Intevep, S.a.

The British Petroleum Company, P.l.c.

Other

Maria Luisa Chirinos

Spencer Edwin Taylor

Ignacio A Layrisse

Alistair Stewart Taylor

Hercilio Rivas

Domingo R Polanco

Mayela Rivero

Alan Stockwell

Lirio Quintero

Antonio E Cardenas

Daysi Rojas

Ignacio A Layrisse R

Humberto Marquez

Jose Salazar P

Euler Jimenez G

Jorge L Grosso

Emilio Guevara

David E Graham

Jose P Salazar

Maria I Briceno

Spencer E Taylor

G Euler Jimenez

Lirio Q De Paz

An HIPR emulsion of bitumen in water is prepared by a method which comprises directly mixing 70 to 98% by volume of bitumen having a viscosity in the range 200 to 500,000 mPa.s at the mixing temperature with 30 to 2% by volume of an aqueous solution of an emulsifying surfactant, percentages being expressed as percentages by volume of the total mixture. Mixing is effected under low shear conditions in the range 10 to 1,000 reciprocal seconds in such manner that an emulsion is formed comprising highly distorted bitumen droplets having mean droplet diameters in the range 2 to 50 micron separated by thin films of water. The emulsions can be cut back to provide stable emulsions of lower bitumen content which are useful in roadmaking and the formation of protective coatings.

Bituminous emulsions

An HIPR emulsion of bitumen in water is prepared by a method which comprises directly mixing 70 to 98% by volume of bitumen having a viscosity in the range 200 to 500,000 mPa.s at the mixing temperature with 30 to 2% by volume of an aqueous solution of an emulsifying surfactant, percentages being expressed as percentages by volume of the total mixture. Mixing is effected under low shear conditions in the range 10 to 1,000 reciprocal seconds in such manner that an emulsion is formed comprising highly distorted bitumen droplets having mean droplet diameters in the range 2 to 50 micron separated by thin films of water. The emulsions can be cut back to provide stable emulsions of lower bitumen content which are useful in road-making and the formation of protective coatings.

Method of preparing HIPR bituminous emulsions

An HIPR (high internal phase ratio) emulsion of oil in water is prepared by directly mixing 70 to 98% by volume of a viscous oil having a viscosity in the range 200 to 250,000 mPa.s at the mixing temperature with 30 to 2% by volume of an aqueous solution of an emulsifying surfactant or an alkali, percentages being expressed as percentages by volume of the total mixture. Mixing is effected under low shear conditions in the range 10 to 1,000 reciprocal seconds in such manner that an emulsion is formed comprising highly distorted oil droplets having mean droplet diameters in the range 2 to 50 micron separated by thin interfacial films. The emulsions are much less viscous than the oils from which they are prepared and may, optionally after dilution, be pumped through a pipeline.

Preparation of HIPR emulsions

An HIPR (high internal phase ratio) emulsion of oil in water is prepared by directly mixing 70 to 98% by volume of a viscous oil having a viscosity in the range 200 to 250,000 mPa.s at the mixing temperature with 30 to 2% by volume of an aqueous solution of an emulsifying surfactant or an alkali, percentages being expressed as percentages by volume of the total mixture. Mixing is effected under low shear conditions in the range 10 to 1,000 reciprocal seconds in such manner that an emulsion is formed comprising highly distorted oil droplets having mean droplet diameters in the range 2 to 50 micron separated by thin interfacial films. The emulsions are much less viscous than the oils from which they are prepared and may, optionally after dilution, be pumped through a pipeline. Viscous crude oils may be transported by this method.

Preparaton of HIPR emulsions and transportation thereof

Methods for the formation, processing, transportation and end use of a hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion.

Viscous hydrocarbon-in-water emulsions

Asphaltenes and/or wax and/or water are removed from crude oil by contacting the crude oil with an organic solvent to dissolve the crude oil and precipitate asphaltenes and/or wax and separate the oil and water. Solvent is then separated from the deasphalted and/or dewaxed and/or dehydrated crude oil. Removing asphaltenes, wax and/or water reduces the viscosity of the crude oil and it can then be transported, e.g. by pumping through a pipeline, with less expenditure of energy.

Treatment of viscous crude oils

The salt content of a heavy crude oil is reduced by a method which comprises the steps of

Method of desalting crude oil

The salt content of crude oil is reduced by washing crude oil containing residual salt water with wash water of lower salinity than the water present in the crude oil and allowing the resulting mixture to settle into a layer of crude oil of reduced salt water content and a layer of saline water. The quantity of wash water employed is greater than 7.5% by volume of the crude oil. The saline water may be recycled and a proportion removed from the recycle stream and a corresponding quantity of water of lower salinity added. Washing with relatively large quantities of water results in the formation of a less stable emulsion. Consequently, less severe conditions are required to break it to recover the desalted crude oil.

Method for desalting crude oil

A process for the preparation of a natural liquid fuel and, more particularly, a process that allows a high sulfur natural fuel to be converted into energy by combustion with a substantial reduction in sulfur oxide emissions.

Process for the production and burning of a natural-emulsified liquid

Method for the formation, processing, transportation and end use of a hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion.

Growing community of inventors

Caracas, Venezuela

Maria Luisa Chirinos