US 8,063,004 B2 · Chemical composition of matter for the liquefaction and dissolution of asphaltene and paraffin sludges into petroleum crude oils and refined products at ambient temperatures and method of use

Abstract

A chemical composition of matter comprising a wax plasticizing agent (plasticizer) tributoxyethyl phosphate, a mixture of selected long chain fatty acids (preferably C10 to C22), and a mixture of selected low-surface tension surfactants, which when added in solution to crude oil or refined products has been shown to lower both the B.S. & W. (rag layer) and the coefficient of friction of crude oils and refined products. This chemical composition of matter is particularly useful as a wax liquefaction, dispersant, and solubilization agent for asphaltene and paraffins in crude oil and refined products. The reduction in the co-efficient of friction resulting from the addition of this product to crude oil will allow crude oil to pump through pipelines with a minimum amount of resistance due to friction (drag).

Claims42

Dependent claims

A substantially non-aqueous composition for reducing the viscosity of petroleum paraffin wax and/or asphaltenes found in petroleum, the composition comprising a blend of:

(a) a plasticizing agent, for plasticing wax or asphaltenes, comprising tributoxyethylphosphate (KP-140);
(b) a solubilizing agent, for solubilizing wax or asphaltenes, selected from the group consisting of:
crude oil, petroleum distillates, turpentine, pine oil, gas-to-liquid fuels (G.T.L.), vegetable oil, fatty acids, a blend of fatty acids, esterified fatty acids, amidified fatty acids, turpentine, pine oil, glycol ethers, and n-methyl-2-pyrrolidone aka M-PYROL;
and
(c) a surface active agent, capable of reducing the surface tension of the blend to an interfacial surface tension of less than 20 dynes per cm2, selected from the group consisting of nonionic ethoxylated alcohols surfactant (HLB ranging from about 10.0 to about 15.0), nonionic fluorosurfactants (HLB ranging from about 10.0 to about 13.0), and nonionic phosphate ester surfactants (HLB ranging from about 6.0 to about 10.0), wherein
the substantially non-aqueous composition includes not more than 0.5% water by weight.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Chemical composition of matter for the liquefaction and dissolution of asphaltene and paraffin sludges into petroleum crude oils and refined products at ambient temperatures and method of use

Life of this patent

Chemical composition of matter for the liquefaction and dissolution of asphaltene and paraffin sludges into petroleum crude oils and refined products at ambient temperatures and method of use

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims42