US 9,790,446 B2 · Application of a chemical composition for viscosity modification of heavy and extra-heavy crude oils

Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of a chemical composition to modify the physical properties (viscosity and interfacial tension) of heavy and extra-heavy crude oils, to increase their mobility. The chemical composition comprises or consists of a combination of systems based on ionic and non-ionic liquids, which may be pure or modified, mixed in an aqueous or organic medium as a dispersing agent, depending on the nature of the crude to be treated, together with a surfactant. The composition is mixed with the crude oil at a temperature between 5 and 100° C., at pressures from 1 atm (14.7 psi) up to about 680.2 atm (10,000 psi). The composition can be mixed with heavy crude oils, at the point of extraction from the well in the field, during the transport of crude oil in pipelines, or in the well discharge pipelines.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method for reducing the viscosity of heavy and extra-heavy crude oil, comprising the step of introducing a viscosity reducing composition into the heavy or extra heavy crude oil in an amount effective to reduce the viscosity of said crude oil, said composition comprising

an ionic liquid active compound of the general formula [CnH2n-mClN2O2]x[H2O]y where 5≦n≦10;
1≦m≦6 with the coefficients x, y calculated according to the volume of crude oil (z) being treated, and where x and y range from x+y=0.25z to x+y=0.66z, and where the ratio x/y is in the range between 2×10−4 and 1×10−3;
an aqueous- or organic-based dispersing agent in an amount of up to 35% vol based on the volume of said composition and 60 to 97% based on the volume of said active compound;
and
a surfactant in an amount to form a homogeneous emulsion, where said surfactant is an alkyl sulfonate-alkylamine, having an alkyl chain of 8 to about 14 carbons, and a cation formed by an isopropyl chain.

2 more elements

A method of reducing viscosity oft heavy and extra-heavy crude oil comprising introducing a viscosity reducing composition to the heavy or extra-heavy crude oil in an amount sufficient to reduce the viscosity, wherein said viscosity reducing compositions is selected from the group consisting of:

a. an active compound comprising an ionic liquid having the general formula [CnH2n-mClN2O2]x [H2O] and 10≦n≦14, ≦2m≦6, where the value of n is based on the properties of said crude oil to be treated;
or an ionic liquid polymerized with oxirane and having the general formula is CnH2n-mClN2O2Cl (C3H6O)2x, dispersed in an aqueous or organic dispersing media, to reduce the viscosity of the heavy crude oils of C2 and C5 type;
b. an active compound comprising an ionic liquid having the general formula CnHmNpO2, where 8≦n≦10, m=n+4 and 2≦p≦8, m=n+4 and 4≦p≦6, or an ionic liquid obtained by polymerizing with an oxirane and having the formula CnHmNpO2(C3H6O)2x, dispersed in aqueous or organic media for reducing the viscosity of heavy crude oils of type K, C or C1, C2, in a concentration determined by the relations [CnHmNpO2(C3H6O)2x]x [H2O]y with 9≦n≦12, 13≦m≦16;
c. an active compound comprising an ionic liquid having the general formula CnHmN2Op where 10≦n≦25, m=n+19 and 0≦p≦8, or an ionic liquid polymerized with an oxirane and having the formula CnHmN2Op (C3H6O)2x, dispersed and integrated together with a surfactant in aqueous or organic dispersing agent, for reduction of the viscosity of heavy crude oils of type C1 and C2, in a concentration dictated by the relations [CnHmN2Op(C3H6O)2x]x [H2O]y with 20≦n≦22, 40≦m≦42;
and
d. an active compound comprising an ionic liquid having the general formula CnHmN2Op where 5≦n≦12, m=2n−2 and 0≦p≦5 or an ionic liquid polymerized with an oxirane and having the formula CnHmN2Op(C3H6O)2x, dispersed in aqueous or organic media, and a surfactants for reducing viscosity of heavy crude oils of type C2 and C5, in a concentration determined by relations [CnHmN2Op(C3H6O)2x]x [H2O]y 8≦n≦10, 14≦m≦18.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Application of a chemical composition for viscosity modification of heavy and extra-heavy crude oils

Life of this patent

Application of a chemical composition for viscosity modification of heavy and extra-heavy crude oils

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18