C1-C10 Alcohol Demulsifier for Oil-Based Mud Phase Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for novel, effective, and environmentally friendly methods for the recovery and recycling of the brine phase from drilling fluids, particularly in low solid or solid-free drilling systems, where expensive salts like CsCl and CsCOOH are used to increase mud density, and existing demulsifiers are not efficient or environmentally friendly.
Innovation Solution
A composition comprising C1-C10 alcohols or alkoxylated C1-C10 alcohols, combined with an oil-based mud thinner such as polymerized hydroxy fatty acids, effectively breaks emulsions in drilling muds, allowing for the separation of oil from aqueous brine and recovery of salt components, with enhanced demulsifying effects when used in low solid oil-based muds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If existing demulsifiers are used to break emulsions in drilling mud, then phase separation can be achieved, but the process requires large amounts of material and is not environmentally friendly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the demulsifier by using C1-C10 alcohols with specific molecular weights and structures, combined with polymerized hydroxy fatty acids having controlled molecular weights (3,000-50,000 g/mol). This parameter optimization allows achieving phase separation with minimal material usage while maintaining high efficiency and environmental compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite demulsifier system by combining C1-C10 alcohols (simple molecular structure) with polymerized hydroxy fatty acids (complex polymeric structure). This composite approach synergistically enhances demulsifying efficiency, allowing effective phase separation with reduced material quantities compared to using single components.
2Reliability
If expensive salts like CsCl and CsCOOH are used to increase mud density in low solid drilling systems, then sufficient mud density is achieved, but the cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the recovery and recycling of expensive salt components (CsCl, CsCOOH) from drilling mud by effectively breaking the emulsion. The demulsifier separates the aqueous brine phase containing the salts from the oil phase, allowing the salts to be recovered and reused, thereby reducing the need for continuous addition of expensive salts and lowering overall operational costs.
3Productivity
If conventional demulsifiers are used for emulsion breaking, then separation is achieved, but environmental toxicity is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs C1-C10 alcohols, which are simple, readily biodegradable compounds with low environmental persistence and toxicity. These short-chain alcohols serve as effective demulsifiers that break down emulsions efficiently while being environmentally benign, replacing conventional demulsifiers that often contain persistent and toxic chemical structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention optimizes the molecular parameters of the demulsifier by selecting C1-C10 alcohols with specific chain lengths and combining them with polymerized hydroxy fatty acids. This parameter control ensures sufficient demulsifying power while maintaining low environmental toxicity, as the molecular structure is designed to be biodegradable and non-persistent in the environment.
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 proposed solution achieves phase separation with minimal material usage, is environmentally non-toxic, and allows for the recovery of brine and salt components from drilling fluids, reducing the need for expensive salts and improving the efficiency of drilling fluid recycling.
Implementation Method 1
the demulsifier of the invention is effective because relatively little material is required to achieve phase separation
Implementation Method 2
achieves phase separation with minimal material usage
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a composition comprising (a) a C1-C10 alcohol and/or an alkoxylated C1-C10 alcohol and (b) an oil based mud thinner. The invention further relates to a use of said composition or of a C1-C10 alcohol and/or an alkoxylated C1-C10 alcohol as demulsifier preferably as demulsifier in an oil based drilling fluid.