One-step process for transforming a water-in-oil emulsion into an oil-in-water emulsion
A process is described for the production of an oil-in-water emulsion for pipeline transmission which comprises: (a) producing a hydrocarbon crude including a water-in-oil emulsion; (b) adding to the hydrocarbon crude when the crude is at a temperature of from about 100/sup 0/ to about 200/sup 0/F, an emulsifier system capable of forming and sustaining an oil-in-water emulsion at the temperature and at ambient pipeline transmission temperatures. The amount of emulsifier system added is sufficient to form and sustain an oil-in-water emulsion having a selected water content of from about 15 percent to about 35 percent by weight water and a viscosity sufficiently low for pipeline transmission; (c) agitating the hydrocarbon crude including a water-in-oil emulsion and the added emulsifier system, to form an oil-in-water emulsion; and (d) separating any excess water from the formed oil-in-water emulsion.
- Assignee:
- Occidental Petroleum Corp., Los Angeles, CA
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4627458
- OSTI ID:
- 6961200
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
020400* -- Petroleum-- Processing
022000 -- Petroleum-- Transport
Handling
& Storage
ADDITIVES
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
EMULSIFICATION
EMULSIFIERS
EMULSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MEDIUM TEMPERATURE
MOISTURE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PIPELINES
REMOVAL
TRANSPORT
VISCOSITY
WATER
WATER REMOVAL