Transport of heavy oil

Abstract

Provided herein are, inter alia, heavy crude oil emulsion compositions and methods of making the same. The compositions and methods provided herein are particularly useful for the transport of heavy crude oils.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 770,962 filed Feb. 28, 2013, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety and for all purposes.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Heavy crude oils are defined as oils having an API (American Petroleum Industry) gravity of less than 20, and are viscous at lower temperatures when produced from a reservoir. The viscous heavy crude oils are difficult to transport in pipelines especially at low temperature. The viscosity of heavy crude oils at low temperature can be millions of cp. Methods used to lower the viscosity of heavy crude oils to facilitate their transport include, for example, expensive procedures involving heating the oil to a high temperature (e.g. 100° C.) before, and perhaps during the transport in a vessel (e.g. pipeline). Prior attempts to form low viscosity emulsions of heavy crude oils have had limited success in part due to difficulties in maintaining ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004]Provided herein, inter alia, are heavy crude oil emulsion compositions including a heavy crude oil, a co-solvent, a basic agent and water and having surprisingly low viscosities at low water content. Due to their low viscosity, the emulsion compositions provided herein are particularly useful as a means for transporting heavy crude oils at ambient temperatures. Compared to existing transport techniques used in the art, the present emulsion compositions are highly versatile, stable and cost effective.

Problems solved by technology

The viscous heavy crude oils are difficult to transport in pipelines especially at low temperature.

Methods used to lower the viscosity of heavy crude oils to facilitate their transport include, for example, expensive procedures involving heating the oil to a high temperature (e.g. 100° C.) before, and perhaps during the transport in a vessel (e.g. pipeline).

Prior attempts to form low viscosity emulsions of heavy crude oils have had limited success in part due to difficulties in maintaining and controlling such emulsion, especially at ambient temperatures and during transport.

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