Replacing Glycol Solvents with Dibasic Ester Blends
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mutual solvents used in the oil field, such as ethyleneglycolmonobutyl ether (EGMBE) and glycol ethers, are environmentally unfriendly, toxic, and pose health risks, necessitating a safer and more biodegradable alternative.
Innovation Solution
A blend of dioxolane compounds, dialkyl methylglutarate, dialkyl ethylsuccinate, dialkyl adipate, and alkyldimethylamide, along with other components, is used to replace glycol-based solvents in oil field applications, offering improved toxicological and ecological profiles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If glycol-based mutual solvents (EGMBE, propylene glycol n-butyl ether) are used in oil field applications, then good solvent performance and miscibility with oil/water/acid-based treatment fluids are achieved, but environmental friendliness deteriorates and toxicity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by replacing glycol-based solvents with a blend of dibasic esters (adipate, glutarate, succinate) and dioxolane compounds. This parameter change maintains solvent performance while improving environmental safety and reducing toxicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite solvent system combining multiple dibasic esters and dioxolane compounds in specific ratios. This composite approach achieves both good solvent performance and environmental friendliness, resolving the contradiction between reliability and harmful factors.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If glycol-based mutual solvents are used, then effective removal of heavy hydrocarbon deposits and control of wettability is achieved, but biodegradability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical structure parameters by using esters of dibasic acids (adipic, glutaric, succinic acids) which have better biodegradability. The solvent blend maintains effective deposit removal and wettability control while improving biodegradation characteristics.
3Reliability
If EGMBE and glycol ethers are used as mutual solvents, then good solubility in oil, water and acid-based treatment fluids is achieved, but health hazards and teratogenic effects increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dibasic esters and dioxolane compounds that are safer and more environmentally benign than traditional glycol solvents. These alternative compounds maintain the required solubility properties while eliminating health hazards and teratogenic effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical composition from glycol-based to ester-based solvents, which fundamentally alters the toxicological profile while preserving the solubility characteristics needed for oil field applications.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A method for replacing glycol-based mutual solvents in an oil field application comprising: obtaining an alternative solvent and solvent blends and replacing all or a portion a glycol-based mutual solvent, which forms a component of an oil field formulation, with the alternative solvent or solvent blends, wherein the oil field formulation can be utilized in an oil field application.