattnas och sedan torkas vid temperaturer under ca. 100°C. Det kan sedan an- vändas för alstring av energi antingen i smält form eller efter malning till finare partiklar, t.ex. ett pulver eller i befintligt skick."The solid particulate material can suitably be used as a fuel, whereby it should first be dewatered and then dried at temperatures below approx. 100 ° C. It can then be used for generating energy either in molten form or after grinding into finer particles, e.g. a powder or as is. "

Claims

PATENT REQUIREMENTS

1. When extracting oils containing 50% asphalt or more, know that the oil is already in immediate connection with the operation by which it is obtained, e.g. pumping from a crude oil source or distillation of a crude oil, is subjected to asphalting with a solvent, preferably hydrocarbon solvent, to form two fractions, one of which is a solution of a part of the oil part of the oil and the other is a mixture of asphalt the mixture and the heavier residue of the oil part, which mixture - after evaporation of the solvent contains at least 60% asphaltenes and has a penetration of less than 1 on examination with a modified method according to AsTM-ns at 11s ° F a 100 g load, whereupon the two fractions are separated from each other and liberated from solvent and the fraction consisting of a mixture of the asphaltenes of the starting oil and the heavier residue of the oil part is transferred to non-sticky small particles by extrusion, whereupon the granules obtained are further transported and / or stored for future use. _

2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the solution of a part of the oil part of the oil is subjected to evaporation for removal of the hydrocarbon solvent before transport and / or storage.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the small particles are stored under water.

4. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that the small particles are dried with air before use as fuel. 79Û8453 ~ 9 SUMMARY The invention relates to a method of transporting and / or storing oils containing 50% asphalt or more. In immediate connection with the operation by which it is obtained, the oil is subjected to asphalting with a solvent, preferably hydrocarbon solvent, to form two fractions, one of which is a solution of the oil part of the oil and the other is a mixture of the asphaltenes and the heavier residue. of the hydrocarbon oil moiety, which mixture after evaporation of the solvent contains at least 60% asphaltenes and has a penetration of less than 1 on examination with a modified method according to Asæmns at 11s ° F and 1009 load, whereupon the two fractions are separated and liberated from solvent and the fraction consisting of a mixture of the asphaltenes of the starting oil and the heavier residue of the hydrocarbon oil moiety is transferred to non-sticky small particles.