# US 2021/0340448 A1 · Treatment composition and method for reducing viscosity of hydrocarbons

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- Number: US 2021/0340448 A1
- Document ID: US20210340448A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/863,145
- Filed: 2020-04-30
- Published: 2021-11-04
- Earliest claimed: 2020-04-30
- Assignees: Wellrenew, LLC
- Applicants: WellRenew, LLC
- Inventors: Charles Bullick Talley
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210340448A1

## CPC

- C10G 33/04: with chemical means
- C09K 8/524: organic depositions, e.g. paraffins or asphaltenes
- C10G 75/04: by addition of antifouling agents
- C10G 2300/302: Viscosity
- C10G 2300/304: Pour point, cloud point, cold flow properties
- C10G: CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION (cracking to hydrogen or synthesis gas C01B; cracking or pyrolysis of hydrocarbon gases to individual hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof of definite or specified constitution C07C; cracking to cokes C10B); RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES
- C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE

## Abstract

A treatment composition for reducing viscosity, pour point, and precipitate content of a hydrocarbon fluid at temperatures below 90° F., preferably 34° F. to 90° F. The treatment composition includes one or more mixed fatty acid methyl esters, an aromatic mixture consisting essentially of C9 to C15 aromatic compounds, and a main solvent consisting essentially of low odor kerosene, low odor diesel, or a mixture of low odor diesel or low odor kerosene. The treatment composition solubilizes hydrocarbon deposits for removal. The treatment composition also solubilizes paraffins and asphaltenes in a hydrocarbon fluid to prevent or mitigate the formation of hydrocarbon deposits.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A composition for reducing a viscosity, a pour point, or a precipitate content of a hydrocarbon at a temperature below 90° F., comprising:
about 10% to about 25% by weight of one or more mixed fatty acid methyl esters;
about 2% to about 15% by weight of an aromatic mixture consisting essentially of C9 to C15 aromatic compounds; and
a main solvent consisting essentially of low odor kerosene, low odor diesel, or a mixture of low odor kerosene and low odor diesel.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1, wherein the one or more mixed fatty acid methyl esters comprise soy methyl ester.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1, wherein the one or more mixed fatty acid methyl esters comprise palm kernel methyl ester.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1, wherein the main solvent consists essentially of a low odor kerosene.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1, wherein the main solvent consists essentially of a low odor diesel.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1, wherein the main solvent consists essentially of a mixture of low odor kerosene and low odor diesel.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1, further comprising one or more additives.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition does not include a surfactant.

### Claim 9

A method of reducing a viscosity, a pour point, or a precipitate content of a hydrocarbon fluid at a temperature below 90° F., comprising:
a) injecting a treatment composition into a hydrocarbon fluid, wherein the treatment composition comprises: about 10% to about 25% by weight of one or more mixed fatty acid methyl esters; about 2% to about 15% by weight of an aromatic mixture consisting essentially of C9 to C15 aromatic compounds; and a main solvent consisting essentially of low odor kerosene, low odor diesel, or a combination of low odor kerosene and low odor diesel.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the treatment composition solubilizes paraffins and asphaltenes in the hydrocarbon fluid at a temperature of about 34° F. to about 90° F. to prevent or mitigate the formation of hydrocarbon deposits.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the treatment composition is injected into the hydrocarbon fluid at a concentration of at least about 1 oz/barrel.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the treatment composition is injected into the hydrocarbon fluid at a concentration of about 1 oz/barrel to about 4 oz/barrel.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the hydrocarbon fluid is crude oil.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the hydrocarbon fluid is contained in a flow line, a wellbore, or a vessel, and wherein the treatment composition is injected into the flow line, the wellbore, or the vessel.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein a temperature within the flow line, the wellbore, or the vessel surrounding the hydrocarbon deposit is about 34° F. to about 60° F.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein a temperature within the flow line, the wellbore, or the vessel surrounding the hydrocarbon deposit is about 60° F. to about 90° F.

### Claim 17

A method of removing a hydrocarbon deposit from a flow line, a wellbore, a vessel, or a surface at a temperature in the range of 34° F. to 90° F., comprising:
a) contacting the hydrocarbon deposit with a treatment composition, wherein the treatment composition comprises: about 10% to about 25% by weight of one or more mixed fatty acid methyl esters; about 2% to about 15% by weight of an aromatic mixture consisting essentially of C9 to C15 aromatic compounds; and a main solvent consisting essentially of low odor kerosene, low odor diesel, or a combination of low odor kerosene and low odor diesel;
b) solubilizing the hydrocarbon deposit with the treatment composition at a temperature in the range of 34° F. to 90° F.;
c) removing the hydrocarbon deposit from the flow line, the wellbore, the vessel, or the other surface.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the hydrocarbon deposit contains paraffins.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the hydrocarbon deposit contains asphaltenes.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the treatment composition is introduced at a concentration in a fluid of at least about 1 oz/barrel.

### Claim 21 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the treatment composition is introduced at a concentration in a fluid of about 1 oz/barrel to about 4 oz/barrel.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, wherein a temperature within the flow line, the wellbore, the vessel, or the other surface surrounding the hydrocarbon deposit is about 34° F. to about 60° F.

### Claim 23 (depends on 20)

The method of claim 20, wherein a temperature within the flow line, the wellbore, the vessel, or the other surface surrounding the hydrocarbon deposit is about 60° F. to about 90° F.