Polyepihalohydrin Emulsion Breakers for Cold Weather
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current reverse emulsion breakers are ineffective in extremely cold weather and have a narrow dosage window, requiring multiple products for complex emulsions, which are often incompatible and difficult to control, especially in oilfield production where oil-in-water emulsions are stable and interfere with water treatment and re-injection processes.
Innovation Solution
A reverse emulsion breaker composition comprising structurally modified polyepihalohydrins and their polyelectrolytes, which can be used alone or in combination with other demulsifiers, effectively resolving oil-in-water and complex emulsions by separating water and oil phases, even in challenging conditions like extremely cold temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If commonly used reverse emulsion-breaking chemicals are used, then emulsion resolution is achieved, but performance is unsatisfactory in extremely cold weather and viscosity control is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical structure parameters of the emulsion breaker by using polyepihalohydrins with specific molecular weights and compositions. This structural modification enables the breaker to maintain effectiveness across a wide temperature range, particularly in extremely cold weather where conventional breakers fail. The parameter change in molecular structure directly addresses the cold weather performance issue.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs composite polyepihalohydrin structures combining different functional groups and molecular weights in a single formulation. This composite approach allows the breaker to exhibit both low-temperature effectiveness and appropriate viscosity characteristics, resolving the contradiction between cold weather performance and viscosity control that plagues conventional single-component breakers.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple emulsion breakers are used for complex emulsions, then resolution capability is improved, but product compatibility and control difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The polyepihalohydrin emulsion breaker is designed with multi-functional capabilities that enable it to resolve both simple and complex emulsions, including water-in-oil and oil-in-water types. This universal breaker replaces the need for multiple specialized breakers, eliminating compatibility issues between different products while maintaining broad resolution capability across various emulsion types.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the functions of multiple traditional emulsion breakers into a single polyepihalohydrin formulation. By combining the capabilities of reverse emulsion breakers and standard emulsion breakers into one product, the invention simplifies the treatment process and eliminates the complexity of managing multiple incompatible chemicals.
3Quantity of substance
If treatment dosage is reduced, then cost and environmental impact are improved, but resolution effectiveness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The polyepihalohydrin structure is designed with multiple active sites and optimized molecular weight distribution that enhance its interaction efficiency with emulsion droplets. This structural optimization allows the breaker to achieve effective emulsion resolution at lower dosages compared to conventional breakers, reducing both cost and environmental impact while maintaining reliability.
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 polyepihalohydrin-based composition provides superior performance, is cost-effective, and allows for easier temperature control and reduced viscosity, enabling cleaner separation of water and oil with lower dosages, thus improving the efficiency and safety of oilfield operations.
Implementation Method 1
one or more of the polyepihalohydrins is a polyelectrolyte
Implementation Method 2
these compounds can aggregate on the water and oil interface and cause oil droplets to disperse in the water phase
Data Source
AI summary
A composition and method for resolving reverse emulsions and complex water external emulsions using one or more polyepihalohydrins, one or more polyelectrolytes thereof, and any combination thereof is disclosed and claimed. The disclosed invention may be used in any crude oil production process where such emulsions are encountered.