Method of transporting viscous hydrocarbons
AssigneeConoco Inc.
InventorGifford G. McClaflin
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Abstract
An improvement in the method of transporting viscous hydrocarbons through pipes is disclosed. Briefly, the improvement comprises adding water containing an effective amount of a phosphate ester of a specific block copolymer. The resulting emulsion has a lower viscosity and is more easily transported.
Claims9
In the method of pumping a viscous hydrocarbon through a pipe the improvement which comprises forming an oil-in-water emulsion by adding to said hydrocarbon from about 20 to about 80 volume percent of an aqueous solution containing an effective amount, in the range of about 100 to about 5,000 parts per million, based on said hydrocarbon, of a phosphate ester of a block copolymer which is represented by the formula ##STR5## wherein R is a C.sub.2 to C.sub.30 alkyl group,
- EO is an ethylene oxide unit,
- PO is a propylene oxide unit,
- x is a number in the range of about 2 to about 7,
- y is a number in the range of about 2 to about 5,
- A=OH,
- m is an integer of 1 to 3
- n is an integer of 0 to 2 with the sum of m+n being 3
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.