Use of organic fluorochemical compounds with oleophobic and hydrophobic groups in asphaltenic crude oils as viscosity reducing agents

Claim 3

A method according to Claim 1, wherein said compound has a solubility in crude oil of at least 10 parts per million parts by weight crude oil.

Claim 4

A method according to Claim 1, wherein said fluoroaliphatic group contains between about 4 and about 20 carbon atoms.

Claim 5

A method according to Claim 1, wherein an asphaltenic oil compatable low viscosity diluent, having a viscosity at 20°C between about 25 and about 300 centipoise is incorporated into said asphaltenic crude oil, in an amount between about 1 and about 80 percent by weight based upon the weight of the total composition.

Claim 6

A method according to Claim 4, wherein the diluent is incorporated in an amount between about 5 and about 50 percent by weight based upon the weight of the total composition.

Claim 7

A method according to Claim 1, wherein said asphaltenic crude contains between about 1 % and 20 % by weight asphaltenes based on the weight of crude oil.

Claim 8

A method according to Claim 1, wherein said asphaltenic crude contains between about 5 and about 20 % by weight asphaltenes based on the weight of crude oil.

Claim 9

A method according to Claim 1, wherein the fluoroaliphatic compound is sufficiently hydrophobic such that a steel coupon treated with the fluoroaliphatic compound to thoroughly coat the same exhibits a contact angle with hexadecane of 15 degrees or more.

Claim 10

A method according to Claim 3, wherein said oil soluble compound is of the formula [(R f ) n Rʹ] m Z wherein R f is an inert, stable, oleophobic and hydrophobic fluoroaliphatic group having about 20 carbon atoms; n is an integer from 1 to 3; Rʹ is a direct bond or an organic linking group having a valency of n+1 and is convalently bonded to both R f and Z; m is an integer of from 1 to about 5000; and Z is a hydrocarbyl containing residue having a valency of m and being sufficiently oleophilic so as to impart an oil solubility to said compounds of at least 10 parts by weight per million parts of asphaltenic crude oil.

Claim 11

A method according to Claim 9, wherein R f is straight or branched chain perfluoroalkyl of 4 to 20 carbon atoms, perfluoroalkoxy substituted perfluoroalkyl having a total of 4 to 20 carbon atoms, omega-hydro perfluoroalkyl of 4 to 20 carbon atoms, or perfluoroalkenyl of 4 to 20 carbon atoms, or a mixture thereof.

Claim 12

An asphaltenic crude oil composition comprising a) an asphaltenic crude oil containing between about 1 % and about 20 % asphaltenes; b) between about 10 and about 500 parts per million by weight, based on the weight of said aspaltenic crude oil of a viscosity reducing oil soluble organic compound having at least one oleophobic and hydrophobic fluoroaliphatic group, and c) a low viscosity asphaltenic oil compatable diluent, having a viscosity between about 25 and about 300 centipoise at 20°C, in an amount between about 1 and about 80 percent by weight based upon the weight of acid composition.

Claim 13

An asphaltenic crude oil composition comprising a) an asphaltenic crude oil containing between about 1 % and about 20 % asphaltenes; b) between about 10 and about 500 parts per million by weight, based on the weight of said aspaltenic crude oil of a viscosity reducing oil soluble organic compound having at least one oleophobic and hydrophobic fluoroaliphatic group, and c) a low viscosity asphaltenic oil compatable diluent, having a viscosity between about 25 and about 300 centipoise at 20°C, in an amount between about 1 and about 80 percent by weight based upon the weight of acid composition.

Claim 14

A composition according to Claim 11, wherein said diluent has a viscosity of between about 25 and about 200 centipoise at 20°C.

Claim 15

A composition according to Claim 12, wherein the diluent is present in an amount between 5 and 50 percent by weight based on the weight of the total composition.