Anionic Polymer Clarifier for Oilfield Water Demulsification
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Solution Overview
Problem
The petroleum industry faces challenges in demulsifying and clarifying oil-water emulsions efficiently, particularly due to equipment fouling and the need for effective polymers that vary by location and conditions, with existing solutions often leading to chemical and biological incrustation.
Innovation Solution
Aqueous water clarifier composition comprising a latex dispersion of an anionic polymer with specific monomers, a chelating agent, and a base, which is designed to separate oil and water phases while minimizing equipment fouling and maintaining pumpability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional demulsifiers and clarifiers are used to separate oil-water emulsions, then phase separation is achieved, but equipment fouling and chemical incrustation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical parameters of the clarifier composition by using a copolymer with specific monomer ratios (acrylic acid 30-70%, methacrylic acid 10-40%, itaconic acid 5-20%, maleic acid 5-20%) and controlling molecular weight (5,000-50,000), thereby achieving effective phase separation while reducing equipment fouling compared to conventional polymers
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite polymer structure by copolymerizing multiple monomers (acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, itaconic acid, maleic acid) to achieve synergistic effects that simultaneously provide demulsification capability and reduced fouling tendency, which single polymers cannot achieve
2Productivity
If high molecular weight polymers are used for clarification, then flocculation effectiveness increases, but pumpability decreases and equipment fouling increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the molecular weight parameter to a specific range (5,000-50,000) and controls the copolymer composition to achieve the right balance between flocculation effectiveness and pumpability, preventing both excessive viscosity and inadequate clarification performance
3Reliability
If location-specific polymers are used for demulsification, then demulsification effectiveness improves, but device complexity and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a universal clarifier composition with a multi-monamer copolymer structure that can effectively handle various oil-water emulsion types and conditions across different locations, eliminating the need for location-specific polymer selection and simplifying operations
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The composition effectively demulsifies and clarifies oil-water emulsions, reducing equipment fouling and improving flow characteristics, while being less toxic and stable across varying temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
Breaking oil-water emulsions means separation of the oil and water phases. The term 'breaking' implies that the emulsifying films around the droplets of water or oil are 'broken' so that coalescing may occur and result in separation of the oil and water phases over time
Implementation Method 2
Clarification of such demulsified oilfield water typically involves use of acrylate polymers, cationic polymers, cationic polyelectrolytes, or water-soluble amphiphilic polymers to flocculate suspended oily and particulate materials and, thereby, obtain clear(er) water
Implementation Method 3
aqueous water clarifier composition comprises i) a latex dispersion of an anionic polymer... ii) a chelating agent, preferably sodium salt of EDTA or the sodium salt of citric acid
Implementation Method 4
separation of the oil and water phases over time, for example, by gravitational settling
Data Source
Figure 1~3C
Figure 4A~5
Figure 6A~7C
AI summary
Disclosed are aqueous water clarifier compositions used to demulsify and clarify oil-water dispersions and emulsions derived from petroleum industry operations. The disclosed aqueous water clarifier composition comprises an anionic polymer, a chelating agent, optionally a base, and optionally an alcohol. Specifically the anionic polymer is a latex dispersion of an anionic polymers comprise an anionic polymer comprising: A) 2 to 80 percent by weight of at least one C3-C8 α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer; B) 15 to 80 percent by weight of at least one nonionic, copolymerizable α,β-ethylenically unsaturated monomer; C) 0 to 50 percent by weight of one or more of the following monomers: C1) at least one nonionic vinyl surfactant ester; or C2) at least one nonionic, copolymerizable α,β-ethylenically unsaturated monomer having longer polymer chains than monomer B), or C3) at least one nonionic urethane monomer; and, optionally, D) 0 to 5 percent by weight of at least one crosslinker. Said aqueous water clarifier compositions demonstrate good pumpability with reduced tendency to foul pumps.