Olefin-Acrylate Copolymers for High-Wax Crude Oil Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Crude oil with high wax content and low temperatures leads to wax crystallization, causing flow issues and equipment downtime in pipelines, as existing chemical additives are not effective enough to handle increasingly difficult crude oils with higher pour points and wax content.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating olefin-acrylate (OLAC) copolymers, derived from alpha olefins and hydrocarbyl(meth)acrylic acid derivatives, into liquid hydrocarbon compositions to act as pour point depressants, modifying the fluidity and flow characteristics by reacting these monomers to form specific polymer units that reduce wax crystallization and adhesion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing chemical additives (pour point depressants and wax dispersants) are used to modify wax morphology and reduce crystal formation, then the temperature of wax formation is depressed and crystal size is reduced, but they are not effective enough to handle increasingly difficult crude oils with higher pour points and wax content
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the pour point depressant by incorporating long-chain olefin units (C18-C50) into the polymer structure alongside acrylate units. This compositional parameter change enables the additive to effectively handle crude oils with higher pour points and wax content that existing additives cannot manage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite polymer structure combining olefin units and acrylate units in a copolymer. This composite material approach integrates the wax-modifying capabilities of olefin units with the flow-improving properties of acrylate units, providing enhanced effectiveness for high-wax crude oils compared to single-component additives
2Object-generated harmful factors
If mechanical methods are used to remove wax deposits from pipelines, then wax deposits can be removed, but equipment down-time occurs resulting in loss of production and increased engineering costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical wax removal methods with a chemical solution - the olefin-acrylate copolymer additive that prevents wax crystallization and adhesion through chemical action. This substitution eliminates the need for mechanical intervention, preventing equipment downtime and production loss while continuously managing wax deposits
3Productivity
If crude oil is flowed through undersea pipelines at low temperatures (approximately 4° C.), then offshore crude oil production can be maintained, but paraffins and alkanes precipitate as large crystals that agglomerate to form gel structures blocking the pipe
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by incorporating the olefin-acrylate copolymer additive into the crude oil before it enters the undersea pipeline. The additive proactively prevents wax crystal formation and gel structure development at low temperatures, countering the harmful effects before they can occur during transportation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the crude oil system by introducing the polymer additive that modifies the crystallization behavior of paraffins and alkanes. This parameter change prevents the phase separation and gel formation that would otherwise occur at undersea temperatures, maintaining fluid flow and productivity
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 OLAC compositions effectively depress the pour point of liquid hydrocarbon compositions, improving flowability and reducing wax-related blockages in pipelines, even in high-wax crude oils, by inhibiting wax crystallization and lattice development, thus enhancing pipeline pumpability and reducing equipment downtime.
Implementation Method 1
methods useful for lowering the pour point of wax-containing mixtures of liquid hydrocarbons
Implementation Method 2
depress the temperature of formation of the wax crystals and can modify the wax morphology
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to materials useful for lowering the pour point of wax-containing mixtures of liquid hydrocarbons, as well as compositions of and methods for preparing the same. More particularly, this invention relates to the use in liquid hydrocarbons of OLAC compositions containing units derived from (i) hydrocarbyl(meth)acrylic acid derivatives and (ii) ethylenically unsaturated aliphatic Nα-olefin monomers having up to 50 carbon atoms. The OLAC compositions are useful for modifying the fluidity and flow characteristics of liquid hydrocarbons, and more particularly, for improving the pipeline pumpability of liquid hydrocarbons.