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US 2022/0193737 A1Published application
Preventing fouling of crude oil equipment
AssigneeConocoPhillips Company
InventorCharles A. FRERMAN
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A uniform oleophobic or oleo- and hydrophobic film is applied to equipment used in the petroleum industry. The methods can be applied to new equipment or equipment pulled from service, with the application process being performed in a controlled environment or the field. Applicator tools for efficient delivery and application of cleaners, solvents, and films used in the coating process are also described.
Claims21
1) A method of preventing organic and inorganic fouling of crude oil equipment, comprising:
- a) physically cleaning a crude oil contacting surface of a piece of crude oil equipment to remove solid material, oxidation and/or paraffin deposits;
- b) degreasing and/or washing said crude oil contacting surface;
- c) rinsing and drying said crude oil contacting surface;
- d) activating said crude oil contacting surface by applying an activating agent to expose or produce oxide and/or hydroxyl moieties;
- e) rinsing and drying said activated surface;
- f) coating said dried activated surface with a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) solution comprising one or more organic molecules and a solvent, each organic molecule having a head and a tail, wherein said head forms a covalent bond with said oxide and/or hydroxyl moieties and said tail is both oleophobic and hydrophobic;
- g) drying said coated surface to produce an oil and water repelling surface;
- and
- h) using said crude oil equipment in the production, transport or processing of crude oil, wherein less organic and inorganic fouling of said oil and water repelling surface occurs than would occur in a similar item of crude oil equipment that was not treated by said method.
6 more elements
10) A method of preventing organic and inorganic fouling of crude oil equipment, comprising:
- a) cleaning a crude oil contacting surface (“surface”) of a piece of crude oil equipment with a high pressure water wash to remove solids;
- b) degreasing said surface with an aqueous alkaline degreaser that is optionally heated;
- c) washing said surface with an aqueous surfactant or detergent that is optionally heated;
- d) activating said surface with an aqueous solution of a base;
- e) rinsing and drying said surface with an alcohol and optionally with heat;
- f) applying a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) or a self-assembled monolayer of phosphonate (SAMP) product to said surface after said cleaning, degreasing, washing, activating and rinsing and drying steps;
- and
- g) optionally repeating said application 3 times to ensure complete coverage.
5 more elements
12) A method of inhibiting organic and inorganic deposition on crude oil equipment, comprising:
- a) cleaning a crude oil contacting metal surface of a crude oil equipment with heat, detergent, caustic solution, mechanically or combinations thereof to remove contamination, oxidation and/or paraffin deposits;
- b) applying methanol to said cleaned surface and drying said surface;
- c) activating said dried surface with a hydroxide ion containing solution, wherein said activated surface has free and exposed oxide and/or hydroxyl moieties;
- d) drying said activated surface;
- e) coating said dried activated surface by applying a SAM solution comprising an alcohol and at least one molecule having and a head and a tail;
- i) said head for covalently bonding with said oxide and/or hydroxyl moieties on said surface and selected from the group consisting of a phosphinic acid, a phosphonic acid, sulphonic acid, phosphoric acid, carboxylic acid;
- and
- ii) said tail being both oleophobic and hydrophobic and selected from the group consisting of perfluorinated hydrocarbon backbone;
- f) drying said coated surface;
- and
- g) deploying said oil equipment so that said coated surface contacts crude oil, wherein organic and inorganic fouling is reduced as compared to a similar item of oil equipment not treated with said method.
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21) A method of preventing organic and inorganic fouling of oil equipment, comprising:
- a) activating an oil contacting surface of an item of oil equipment by applying an activating agent to expose or produce oxide and/or hydroxyl moieties using a rotating brush soaked in said activating agent;
- b) rinsing and drying said activated surface;
- c) coating said dried activated surface with a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) solution using a rotating brush soaked in said SAM solution, said SAM solution comprising one or more organic molecules and a solvent, each organic molecule having a head and a tail, wherein said head forms a covalent bond with said oxide and/or hydroxyl moieties and said tail is both oleophobic and hydrophobic;
- and,
- d) drying said coated surface to produce an oil and water repelling surface;
- and
- e) using said item of oil equipment in the production, transport or processing of crude oil, wherein less organic and inorganic fouling of said oil and water repelling surface occurs than would occur in a similar item of oil equipment that was not treated by said method.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.