Demulsifier Composition for Subterranean Emulsion Breakdown
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Solution Overview
Problem
The presence of oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsions in subterranean treatment fluids increases viscosity and decreases effective permeability, necessitating effective demulsification methods that do not rely on post-production chemicals.
Innovation Solution
A demulsifier composition comprising an alkanolamide surfactant, an alkoxylated alcohol surfactant, and an amine-oxide surfactant is introduced, which can be used to break emulsions rapidly at lower temperatures, improving permeability and reducing emulsion-induced viscosification in subterranean treatment fluids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If emulsions are present in subterranean treatment fluids, then the fluids can maintain stability and coverage, but the viscosity increases and effective permeability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the chemical composition parameters of the treatment fluid through demulsifier injection. The demulsifier composition changes the interfacial tension parameters between oil and water phases, causing emulsion breakdown and restoring fluid permeability while maintaining operational stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the harmful emulsion phase from the treatment fluid by introducing demulsifier chemicals that separate the oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsions into distinct phases. This extraction removes the viscosity-increasing component while preserving the beneficial fluid coverage and stability characteristics.
2Productivity
If demulsifier composition is injected to break emulsions, then permeability improves and viscosity decreases, but additional chemicals are introduced into the system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by optimizing the demulsifier concentration and composition ratios to achieve effective emulsion breakdown with minimal chemical injection rates. The specific surfactant blend parameters are tuned to maximize demulsification efficiency while minimizing total chemical quantity required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by formulating a demulsifier composition containing multiple surfactant types (anionic, cationic, and nonionic surfactants) working synergistically. This composite approach enhances demulsification effectiveness per unit of chemical injected, reducing the overall quantity of substances needed compared to single-component demulsifiers.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If post-production chemicals are used to eliminate emulsions, then emulsion removal is achieved, but production costs increase and environmental impact worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of emulsions into a beneficial outcome by using the emulsion's own interfacial properties against it. The demulsifier composition exploits the emulsion's surface tension characteristics to trigger phase separation, turning the stabilizing emulsion structure into the mechanism for its own destruction and elimination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting the chemical composition parameters of the demulsifier to match the specific emulsion type (oil-in-water or water-in-oil). By optimizing surfactant HLB values and concentration parameters, the treatment achieves effective emulsion removal with minimal chemical dosing, reducing both cost and environmental footprint.
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 demulsifier composition effectively breaks emulsions, enhancing the permeability of subterranean treatment fluids and produced fluids, while minimizing the use of chemicals and maintaining stability under high salinity and temperature conditions.
Implementation Method 1
A demulsifier composition comprising an alkanolamide surfactant, an alkoxylated alcohol surfactant, and an amine-oxide surfactant is introduced, which can be used to break emulsions rapidly at lower temperatures
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments disclosed relate to demulsifier compositions for treatment of subterranean formations or produced petroleum comprising an emulsion. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method of treating a subterranean formation. The method includes placing in the subterranean formation a demulsifier composition. The demulsifier composition includes an alkanolamide surfactant that is a (C1-C50)hydrocarbyl amide having groups R1 and R2 substituted on the amide nitrogen, wherein R1 and R2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of —H, —(C1-C50)hydrocarbyl, and —(C1-C50)hydrocarbylene-OH, wherein at least one of R1 and R2 is —(C1-C50)hydrocarbylene-OH. The demulsifier composition includes an alkoxylated alcohol surfactant that is a (C1-C50)hydrocarbyl-OH having a —((C2-C3)alkylene-O)n—H group on the —OH group, wherein n is about 1 to about 100. The demulsifier composition also includes an amine-oxide surfactant. At each occurrence the (C1-C50)hydrocarbyl and (C1-C50)hydrocarbylene are substituted or unsubstituted and are independently selected.