Screening demulsifiers for crude live oil-water emulsions
US11105722B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 3, 2019 |
| Grant date | Aug 31, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 28, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2021/8405
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Certain implementations of the subject matter can be implemented to screen demulsifiers. A live emulsion of a live hydrocarbon sample and a water sample is flowed through a capillary viscometer. The live hydrocarbon sample includes dissolved gases retrieved from a hydrocarbon-carrying reservoir. While flowing the live emulsion through the capillary viscometer, a demulsifier sample is flowed through the capillary viscometer. The demulsifier sample is capable of causing breakdown of the live emulsion. Using the capillary viscometer, change in a viscosity of the live emulsion over time resulting from the breakdown of the live emulsion due to the demulsifier sample is measured. Multiple images of the breakdown of the live emulsion over time are captured. A strength of the live emulsion is classified based, in part, on the change in the viscosity of the live emulsion over time and on the plurality of images.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.