Recovery and separation of crude oil and water from emulsions
AssigneesWilliam Marsh Rice University, Nalco Company
InventorsOlina G. Raney, John Hera, Jr., Duy T. Nguyen, Michael K. Poindexter, George J. Hirasaki, Clarence A. Miller
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Abstract
A composition and method demulsify a produced emulsion from anionic surfactants and polymer (SP) and alkali, surfactants, and polymer (ASP). The produced emulsion is demulsified into oil and water. In one embodiment, the composition includes a surfactant. The surfactant comprises a cationic surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, or any combinations thereof.
Claims8
A method of demulsifying an emulsion comprising oil and water, the method comprising:
- adding a composition to an oil-in-water emulsion, wherein the composition comprises a combination of a cationic alkyl ammonium halide surfactant and an amphoteric betaine surfactant comprising cocoaminopropionic acid, wherein the composition further comprises from about 100 ppm to about 20,000 ppm cationic alkyl ammonium halide surfactant, and wherein the halide of the cationic alkyl ammonium halide surfactant does not comprise chlorine.
A method of demulsifying an emulsion comprising oil and water, the method comprising:
- adding a composition to an oil-in-water emulsion, wherein the composition comprises a combination of a cationic alkyl ammonium halide surfactant and an amphoteric betaine surfactant, wherein the composition further comprises from about 100 ppm to about 20,000 ppm cationic alkyl ammonium halide surfactant, wherein the halide of the cationic alkyl ammonium halide surfactant does not comprise chlorine, and wherein the composition further comprises an organic solvent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.