Use of carbon dioxide in a crude oil pipeline

Patent · Tue Aug 03 04:00:00 EDT 1971

OSTI ID:5540949

Styring, Jr, R E; Whorton, L P

A low-viscosity, low-melting point fluid containing at least 50% by vol of carbon dioxide and less than 10% by vol of ethane is mixed with crude oil and the mixture is transported in a pipeline. At pipeline conditions, the fluid rich in carbon dioxide is a liquid and sufficiently soluble in the crude oil to accomplish a reduction in viscosity and pour point of the crude oil. This method is especially advantageous for crude oil pipelines where cold weather renders the crude practically unflowable. The method also provides a way of conserving natural gas produced with the crude oil and a source of carbon dioxide for use in a producing area requiring carbon dioxide for injection to increase oil recovery. All of these benefits are especially useful in Alaska where oil from the North Slope of Alaska could be piped to the oil-producing area of Cook Inlet. (16 claims)

• Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Co.
• Patent Number(s): US 3596437
• OSTI ID: 5540949
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
03 NATURAL GAS
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Plowshare-- (-1989)
ADDITIVES
ALASKA
ALKANES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON DIOXIDE INJECTION
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
DISPERSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
ETHANE
FEDERAL REGION X
FLUID FLOW
FLUID INJECTION
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HYDROCARBONS
LIQUIDS
MELTING POINTS
MINERAL RESOURCES
MISCIBLE-PHASE DISPLACEMENT
MIXTURES
NATURAL GAS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
NORTH AMERICA
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PIPELINES
QUANTITY RATIO
RECOVERY
RESOURCE CONSERVATION
RESOURCES
SOLUBILITY
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
TRANSITION TEMPERATURE
USA
VISCOSITY
WEATHER
WELLS