Ethoxylated Alcohol Formulation for Emulsion Resolution in Acidic Brine
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current emulsion-modifier formulations for oil production are often toxic, environmentally unfriendly, and complex, failing to effectively prevent or resolve emulsions in high brine and acidic environments, which complicates oil recovery and poses formation damage risks.
Innovation Solution
A formulation comprising ethoxylated alcohols and solvents, specifically designed to function as non-emulsifiers, weak emulsifiers, or demulsifiers, effectively preventing or resolving water and oil emulsions in high brine or acidic environments without the need for additional surfactants or environmentally harmful solvents, utilizing a combination of ethoxylated alcohols and ethers that can be used in both micro-emulsion and 100% active formats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional emulsion-modifier formulations are used, then emulsion prevention or resolution is achieved, but toxicity and environmental harm increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates harmful components (formaldehyde, phenol-formaldehyde resins, amines, quaternary salts, polyamines, polyimines, and BTEX solvents) from conventional emulsion-modifier formulations, replacing them with non-toxic alternatives that maintain effectiveness while removing toxicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the formulation by specifying precise weight percentage ranges for each component (water: 70-95%, alcohol: 2-30%, ethoxylated alcohol: 2-30%, ester: 1-20%, ether: 1-20%) to achieve optimal performance with non-toxic ingredients
2Adaptability or versatility
If complex formulations are used to provide application possibilities over a wide range of circumstances, then versatility is improved, but formulation complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal formulation that can function as non-emulsifier, weak emulsifier, or demulsifier depending on the specific crude oil and downhole conditions, eliminating the need for multiple specialized products while maintaining broad applicability across different oil grades and environments
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple functional components (water, alcohol, ethoxylated alcohol, ester, and ether) into a single integrated formulation that provides both prevention and resolution capabilities, simplifying the overall system while expanding application possibilities
3Object-affected harmful factors
If environmental friendliness is improved by removing harmful solvents, then environmental harm is reduced, but formulation effectiveness in harsh environments may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces specific intermediaries (ethoxylated alcohols with 3-20 ethylene oxide units and specific ether/ester components) that mediate between the environmental friendliness requirement and the harsh environment effectiveness requirement, enabling the formulation to function in high brine and acidic conditions without harmful solvents
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes concentration parameters of each component (particularly ethoxylated alcohol at 2-30% and alcohol at 2-30%) to ensure sufficient effectiveness in harsh environments while maintaining environmental friendliness through the absence of toxic substances
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 formulation effectively prevents or resolves emulsions in high brine and acidic environments, avoiding formation damage and being applicable to a wide range of crude oils, with the advantage of being environmentally friendly and cost-effective, while avoiding the need for polymer-based compositions.
Implementation Method 1
The present invention relates to formulations containing non-ionic surfactants or mixtures thereof and the use of such formulations for the prevention, breakage/resolving or modification of emulsions
Data Source
AI summary
A formulation according to the invention that can be utilized in the prevention and/or resolving of water and oil emulsions, is described. These formulations have been found to modify water and oil emulsions, and to be very effective non-emulsifiers/weak emulsifiers and/or demulsifiers, specifically in high brine or highly acidic environments, for water and crude oil emulsions. The formulation comprises at least one ethoxylated alcohol with a molecular structure as shown in formula 1: R—O—(C2H4O)n—H (1) wherein R comprises linear or branched alkyl groups having from 6 to 18 carbon atoms and n is from 3 to 20.