Method for reducing acid in hydrocarbons
AssigneeCenovus Energy Inc.
InventorPablo Marcial CONTRERAS CARVALLO
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Abstract
A method, and use of, a surfactant is provided for reducing the total acid number (TAN) of produced hydrocarbons. The method may include introducing a surfactant to produced hydrocarbons, separating the surfactant from the produced hydrocarbons, and removing the surfactant and associated acid from the hydrocarbons. The cloud point of the surfactant may be used in the separating step of the method, and removal of the precipitate from the hydrocarbons may reduce the TAN of the hydrocarbons. The separation step may include forming an aqueous or intermediate phase that comprises the surfactant and associated acid.
Claims20
A method of reducing a total acid number (TAN) in produced hydrocarbons, the method comprising:
- introducing a surfactant to the produced hydrocarbons to solubilize, associate, complex, or encapsulate acid in the produced hydrocarbons;
- separating the surfactant and solubilized, associated, complexed, or encapsulated acid from the produced hydrocarbons;
- and
- removing the surfactant and solubilized, associated, complexed, or encapsulated acid.
A method of separating acid from produced hydrocarbons, the method comprising introducing a surfactant to the produced hydrocarbons to form an emulsion, microemulsion, intermediate phase, aqueous phase, or precipitate.
A method of separating acid from produced hydrocarbons, the method comprising:
- introducing a surfactant to the produced hydrocarbons to solubilize, associate, complex, or encapsulate acid in the produced hydrocarbons;
- and
- forming an intermediate or aqueous phase comprising the surfactant and solubilized, associated, complexed, or encapsulated acid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.