Occidental Petroleum

Rama R Prasad

Theodore C Frankiewicz

There is provided a process for the formulation of an oil-in-water emulsion from a produced hydrocarbon crude which includes a water-in-oil emulsion. A substantially oil insoluble nonyl phenol emulsifier is added with agitation to the crude when such crude is at a temperature of from about 100.degree. to about 200.degree. F., in a quantity sufficient to formulate and then sustain an oil-in-water emulsion at pipeline conditions of temperature and shear. Water-content is from about 15 percent to about 35 percent by weight. Viscosity is sufficiently low for pipeline transportation. Any excess water is separated from the formed oil-in-water emulsion prior to pipelining. The oil-in-water emulsion is one that can easily be dewatered and desalted to the necessary marketing specifications at the downstream end of the pipeline, using known technology.

One-step system for transforming a water-in-oil emulsion into an

There is provided a process for the formulation of an oil-in-water emulsion from a produced hydrocarbon crude which includes a water-in-oil emulsion. A surface-active chemical system is added with agitation to the crude when such crude is at a temperature of from about 100.degree. to about 200.degree. F., in a quantity sufficient to formulate and then sustain an oil-in-water emulsion at pipeline conditions of temperature and shear. Water-content is from about 15 percent to about 35 percent by weight. Viscosity is sufficiently low for pipeline transportation. Any excess water is separated from the formed oil-in-water emulsion prior to pipelining. The oil-in-water emulsion is one that can easily be dewatered and desalted to the necessary marketing specifications at the downsteam end of the pipeline, using known technology.

Growing community of inventors

Bakersfield, CA, United States of America

Rama R Prasad