Screening demulsifiers for crude oil-water emulsions
US11262281B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 3, 2019 |
| Grant date | Mar 1, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 17, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2021/8405
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Certain implementations of the subject matter can be implemented as a method of screening demulsifiers for live crude oil-water emulsions. A live emulsion of a hydrocarbon sample and a water sample is flowed through a capillary viscometer. The live emulsion 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 causes 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.