Conoco Inc.

Nicholas O Wolf

Roger L Hudgins

Kang Yang

Patrick H Fitzgerald

Charles R Clark

Kenneth W Pober

D Philip Cords

David S Seidner

Bob L Carlberg

B L Carlberg

William D Nash

A method of emulsion breaking comprising contacting an emulsion with a substrate having adhered thereto an alkylphenol-polyethylene oxide-acrylate polymer. The emulsion breaking material is used to separate water-in-oil emulsion by coalescence.

Emulsion breaking using alkylphenol-polyethylene oxide-acrylate polymer

Scaling of a production well in a non-carbonate subterranean reservoir is inhibited by injecting into the reservoir the water soluble surfactant metal salt containing a terminal metal ion which is adsorbed on the surfaces of the reservoir and thereafter injecting an inhibitor selected from the group consisting of phosphonates and polymeric carboxylates. The inhibitor reacts with the metal, precipitating as the metal phosphonate or polymeric carboxylate which slowly dissolves in production water to inhibit the formation of scale.

Reservoir scale inhibition

Scaling of a production well in a non-carbonate subterranean reservoir is inhibited by injecting into the reservoir a mixture of a phosphonate inhibitor and a metal chelate where the metal chelate has a lower stability constant (Ke) than the phosphonate inhibitor.

Inhibition of reservoir scale

A microwave-based emulsion treating system comprising a microwave energy source and a microwave applicator for treating an oil-water emulsion is disclosed. The applicator includes an internal coalescer medium for enhancing the effects of the microwave energy in separating the emulsion.

Microwave emulsion treater with internal coalescer

A microwave-based emulsion treating system comprising a microwave energy source, a microwave applicator for treating an oil-water emulsion, a wave guide between the microwave energy source and the microwave applicator, a circulator in the wave guide, a separator vessel for receiving and separating microwave-treated emulsion, and means for removing an oily water phase from the separator, circulating it to a water load chamber on the circulator, and returning it from the water load chamber to the separator.

Microwave emulsion treater with oily water recycle for water load

Sulfonate surfactants are removed from crude oil or crude oil emulsions, such as may be produced using enhanced recovery methods, by mixing with an aqueous solution of synthetic brine such as ammonium chloride, allowing the phases to separate, and removing the aqueous phase containing brine and sulfonates from the organic phase containing hydrocarbons.

Use of ammonium chloride solutions to remove sulfonate surfactants from

Oil and water emulsions can be more rapidly separated when exposed to electromagnetic radiation in the range of from 1 to 300 millimeters, commonly called microwaves. The microwave treatment can be in conjunction with other separating and heating devices such as skimmers, gun barrel treaters, heater treaters, and the like.

Use of microwave radiation in separating emulsions and dispersions of

This invention relates to secondary or tertiary recovery processes for the recovery of oil from subterranean oil-bearing reservoirs. More particularly, this invention relates to an improved method for the recovery of petroleum from underground reservoirs, which petroleum contains sulfonate surfactants and water and for a method of removing said sulfonate surfactants and water from petroleum produced from said recovery processes.

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Ponca City, OK, United States of America

Nicholas O Wolf