Phillips Petroleum Company

Iit Research Institute

Paul R Stapp

Jerry E Pardue

Mary B Chaney

Marvin M Johnson

Yulin Wu

James E Shaw

Darryl R Fahey

Jesse R Harris

Donnie G Brady

Keith A Williams

The present invention is directed to a process for the conversion of waste plastics and scrap rubber to a high quality synthetic crude oil which can be separated by fractionation into gasoline, diesel fuel and gas oils suitable as a feedstock to a catalytic cracker. The process generally includes the steps of heating the plastic scrap and scrap automotive tires in a hydrogen atmosphere at moderate temperatures and pressures. It has also been determined that the polymeric waste material must be present in combination with the scrap automotive tires to attain conversion of the scrap automotive tires to liquid hydrocarbon.

Conversion of automotive tire scrap to useful oils

The present invention is directed to a method for converting municipal waste containing plastics to a high quality synthetic crude oil which can be separated by fractionation into gasoline, diesel fuel and gas oils suitable as a feedstock to a catalytic cracker. The presence of cellulosic and proteinaceous waste materials in the municipal waste does not inhibit the process of the invention for converting the municipal waste into a synthetic crude oil. The process generally includes the steps of heating the municipal waste in a reaction gas, of a mixture of hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen or hydrogen at moderate temperatures and pressures.

Conversion of municipal waste to useful oils

Sulfonated phenolic compounds as well as sulfomethylated phenolic compounds, surfactant systems containing such compound and the use of such surfactant systems in post primary oil recovery are disclosed.

Sulfonated phenolic material and its use in post primary oil recovery

A process for preparing a pillared interlayered clay comprises heating a smectite clay containing material with a solution comprising a polymeric cationic hydroxy metal complex of a suitable metal (preferably aluminum) and a surfactant having the formula of R.sup.1 --O--(CHR.sup.2 --CHR.sup.2 O).sub.x H, wherein, R.sup.1 is an aliphatic C.sub.6 H.sub.13 --C.sub.24 H.sub.49 hydrocarbyl radical, R.sub.2 is hydrogen or the methyl group, and x is about 3-7. The thus prepared pillared interlayered clay exhibits high surface area, high methane storage capacity and high resolution in separating gaseous hydrocarbons.

Preparation of pillared clay

A hydrocarbon-containing feed stream, e.g., a heavy oil or residuum, is contacted under suitable reaction conditions with free hydrogen, hydrogen sulfide and at least one olefin polymer, preferably polypropylene or polystyrene, so as to produce a hydrocarbon product stream having increased API.sub.60 gravity and lower content of heavies. Generally, the amounts of impurities (sulfur, nitrogen, nickel and vanadium) contained in the feed stream are reduced in this hydrotreating process.

Hydrofining of oils

Sulfonated phenolic compounds as well as sulfomethylated phenolic compounds, surfactant system containing such compound and the use of such surfactant systems in post primary oil recovery are disclosed.

Sulfomethylated phenolic material useful in post primary oil recovery

A hydrocarbon containing feed stream, e.g., a heavy oil or residuum, is contacted under suitable reaction conditions with a free hydrogen containing gas and a selenium compound, preferably selenium dioxide, so as to produce a hydrocarbon stream having an increased API.sup.60 gravity. Generally the amounts of impurities (sulfur, coke precursors, metals) contained in the feed stream are reduced in this hydrotreating process.

Upgrading of residual oils using a selenium catalyst wherein sulfur and

A well composition and waterflood process comprising the use of an aqueous solution containing a small effective amount of an inorganic peroxide, such as hydrogen peroxide, and a fatty amine oxide followed by an aqueous drive fluid.

Enhanced oil recovery

A hydrocarbon containing feed stream, e.g., a heavy oil or residuum, is contacted under suitable reaction conditions with a carbon monoxide containing gas, so as to produce a hydrocarbon stream having a reduced level of metal impurities, especially nickel and vanadium compounds, and an increased API.sup.60 gravity, essentially in the absence of a catalyst or extractant.

Visbreaking of oils

A composition comprising the reaction adduct or neutralized product resulting from the reaction of a maleic anhydride and an oil containing a polynuclear aromatic compound is provided which, when applied to a metal surface, forms a corrosion-inhibiting film thereon. The composition is particularly useful in the treatment of down-hole metal surfaces in oil and gas wells to inhibit the corrosion of the metal.

Method for inhibiting corrosion

Arsenic impurities and, optionally, iron impurities are removed from a hydrocarbon-containing feed stream, preferably shale oil, by contacting it with an aqueous solution of a metal chlorate and an acid having a pKa of less than 3.

Dearsenating of shale oil with metal chlorates

A novel viscosity enhancing agent consisting essentially of urea and the sodium salt of an unsaturated carboxylic acid, and also, a viscosity enhanced fluid consisting essentially of salt water and the viscosity enhancing agent. In addition, a process for the enhanced recovery of oil employing the viscosity enhanced fluid as a mobility buffer.

Viscosity enhancement system

Arsenic impurities are removed from a hydrocarbon-containing feed stream, preferably shale oil, by contacting it with an aqueous solution of a polyacrylamide.

Dearsenating of shale oil with polyacrylamides

A novel surfactant is formed by reacting maleic anhydride with a polynuclear aromatic compound having a molecular weight of at least 155. A novel surfactant system useful in enhanced oil recovery containing the above surfactant is also provided. In addition, an improved process for the enhanced recovery of oil is provided utilizing the novel surfactant system.

Surfactant and process for enhanced oil recovery

In accordance with the present invention acidic materials, preferably naturally-occurring carboxylic acids from crude oils and acids formed by the oxidation of components of crude oils, are extracted from organic liquids containing the same by contacting the organic liquid with an aqueous polar organic solvent solution of potassium hydroxide. The polar organic solvents are preferably solvents selected from the group consisting of OH substituted hydrocarbons, SO substituted hydrocarbons, SO.sub.2 substituted hydrocarbons, NH.sub.2, NHR and NR.sub.2 substituted hydrocarbons, CONH.sub.2, CONHR and CONR.sub.2 substituted hydrocarbons and CN substituted hydrocarbons. The thus extracted acidic materials may be neutralized with an appropriate alkaline material to produce the corresponding salts thereof. In another aspect of the present invention the thus extracted acids or the salts thereof are utilized to recover oil from a subterranean oil reservoir by utilizing the same in conjunction with waterflooding operations, particularly an alkaline waterflooding technique or a surfactant waterflooding technique.

Growing community of inventors

Bartlesville, OK, United States of America

Paul R Stapp