Exxon Research and Engineering Company

Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company

Gerard P Canevari

Jan Bock

Max Leo Robbins

Robert J Fiocco

Kenneth W Becker

Richard R Lessard

Timothy J Nedwed

James R Clark

Anita George-Ares

An agent and a method for dispersing spilled oil, particularly on a body of water. The compound is a viscous dispersant liquid comprising a mixture of surfactants and a viscosifying agent that may be stored, shipped, mixed, and delivered on site using standard equipment and methods. The compound is released as a cohesive, persistent, visible, gel-like or paste-like liquid that floats on water. At least one method includes delivering the viscous dispersant liquid onto an oil spill in a body of water utilizing a jet airplane flying at over about 100 feet and spraying the liquid in large, pea-sized droplets.

Floating dispersant paste

A formulation of chemical surfactants, solvents and inorganic salts is effective for dispersing heavy oils in both salt and fresh water. The formulation comprises a mixture of a sorbitan ester of an aliphatic monocarboxylic acid, a polyoxyethylene adduct of a sorbitan monoester of an aliphatic monocarboxylic acid, an alkali metal salt of a dialkyl sulfosuccinate, a polyoxyethylene adduct of a sorbitan triester of a monocarboxylic acid, a solvent comprising a hydrocarbon and/or a glycol ether and an inorganic salt containing a soluble divalent cation such as calcium or magnesium.

Chemical dispersant for oil spills (LAW898)

An improved dispersant formulation for dispersing oil which contains a mixture of a sorbitan monoester of an aliphatic monocarboxylic acid, a polyoxyethylene adduct of a sorbitan monoester of an aliphatic monocarboxylic acid, an alkali metal salt of a dialkyl sulfosuccinate, a polyoxyethylene adduct of a sorbitan triester or a sorbitol hexaester of an aliphatic monocarboxylic acid and a solvent comprising at least one of a propylene glycol ether, ethylene glycol ether, water, alcohol, glycol, and a paraffinic hydrocarbon.

Chemical dispersant for oil spills

An improved dispersant formulation for dispersing oil which contains a mixture of a sorbitan monoester of an aliphatic monocarboxylic acid, a polyoxyethylene adduct of a sorbitan monoester of an aliphatic monocarboxylic acid, a water-dispersible salt of a dialkyl sulfosuccinate, a polyoxyethylene adduct of a sorbitan triester or a sorbitol hexaester of an aliphatic monocarboxylic acid and a glycol ether which has a maximum water solubility of 25 ml/100 ml as solvent.

A method for dispersing an oil spill on sea water, which method comprises applying to the oil spill surface an effective amount of: (i) a blend of one or more hydrophilic and one or more lipophilic surfactants so balanced that they will form microemulsions with the sea water and the oil to be dispersed; (ii) a solvent which is miscible with the oil to be dispersed and in which the blend of surfactants is substantially soluble; and (iii) from 0 to about 10 weight percent water, wherein the blend of surfactants is such that it lowers the interfacial tension between the oil to be dispersed and the sea water to less than about 250 mdynes/cm when the blend is used at a treat rate of less than about 1 to 100 by weight, based on the oil to be dispersed, wherein the solvent is a hydrocarbon solvent selected from the group consisting of No. 2 diesel fuel oil, kerosene and white oil.

Oil spill microemulsion dispersants

The present invention relates to a method for separating water and oil from a sludge which contains water, oil and solids which method comprises (1) contacting the sludge with an effective amount of 1 or more surfactants chosen and balanced to form certain types of microemulsions with equal volumes of decane and 3% aqueous NaCl, (2) mixing said surfactants and sludge with sufficient agitation to obtain a uniform mixture, (3) allowing said mixture to stand under gravitational settling or centrifugation to obtain the separation from the bottom sediment of an aqueous phase which may contain solubilized oil with or without an additional floating oil phase, (4) decanting separately the oil and aqueous phases and (5) further treating the aqueous phase with heat and/or NaCl to separate the solubilized oil or further treating the bottom sediment with selected surfactants to release adhering oil.

Unique and effective separation technique for oil contaminated sludge

Disclosed is a method for dispersing an oil spill on sea water which method comprises applying to the oil spill surface an effective amount of: (i) a blend of one or more hydrophilic and one or more lipophilic surfactants whose ratio is so adjusted that they will form microemulsions with the sea water and the oil to be dispersed, (ii) a solvent which is miscible with the oil to be dispersed and in which the blend of surfactants is substantially soluble, and (iii) from 0 to about 10 wt. % water. The blend of surfactants is such that it lowers the interfacial tension between the oil to be dispersed and the sea water to less than about 250 mdynes/cm when the blend is used at a treat rate of less than about 1 to 100 by weight, based on the weight of the oil to be dispersed.

The present invention consists of treating the surface of a viscous semi-solid oil or water-in-viscous oil emulsion with a chemical dispersant composition that has a viscosity which is sufficiently high that the dispersant will remain in contact with the oil for a time sufficient to disperse it in the water. Thus, in one embodiment of the present invention a chemical dispersant composition for dispersing viscous, almost semi-solid oils in water comprises a dispersing agent and an oil soluble polymer in a ratio whereby said composition has a viscous, sticky, gel-like consistency.

Chemical dispersant for viscous oils

Granular media are featured which cleanse oil from oil-in-water emulsions. These media comprise a glass or filter sand substrate. The substrate is treated with at least one trialkoxysilane wherein the alkoxy moiety comprises from 1 to 2 carbons. The granular media are backwashable to refresh their lipophilic properties.

Filter media and method for cleansing entrained oils from oil-in-water

A very effective composition for inhibiting vapor losses of stored hydrocarbons comprises a mixture of a surfactant, such as a foaming agent, and a polyglycol. A method for retarding evaporation of volatile hydrocarbons from a body of liquid hydrocarbon material is provided by forming a thin film of these compositions on the surface of the body of liquid hydrocarbons.

Composition and method for suppressing vapor loss of volatile

A very effective composition for inhibiting vapor losses of stored hydrocarbons comprises a mixture of a surfactant, such as a foaming agent, and a polyglycol. Indeed a method for retarding evaporation of volatile hydrocarbons from a body of liquid hydrocarbon material is provided by forming a thin film of these compositions on the surface of the body of liquid hydrocarbons.

A method of raising the propulsion efficiency of a propeller by reducing viscous drag. Basically, a fluid polymer solution is injected along the leading edge of the power face of the propeller blade to form a boundry layer solution adjacent the power face, thereby suppressing turbulence. A propeller suitable for practicing the above method is also disclosed.

Efficiency ship propeller

A demulsifier and method for use in oil-spill recovery and clean-up that rapidly and efficiently separates a water/crude oil emulsion into its water and crude oil phases. The demulsifier comprises various mixtures of two components A and B. A is comprised of at least one wetting agent formulated to displace one liquid from the surface of a bi-wetted solid disposed at a boundary of a water droplet and oil phase continuum with another liquid via a reduction of the liquid-solid interfacial tension; and B is comprised of at least one surfactant effective in displacing an indigenous emulsifying surfactant film by another surfactant that permits water droplet coalescence and separation from said oil phase continuum.

Method and demulsifier composition

A very effective composition for inhibiting vapor losses of stored hydrocarbons comprises a mixture of a fluorosurfactant, a silicone surfactant, a polyglycol, and a glycol ether. Indeed, a method for retarding evaporation of volatile hydrocarbons from a body of liquid hydrocarbon material is provided by forming a thin film of these compositions on the surface of the body of liquid hydrocarbons.

An improved disc recycling type of centrifuge apparatus which includes means for converting the flow direction of the recycled underflow and causing the recycled underflow to self impact.

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Cranford, NJ, United States of America

Gerard P Canevari