Method of reducing the viscosity of hydrocarbons
US9315715B2 · kind B2 · utility
1Cited by
10References
20Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 20, 2009 |
| Grant date | Apr 19, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 11, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF17D1/16
- WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Methods of treating hydrocarbon fluids to reduce the apparent viscosity of hydrocarbon fluids encountered in petroleum operations and reducing deposits within a well annulus or a pipeline are disclosed. The method comprises contacting such fluids with a hydrophobically modified polysaccharide to create water external emulsions. The disclosed hydrophobically modified polysaccharides have been demonstrated to reduce interfacial tension to below 65 mN/m and thereby improve the transportability of inherently viscous hydrocarbon fluids, such as heavy crude oils.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.