Baker Hughes Corporation

Other

Patrick J Breen

James W Towner

Hartley H Downs

Bruce N Diel

Gordon T Rivers

Christopher T Gallagher

Samuel Asomaning

Brian C Price

Geoffrey Charles Leonard

Alan F Clemmit

Suzanne M Beccari-Breen

Reaction products of polymeric alkyl phenol formaldehyde resins are useful as additives to inhibit or prevent the deposition or precipitation of asphaltenes in hydrocarbon fluids, particularly crude oil produced from a subterranean formation. These reaction products are formed by reacting a polymeric alkyl phenol formaldehyde resin with a co-reactant having functional groups including, but not necessarily limited to, amines, esters, silanes, ketones, epoxides, alkoxides, aryloxides, halogens, alkali metals, alkali earth metals, acetamides, non-metal oxides, metal oxides, where the co-reactant optionally has a carbon chain length between 1 and 22 and the reaction is conducted in the presence of at least one of various solvents. In one non-limiting embodiment, the co-reactant is a silicon derivative. The asphaltene inhibitors have utility when injected into a subterranean formation while oil production temporarily halts, a process called 'squeezing,' because they are retained to a degree in the formation as the crude oil is produced.

Asphaltene inhibitors for squeeze applications

Beach mat tote

It has been discovered that various ester and ether reaction products are excellent asphaltene deposition inhibitors or dispersants for use in hydrocarbons such as crude oils. The asphaltene inhibiting compounds may be (1) esters formed from the reaction of polyhydric alcohols with carboxylic acids; (2) ethers formed from the reaction of glycidyl ethers or epoxides with polyhydric alcohols; and (3) esters formed from the reaction of glycidyl ethers or epoxides with carboxylic acids.

Inhibition of asphaltene deposition in crude oil production systems

Polymer compositions made by reacting a polyol with an aromatic hydrocarbon containing only a single reactive functionality have been discovered to be useful demulsifiers for crude oil compositions. The aromatic hydrocarbon should have at least one aryl group and only one functionality reactive with a hydroxyl. The polyol may optionally be crosslinked prior to reaction with the aromatic hydrocarbon, and the crosslinking agent may be a diepoxide.

Polymer compositions for demulsifying crude oil

It has been surprisingly discovered that the use of two different conventional defoamers give surprisingly and synergistic results when used together to suppress oil-based foams. The use of both a fluorosilicone together with a non-fluorinated siloxane give both reduced liquid carry over into a gas stream and reduced gas carry under into a liquid stream in a separation process. The fluorosilicone and non-fluorinated siloxane may be added together to a system producing an oil-based foam, or separately in any sequence. On some oil-based foams, the inventive blend achieves a level of performance unattainable by conventional defoamers at any dose. In most cases, better overall performance is obtained with the inventive foam suppressing blend at lower doses and less cost than with conventional defoamers used single.

Method and composition for suppressing oil-based foams

Complex molecules of phosphonic acid ligands and transition metal ions are found to be surprisingly good at inhibiting and even preventing scale in aqueous solutions, crude oils, aqueous production fluids, heat exchange media, etc. Ethylenediaminetetra(methylenephosphonic) acid (ENTMP) complexed with copper (II) is a particularly effective scale inhibitor over wide pH and temperature ranges. Other useful metal complex molecules include various alkyleneamino(alkylphosphonic) acids, or salts thereof, complexed with transition metals such as nickel (II), cobalt (II), and zinc (II), in addition to copper (II). The active complexes may be termed phosphonate metal complexes, or in some forms, phosphonic acid metal complexes.

Metal ion complexes for use as scale inhibitors

Complex molecules of phosphonic acid ligands and transition metal ions are formed to be surprisingly good at inhibiting and even preventing scale in aqueous solutions, crude oils, aqueous production fluids, heat exchange media, etc. Ethylenediaminetetra(methylenephosphonic) acid (ENTMP) complexed with copper (II) is a particularly effective scale inhibitor over wide pH and temperature ranges. Other useful metal complex molecules include various alkyleneamino(alkylphosphonic) acids, or salts thereof, complexed with transition metals such as nickel (II), cobalt (II) and zinc (II), in addition to copper (II). The active complexes may be termed phosphonate metal complexes, or in some forms, phosphonic acid metal complexes.

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Houston, TX, United States of America

Patrick J Breen