Solvent-Induced Separation of Oilfield Emulsions
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsTimothy Neal Harvey, Cato Russell McDaniel, Katerina V. Newman
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Abstract
Systems and methods for separation of oleaginous fluids, aqueous fluids, and solids from drilling or other oilfield emulsions by solvent extraction. A method for separation of oilfield emulsions comprising: providing an oilfield emulsion prepared for use in a wellbore and/or recovered from a wellbore; mixing the oilfield emulsion with at least a solvent to form at least a mixture; and separating the mixture to at least partially recover an oleaginous phase of the oilfield emulsion.
Claims20
A method for separation of oilfield emulsions comprising:
- providing an oilfield emulsion prepared for use in a wellbore and/or recovered from a wellbore;
- mixing the oilfield emulsion with at least a solvent to form at least a mixture;
- and
- separating the mixture to at least partially recover an oleaginous phase of the oilfield emulsion.
The method of claim 4 wherein the oleaginous continuous phase comprises at least one oleaginous liquid selected from the group consisting of a diesel oil, a crude oil, a paraffin oil, a mineral oil, an olefin, an ester, an amide, an amine, a polyolefin, a polydiorganosiloxane, a siloxane, an organosiloxane, an ether, an acetal, a dialkylcarbonate, a hydrocarbon, and combinations thereof, wherein the volume to volume ratio of the oleaginous continuous phase to the discontinuous phase is in the range of from 20:80 to 95:5.
A separation system comprising:
- a mixing unit fluidically coupled to a separation feed and a solvent feed, wherein the separation feed comprises an oilfield emulsion;
- and
- a separation unit fluidically coupled to the mixing unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.