Method and composition for removing elemental sulfur from high temperature, high pressure wells and flow lines
AssigneeStandard Oil Company (Indiana)
InventorsShelby P. Sharp, Lyman Yarborough
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A relatively nonvolatile, high molecular weight sulfur solvent produced by activating a dialkyl disulfide oil by the addition of a relatively high molecular weight predominantly aliphatic amine (e.g., a N-alkyl-1,3-propane diamine) and optionally further increasing the molecular weight by the addition of elemental sulfur. Such a sulfur solvent is particularly useful in sustaining a liquid phase at bottomhole conditions for high temperature, high pressure sour gas.
Claims5
A method of dissolving a deposit of elemental sulfur in a high temperature, high pressure sour gas well, characterized in that a four to twelve carbon atom aliphatic amine activated dialkyl disulfide sulfur solvent will not exist in a liquid phase at bottomhole conditions of said well for sufficient time to effect the removal of said sulfur deposit, involving the steps of:
- (a) preparing a relatively nonvolatile, high molecular weight fatty amine activated dialkyl disulfide sulfur solvent capable of existing in a liquid phase at said bottomhole conditions consisting of a dialkyl disulfide to which has been added an amount in excess of 30 parts by weight of a fatty amine, having in excess of twelve carbon atoms, per 100 parts by weight dialkyl disulfide, and
- (b) injecting said relatively nonvolatile, high molecular weight fatty amine activated dialkyl disulfide sulfur solvent prepared in step (a) into said sour gas well to dissolve and thus remove said sulfur deposit.
A composition consisting essentially of a dialkyl disulfide or mixtures of dialkyl disulfides to which has been added an amount in excess of 30 parts by weight of a fatty amine, having in excess of twelve carbon atoms, per 100 parts by weight dialkyl disulfide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.