US4192767A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Aqueous surfactant solutions and oil-in-water emulsions
Assignee: Texaco Inc
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Filing: 1978-07-24
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Granted: 1980-03-11
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Expires: 1998-07-24
Abstract
Abstract A method for transporting heavy crude oil through a pipeline which involves introducing into a pipeline or well-bore with the viscous hydrocarbons an aqueous solution containing (1) a sulfonate surfactant, (2) a rosin soap or a naphthenic acid soap and, optionally (3) a coupling agent whereby there is spontaneously formed a low viscosity, salt tolerant, oil-in-water emulsion.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenoth H. Flournoy
- 👤 Robert B. Alston
- 👤 William B. Braden, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:29
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/58; C09K8/584; C09K23/00; C09K23/017; F; F17; F17D; F17D1/00; F17D1/08; F17D1/16; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S516/00; Y10S516/01; Y10S516/02; Y10S516/03; Y10S516/04; Y10S516/905; Y10S516/909; Y10S516/91
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
An oil-in-water emulsion comprising a hydrocarbon phase and as the aqueous phase an aqueous solution comprising about 0.01 to about 2.0 percent weight of surfactant of the formula: ##STR7## wherein R b is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl of from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, R c is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl of from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, x is an integer of from 1 to 20 and M is a monovalent cation selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, lithium and ammonium, and from about 0.01 to about 1.8 percent by weight of a soap selected from the group consisting of rosin soaps and naphthenic acid soaps and mixtures thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
An oil-in-water emulsion comprising a hydrocarbon phase and as the aqueous phase an aqueous solution comprising about 0.01 to about 2.0 percent weight of surfactant of the formula: ##STR7## wherein R b is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl of from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, R c is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl of from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, x is an integer of from 1 to 20 and M is a monovalent cation selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, lithium and ammonium, and from about 0.01 to about 1.8 percent by weight of a soap selected from the group consisting of rosin soaps and naphthenic acid soaps and mixtures thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The emulsion of claim 1 wherein the said rosin soap is selected from the group consisting of sodium abietate, potassium abietate, lithium abietate, ammonium abietate and mixtures thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The emulsion of claim 1 wherein the said naphthenic soap is selected from the group consisting of sodium naphthenate, potassium naphthenate, lithium naphthenate, ammonium naphthenate and mixtures thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
The emulsion of claim 1 wherein the said aqueous solution contains from 0.02 to about 1.0 weight percent of a coupling agent of the formula: R.sub.c O(R.sub.d O).sub.m H, wherein R c is alkyl of from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, R d is alkylene of from 2 to 3 inclusive carbon atoms and m is an integer of from 1 to 3 inclusive.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The emulsion of claim 1 wherein the said hydrocarbon is crude oil.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The emulsion of claim 1 wherein the emulsion contains from about 0.05 to about 1.0 weight percent of an alkalinity agent selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
109 words
An aqueous solution comprising about 0.01 to about 2.0 percent weight of surfactant of the formula: ##STR8## wherein R b is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl of from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, R c is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl of from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, x is an integer of from 1 to 20 and M is a monovalent cation selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, lithium and ammonium, and about 0.01 to about 1.8 percent by weight of a soap selected from the group consisting of rosin soaps and naphthenic acid soaps and mixtures thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
109 words
An aqueous solution comprising about 0.01 to about 2.0 percent weight of surfactant of the formula: ##STR8## wherein R b is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl of from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, R c is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl of from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, x is an integer of from 1 to 20 and M is a monovalent cation selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, lithium and ammonium, and about 0.01 to about 1.8 percent by weight of a soap selected from the group consisting of rosin soaps and naphthenic acid soaps and mixtures thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The aqueous solution of claim 7 wherein the said rosin soaps is selected from the group consisting of sodium abietate, potassium abietate, lithium abietate, ammonium abietate and mixtures thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The aqueous solution of claim 7 wherein the said naphthenic soap is selected from the group consisting of sodium naphthenate, potassium naphthenate, lithium naphthenate, ammonium naphthenate and mixtures thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
64 words
The aqueous solution of claim 7 wherein the said solution contains from 0.02 to about 1.0 weight percent of a coupling agent of the formula: R.sub.c O(R.sub.d O).sub.m H, wherein R c is alkyl of from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, R d is alkylene of from 2 to 3 inclusive carbon atoms and m is an integer of from 1 to 3 inclusive.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The aqueous solution of claim 7 wherein the said solution contains about 0.05 to about 1.0 weight percent of an alkalinity agent selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide.
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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) | 1983-03-11 | 1983-09-10 | 1984-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-03-11 | 1987-09-10 | 1988-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-03-11 | 1991-09-10 | 1992-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |