Patent US4570656A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4570656A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of transporting viscous hydrocarbons
Assignee: Baker Hughes Holdings LLC
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Filing: 1983-05-05
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Granted: 1986-02-18
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Expires: 2003-05-05
Abstract
Abstract An improved method of transporting viscous hydrocarbons containing at least 10 to 15 percent water from a well bore hole or between two points via pipeline which comprises adding to the viscous hydrocarbon containing water a sufficient amount of a nonaqueous solution or dispersion of a surfactant to form a low viscosity oil-in-water emulsion which is easily transported.
Inventors
- 👤 William J. Matlach
- 👤 Michael E. Newberry
- 👤 Charles L. Thierheimer, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 19:19
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; F; F17; F17D; F17D1/00; F17D1/08; F17D1/16; F17D1/17; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/0318; Y10T137/0391
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
In a method of enhancing the transportability through a pipeline of viscous hydrocarbons containing at least 10-15 percent water which comprises a step of adding a low viscosity hydrocarbon diluent to said viscous hydrocarbons to reduce the viscosity thereof, the improvement comprising adding to said diluent an effective oil-in-water emulsion-forming amount of a surfactant in at least one nonaqueous solvent therefor, adding the surfactant/solvent/diluent to said viscous hydrocarbons in the absence of added water, forming an oil-in-water emulsion of said viscous hydrocarbons and said water in said pipeline and transporting said emulsion through said pipeline.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 words
In a method of enhancing the transportability through a pipeline of viscous hydrocarbons containing at least 10-15 percent water which comprises a step of adding a low viscosity hydrocarbon diluent to said viscous hydrocarbons to reduce the viscosity thereof, the improvement comprising adding to said diluent an effective oil-in-water emulsion-forming amount of a surfactant in at least one nonaqueous solvent therefor, adding the surfactant/solvent/diluent to said viscous hydrocarbons in the absence of added water, forming an oil-in-water emulsion of said viscous hydrocarbons and said water in said pipeline and transporting said emulsion through said pipeline.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
Method of claim 1 wherein said diluent is a light oil.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
10 words
Method of claim 2 wherein said light oil is kerosene.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
10 words
Method of claim 2 wherein said light oil is condensate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
Method of claim 1 wherein said solvent is highly soluble in said diluent and compatible with said surfactant.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
Method of claim 5 wherein said solvent is an aromatic solvent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
Method of claim 6 wherein said solvent is an alkyl phenol.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
10 words
Method of claim 6 wherein said solvent is a xylene.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
Method of claim 5 wherein said solvent is a mixture of solvents.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
9 words
Method of claim 1 wherein said surfactant is anionic.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
Method of claim 10 wherein said surfactant is a sulfated oxyalkylated fatty alcohol.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
Method of claim 10 wherein said surfactant is a sulfated oxyalkylated phenol.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
10 words
Method of claim 10 wherein said surfactant is an alkarylsulfonate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
9 words
Method of claim 1 wherein said surfactant is cationic.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
Method of claim 14 wherein said surfactant is selected from the group consisting of an oxyalkylated amine and quaternaries thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
Method of claim 14 wherein said surfactant is selected from the group consisting of an oxyalkylated polyamine and quaternaries thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
Method of claim 14 wherein said surfactant is selected from the group consisting of an oxyalkylated alkanolamine and quaternaries thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
9 words
Method of claim 1 wherein said surfactant is nonionic.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
60 words
Method of claim 18 wherein said surfactant is represented by the formulas: ##STR4## wherein R represents an alkyl group of from about 3 to about 24 carbon atoms; a represents a number of from 1 to about 40; b represents a number of from about 10 to about 100; c represents a number of from about 1 to about 20.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
68 words
Method of enhancing the transportability through a pipeline of viscous hydrocarbons containing at least 10-15 percent water comprising adding thereto in the absence of added water an effective oil-in-water emulsion-forming amount of surfactant in a nonaqueous solvent therefor, said nonaqueous solvent comprising at least one alkyl phenol, forming an oil-in-water emulsion of said viscous hydrocarbons and said water in said pipeline and transporting said emulsion through said pipeline.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
68 words
Method of enhancing the transportability through a pipeline of viscous hydrocarbons containing at least 10-15 percent water comprising adding thereto in the absence of added water an effective oil-in-water emulsion-forming amount of surfactant in a nonaqueous solvent therefor, said nonaqueous solvent comprising at least one alkyl phenol, forming an oil-in-water emulsion of said viscous hydrocarbons and said water in said pipeline and transporting said emulsion through said pipeline.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
11 words
Method of claim 20 wherein said solvent is an aromatic solvent.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
Method of claim 20 wherein said solvent is a mixture of said alkyl phenol and xylene.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
9 words
Method of claim 20 wherein said surfactant is anionic.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
13 words
Method of claim 23 wherein said surfactant is a sulfated oxyalkylated fatty alcohol.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
12 words
Method of claim 23 wherein said surfactant is a sulfated oxyalkylated phenol.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
10 words
Method of claim 23 wherein said surfactant is an alkarylsulfonate.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
9 words
Method of claim 20 wherein said surfactant is cationic.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
Method of claim 27 wherein said surfactant is selected from the group consisting of an oxyalkylated amine and quaternaries thereof.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
Method of claim 27 wherein said surfactant is selected from the group consisting of an oxyalkylated polyamine and quaternaries thereof.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
Method of claim 27 wherein said surfactant is selected from the group consisting of an oxyalkylated alkanolamine and quaternaries thereof.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
9 words
Method of claim 20 wherein said surfactant is nonionic.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
60 words
Method of claim 31 wherein said surfactant is represented by the formulas: ##STR5## wherein R represents an alkyl group of from about 3 to about 24 carbon atoms; a represents a number of from 1 to about 40; b represents a number of from about 10 to about 100; c represents a number of from about 1 to about 20.
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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) | 1989-02-17 | 1989-08-19 | 1990-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-02-17 | 1993-08-19 | 1994-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-02-17 | 1997-08-19 | 1998-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |