Texaco Exploration Canada Ltd.

Mahendra S Patel

Aleksy Sacuta

A process for recovering oil from either water-bituminous petroleum emulsions or from crude petroleum emulsions having a pH of 10 or less by adding thereto an optimum amount of non-ionic, water soluble polyethylene oxide polymers at a pH of 10 or less, and separating the oil from water. To resolve bituminous petroleum emulsions, the process is carried out at between 150.degree. F and 210.degree. F and a diluent is added to reduce the petroleum viscosity. The minimum effective concentration of the polymers used decreases as their molecular weight increases. In a modification of the process, an effective amount of an alkaline earth metal halide such as calcium chloride is added to improve coagulation and separation of any clay present.

Growing community of inventors

Edmonton, Canada

Mahendra S Patel