Abstract: A composition for absorbing liquids comprises an organic material derived from at least one substance selected from the group consisting of plant gums and plant mucilages. The absorbing compositions are applied as powders, pastes, or sheets.

Abstract: Heavy crude oil emulsions are converted to lighter essentially sulphur-free and nitrogen-free hydrocarbons by Group VI B or Group VIII B metal compounds or complexes along with carbon monoxide, hydrogen or mixtures of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and broken without the necessity for prior emulsion treatment and separation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for extracting water mixed with a liquid fluid. The process is characterized in particular by carrying out the following steps:forming a dispersion of hydrates of a gas within the fluid, these hydrates being formed from water and gas in a sufficient quantity, the gas being suitable for forming hydrates;separating the hydrates from at least most of the fluid, the hydrates possibly being with a remaining part of the fluid, andbreaking down the hydrates previously concentrated in order to obtain gas and water.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for drying liquid hydrocarbons using cellulosic membranes.

Abstract: A method of dehazing a contained body of petroleum distillate by removing suspended water droplets from the distillate phase, or releasing free water trapped in an emulsion settled from the distillate phase, a detergent having been added to the petroleum distillate, comprising the step of adding to the distillate an effective amount of a vinyl copolymer which includes both a hydrophilic and hydrophobic monomer.

Abstract: A composition for absorbing liquids comprises a quantity of fibrous material from plants and coated with a waterproofing composition, such as with sodium methyl silicate some embodiments include organic material derived from at least one substance selected from the group consisting of plant gums and plant mucilages in admixture with particulate plant fibers. The absorbing compositions are applied to hydrocarbon liquids, such as oil and the like on water.

Abstract: An improvement has been discovered in a process for solvent dewaxing a hydrocarbon lubricating oil stock. Solvent dewaxed oils are steam stripped and then vacuum dehydrated at 2.5 psia at the steam stripping temperature of 350.degree. F. to 450.degree. F. Nitrogen or natural gas having a dew point of -100.degree. F. or lower is contacted with the oil at 0.5 to 1 SCF/bbl. A solvent free lubricating oil is produced which is water haze free in cold storage.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process of recycling condensate from a hydrocarbon or alcohol synthesis, wherein the condensate comprises water and contaminants such as lower molecular weight hydrocarbons, alcohols, and other oxygenates. A hot gaseous mixture comprising CH.sub.4 and steam contacts the condensate so as to strip the contaminants from the condensate. The stripped contaminants, CH.sub.4, and steam are separately recovered as a gaseous stream from the remaining purified water. The recovered CH.sub.4 -containing gaseous stream may be used in synthesis gas (CO/H.sub.2) generation processes with the generated synthesis gas then being used in a hydrocarbon synthesis process to produce heavy hydrocarbons.

Abstract: To demulsify water-containing crude oil, selected polyoxyalkylene-polysiloxane block copolymers are described.The demulsifiers are used in amounts of less than 200 ppm based on the crude oil.

Abstract: In a process for decontaminating radioactively polluted lubricant oil, (a) the lubricant oil to be decontaminated is mechanically filtered, (b) an acid solution of the salts of the elements, the radionuclides of which are to be removed, is added, and (c) a dose of a precipitating agent that cooperates with the elements, the radionuclides of which are to be removed, producing a salt of low solubility, is added, (d) the acid salt solution is intimately mixed with the lubricant oil after step (b), (e) the depositing aqueous phase is discharged after step (b), before step (c), (f) additional intimate mixing is carried out after the dosed admixture of step (c), and (g) finally the precipitation products are separated by centrifugation from the lubricant oil.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided to extract oil and brine fluids from a representative porous sample. The petrophysical properties of these extracted oil and brine fluids may be determined by conventional or other testing methods. The oil fluids and brine fluids are separated from each other by separate distillation and condensation, and by removing the solvent from the oil fluids. The amounts of oil and brine fluids from the sample may then be separately determined. The apparatus uses a desiccant container at the top of a soxhlet tower beneath the cold finger (which condenses the solvent gases that have been evaporated) in a pressure soxhlet extractor to capture any brine or water and thus, separate the brine or water from the oil and/or solvent which remain in the soxhlet extraction chamber at the bottom of the soxhlet tower.

Abstract: Asphaltenes and/or wax and/or water are removed from crude oil by contacting the crude oil with an organic solvent to dissolve the crude oil and precipitate asphaltenes and/or wax and separate the oil and water. Solvent is then separated from the deasphalted and/or dewaxed and/or dehydrated crude oil.Removing asphaltenes, wax and/or water reduces the viscosity of the crude oil and it can then be transported, e.g. by pumping through a pipeline, with less expenditure of energy.

Abstract: The salt content of a heavy crude oil is reduced by a method which comprises the steps of(a) mixing 70 to 98% by volume of a heavy crude oil having a viscosity in the range 200 to 250,000 mPa.s at the mixing temperature with 30 to 2% by volume of an aqueous solution of an emulsifying surfactant or an alkali, percentages being expressed as percentages by volume of the total mixture; mixing being effected under low shear conditions in the range 10 to 1,000 reciprocal seconds, in such manner that an HIPR emulsion is formed comprising distorted oil droplets having mean droplet diameters in the range 2 to 50 micron separated by aqueous films,(b) breaking the resulting emulsion, and(c) separating the resulting mixture into a layer of relatively salt-free oil and a layer of relatively salt-enhanced water.Heavy crude oils are desalted by the above method without requiring a hydrocarbon diluent.

Abstract: A method for removing impurities and residual moisture from a petroleum fuel comprising:(a) circulating said fuel through a first filter apparatus made up of a cellulosic material containing a solid organic acid and a chromate compound; and(b) circulating said fuel from step (a) through a second filter apparatus containing a cellulosic material containing water; and(c) during steps (a) and (b) maintaining an electric grounding of said first filter apparatus via a DC power supply placed in between said first and second filters.

Abstract: The specification describes and claims a method for the de-emulsification of emulsions of water and crude oil which comprises treating the emulsion with an organosiloxane, a siloxane unit having a quaternary ammonium group R'N.sup.+ (R.sup.2).sub.3 X.sup.- linked to its silicon atom, R' represents a divalent hydrocarbon group linking the silicon and nitrogen atoms, each R.sup.2 represents an alkyl group having up to 20 carbon atoms or a polyoxyalkylene chain having 3 to 50 oxyalkylene groups, and X.sup.- represents a halogen ion. Examples of organosiloxanes given include those composed exclusively of the said units, and copolymers composed of these siloxane units and siloxane units according to the general formula R.sub.b (SiO.sub.4-b)/2 in which each R is a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon group of up to 10 carbon atoms, and b has the value 0. 1, 2 or 3, for example those according to the average general formulaR.sub.3 SiO(R.sub.2 SiO).sub.x (RZSiO).sub.y SiR.sub.

Abstract: A method of de-hazing distillate fuel is disclosed which comprises adding to the fuel a solution of a halide salt dissolved in an alcohol, and an alcohol soluble organosiloxane. The halide salt may be the chloride of magnesium, cadmium, copper, nickel or the tetra methyl ammonium group, for example the salt may have the formula MgCl.sub.2.6H.sub.2 O or (CH.sub.3).sub.4 NCl. The organosiloxane may be a cyclic, linear or branched material and may have e.g. a minor amount of siloxane units having the general formula ##EQU1## and a minor amount of siloxane units having the general formula ##EQU2## in which each R represents a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon group of up to ten carbon atoms, a has the value 0, 1, 2, or 3, b has the value 0, 1 or 2, c has the value 1 or 2, and each Z represents a group linked to the silicon atom and comprising a functional organic group. Each group Z may be a group selected from the polyoxyalkylene group R'(OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2).sub.p (OCH.sub.2 CH.CH.sub.3).sub.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for separating an organic material from a composition comprising said organic material intermixed with particulate solids, the process comprising advancing a light hydrocarbon fluid through said particulate solids at an effective rate to drive at least some of said organic material from said particulate solids, adding water to said composition containing particulate solids and residual organic material to produce a second composition, and adding an oxidizing agent to said second composition in an amount sufficient to remove substantially all of the residual organic material.

Abstract: A method for controlling the formation of fouling deposits in a liquid hydrocarbonaceous medium during processing at elevated temperatures is disclosed. The method comprises adding to said medium an antifoulant compound comprising an alkaline earth alkyl phosphonate phenate sulfide, an alkyl phosphonate phenate sulfide, an amine neutralized alkyl phosphonate phenate sulfide, or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Use of nitrogen-containing tridithiocarbamic acid compositions as reverse demulsifiers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a facile method of oil removal from an oil-water emulsion containing suspended solid particulates. In general, the method utilizes a volatile solvent which is liquefied under pressure and forms a two-phase system when in contact with the emulsion.

Abstract: The specification discloses a method of de-hazing distillate fuel which comprises adding to the fuel an organosiloxane having at least one quaternary ammonium substituted siloxane unit having the general formulaR.sub.a ZSiO.sub.(3-a)/2 (i)in which a has the value of 1 or 2, each R represents a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon group of up to 10 carbon atoms provided that one of the Rs may be a hydroxyl group when a has the value 2, Z represents a quaternary ammonium groupR'N.sup.+ (R.sup.2).sub.3 X.sup.- (ii)linked to the silicon atom of the siloxane unit, R' represents a divalent hydrocarbon group linking the silicon and nitrogen atoms, each R.sup.2 represents an alkyl group having up to 20 carbon atoms and X.sup.- represents a halogen ion. Preferred organosiloxanes also comprise siloxane units according to the general formulaR.sub.b SiO.sub.

Abstract: In the solvent refining of a residual oil, a mixture of refined oil and refining solvent, and a mixture of pitch impurities and refining solvent are introduced into separate zones of a combination tower operated at a pressure of no greater than 100 psig to recover refining solvent from each of the mixtures. The combination tower is preferably A modified crude distillation tower from a preexisting crude unit, whereby idle crude units may be converted to solvent refining.

Abstract: A pretreatment process for removal of contaminants from a light hydrocarbon feedstock is presented. The feedstock is passed to a first adsorption zone containing a molecular sieve and thereafter passed to a second adsorption zone containing activated alumina. The process produces a hydrocarbon feedstock substantially free of sulfur compounds, oxygenates, and water. Such a process finds utility as a feed pretreatment step preceding a catalytic isomerization process.

Abstract: Asphaltenes and/or wax and/or water are removed from crude oil by contacting the crude oil with an organic solvent to dissolve the crude oil and precipitate asphaltenes and/or wax and separate the oil and water. Solvent is then separated from the deasphalted and/or dewaxed and/or dehydrated crude oil.Removing asphaltenes, wax and/or water reduces the viscosity of the crude oil and it can then be transported, e.g. by pumping through a pipeline, with less expenditure of energy.

Abstract: The apparatus provides for a housing mountable on a trailer for conducting the process in-situ. A pump withdraws substantially all hydrocarbon-contaminated matter from the oil waste pit and delivers it into a lower chamber formed in the housing, wherein the hydrocarbon-contaminated matter is separated from the heavy solid particles and heavy salt water. The hydrocarbon-containing mixture, after being separated in the lower housing is delivered into the upper chamber formed in the housing and heated to facilitate separation, by gravity, of hydrocarbons, water and fine particles into various layers for subsequent withdrawal from the housing. The process of withdrawal of the hydrocarbon-contaminated mixture continues until hydrocarbon content of the oil waste pit is reduced to such degree that the waste pit becomes substantially hydrocarbon-free and is environmentally safe.

Abstract: Sulfonate surfactants are removed from crude oil or crude oil emulsions, such as may be produced using enhanced recovery methods, by mixing with an aqueous solution of synthetic brine such as ammonium chloride, allowing the phases to separate, and removing the aqueous phase containing brine and sulfonates from the organic phase containing hydrocarbons.

Abstract: Oil is dehydrated and/or desalted by the influence of a dewatering and desalting formulation which can be characterized as an admixture of (i) a demulsifier preferably an alkylene oxide alkyl phenol-formaldehyde condensate such as a poly ethoxylated nonylphenolformaldehyde condensate and (ii) a deoiler which is usefully a polyol such as ethylene glycol or poly (ethylene glycol) of Mw ranging from 106 to 44,000 and preferably ethylene glycol.The aqueous formulation may usefully contain a cosolvent such as isopropanol.

Abstract: In the desalting of crude oil, water-insoluble solids such as rust, iron sulfide, silt, clay, drilling mud components, etc., contained in the crude accumulate in an interfacial emulsion layer or cuff between the desalted crude and water phases. The major portion of this cuff is recycled to the crude feed and the remainder is mixed with a light diluent oil to break the emulsion and then settled to separate the crude and the water. The water-insoluble solids separate with the water. The separated oil phase may be combined with the desalted crude.

Abstract: A process for removing suspended solids, particularly difficultly filterable inorganic solids, from an oil obtained as a refinery process fraction from steam and catalytic cracking units, shale oil retorting process fraction, or from coal conversion processes by adding to the oil an agglomerating agent which is a polyelectrolyte, usefully a water-in-oil emulsion of a water-soluble polymer whereby said solids are clustered together into readily separable agglomerates.

Abstract: The salt content of crude oil is reduced by washing it with at least 1% by volume of wash water of lower salinity than the water present in the crude oil and separating the resulting mixture of oil and water into a layer of crude oil of reduced salt content and a layer of saline water containing some oil. The latter is passed through a cross-flow membrane separator and the oil-free permeate is removed from the separator as effluent. The oil retentate is recycled from the separator to the washing stage and a quantity of lower salinity than the water associated initially with the crude oil is added to the washing stage. The quantity of added water corresponds at least to the volume of permeate removed from the cross-flow membrane separator.Since the oil is recycled, the need for oil recovery plant for treating desalter effluent is removed.

Abstract: An improvement in a process for the treatment of heavy oil in which a hydrocarbon diluent is subjected to distillation prior to its addition to a heavy oil production stream, to remove at least some of the light components in the diluent that would otherwise vaporize in the treatment process. A distillation unit for use in the process is also disclosed.

Abstract: Persistent chemisorption bonds of clay solids in clay-containing heavy oil and water emulsions, from oil sands, heavy oil or conventional oil wells, are broken down by mixing the emulsion with an aqueous mixture of coal particles so that the mixture has a suspension density in the range 1 to 50 weight % solids. The coal particles have a particle size in the range 5 to 100 .mu.m so that occluded hydrophilic, inorganic solids are separable from a substantial portion of the hydrophobic, carbonaceous substances of the coal. The mixing of the emulsion with the aqueous suspension of coal particles is continued until agglomerates are formed comprising essentially carbonaceous components of the coal and the heavy oil thereby breaking down the chemisorption bonds by interdependantly dissociating carbonaceous components of the coal and heavy oil from the clay solids and other hydrophilic, inorganic solids and water from the coal and heavy oil.

Abstract: A process for the simultaneous de-emulsification and de-asphalting of heavy oil/water emulsions containing asphaltics enables de-asphalted oil, asphaltics and emulsion water to be separately recovered. A heavy oil/water emulsion is mixed with a solvent to cause the emulsion to be broken with consequent dissolution of oil by the solvent and coalescence of emulsion water and asphaltics as fast settling particles, the solvent comprising a light C.sub.4 to C.sub.7 paraffinic composition and the weight of solvent being from about 2 to about 5 times the weight of heavy oil. The water/asphaltic particles are separated from the bulk of the oil/solvent phase and are fed into a water bath to produce relatively large stable asphaltic agglomerates with exclusion of emulsion water. The asphaltic agglomerates are removed from the hot water bath, and de-asphalted oil is recovered from the oil/solvent phase.

Abstract: Middle phase emulsions are broken by subjecting the emulsion to a first atmospheric distillation step to remove water, followed by a second vacuum distillation step to recover oil. The residue contains the surfactant. The atmospheric distillation is generally carried out by steam distillation.

Abstract: A method of removing radioactive waste from oil in which all particulates, radioactive contaminants, and moisture are removed from the oil. Particulate matter is removed from the oil by a combination of filtering and heating. Radioactive contaminants are reacted with chlorine to form salts which are removed by filtration. Moisture is removed by use of a flash tank.

Abstract: A process for breaking oil-in-water emulsions formed during recovery of bitumen or heavy oil. It comprises contacting the emulsion with a high ash particulate agent selected from high ash coal rejects, fly ash from coking gas and red mud from the production of alumina.

Abstract: Saline-tolerant surfactant is utilized in tertiary recovery of oil. The surfactant is concentrated in a portion of the produced oil and water and is recovered by the use of a cosolvent and fresh water. Both the cosolvent and surfactant are reclaimed for reuse, while the oil is released for sale.

Abstract: Emulsions of oil and water are broken by treating them with a demulsifier which is a polysiloxane polyalkylene oxide copolymer in which the polyalkylene oxide segment is composed of random ethylene oxide and propylene oxide units.The demulsifier is particularly useful in breaking emulsions of water in crude oil which are normally difficult to separate and in breaking emulsions at relatively low temperatures, e.g. 30.degree. to 45.degree. C.

Abstract: Water is effectively removed out of an organic liquid by filtering the organic liquid with a highly water-absorptive sheet which has been prepared from an alkali metal salt of fibrous carboxymethylcellulose.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for recovering bitumen from a carbonaceous solid feed and for recovering a carbonaceous liquid from a fines-containing carbonaceous liquid feed by extraction of the feed with a solvent of predetermined solvency power, wherein the recovered product has a low fines content.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for treating an oil-in-water, such as a bitumen-in-water emulsion, by premixing the emulsion for a sufficient period of time to permit it to become fully intermixed with emulsion breaking diluents and other additive materials. The modified, bitumen-containing emulsion stream is circulated through a premixer. At least a part of the emulsion stream is recirculated therein to intermix with fresh incoming emulsion flow. Thereafter the now more thoroughly intermixed emulsion, together with the various diluents and additives, is in better condition to be introduced to a separator unit for affecting a quiescent separation of water from the bitumen.

Abstract: The invention extracts surfactants from produced emulsions of oil, water and surfactants from enhanced oil recovery operations and concentrates the surfactants into an aqueous solution. The produced emulsion is mixed with an alkali metal chloride salt, and butanol or pentanol, and allowed to separate into two phases, an oleic phase and an aqueous phase. The oleic phase is then mixed with fresh water containing about 1% to about 10% by weight of isopropanol, ethanol or methanol, and the mixture is allowed to separate into at least two phases, a substantially water-free and surfactant-free crude oil phase and an aqueous phase containing virtually all of the enhanced oil recovery surfactants originally within the produced emulsion. The surfactants in the aqueous phase may be reutilized for further enhanced oil recovery operations.

Abstract: Oil is dehydrated and/or desalted by the influence of a dewatering and desalting formulation which can be characterized as an admixture of (i) a demulsifier preferably an alkylene oxide alkyl phenol-formaldehyde condensate such as a poly ethoxylated nonylphenol-formaldehyde condensate and (ii) a deoiler which is usefully a polyol such as ethylene glycol or poly (ethylene glycol) of Mw ranging from 106 to 44,000 and preferably ethylene glycol.The aqueous formulation may usefully contain a cosolvent such as isopropanol.

Abstract: This invention relates to secondary or tertiary recovery processes for the recovery of oil from subterranean oil-bearing reservoirs. More particularly, this invention relates to an improved method for the recovery of petroleum from underground reservoirs, which petroleum contains sulfonate surfactants and water and for a method of removing said sulfonate surfactants and water from petroleum produced from said recovery processes.

Abstract: Removal of particulate solids and water from petroleum crudes to bring the BS&W content of the crude within pipeline specifications is accomplished with the aid of a demulsifier comprising an anionic surfactant soluble in oil, a nonionic surfactant insoluble in water and dispersible in oil, and a cationic surfactant soluble in water, the anionic surfactant being in a major proportion, the nonionic and cationic surfactant being in lesser proportions.

Abstract: The disclosed invention is a one step or two step process for extracting surfactant from produced emulsions of oil, water and surfactants, concentrating the surfactants into a relatively small volume emulsion middle phase that can be reutilized in surfactant flooding and separating substantial quantities of salable oil from the emulsions.In the two step process, a sulfonated alkyl benzene is added and mixed with the emulsion, which partitions upon settlement into three phases, a clean oil phase, a first microemulsion middle phase and an aqueous phase. An ethoxylated phenol is then added and mixed to the first middle phase to yield at least two more similar phases with the middle phase containing the concentrated surfactants. Alternately, the sulfonated alkyl benzene and the ethoxylated phenol can be combined and added in a one step extraction process.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for extracting surfactants from produced emulsions of oil, water and surfactant and concentrating the surfactants into a relatively small volume, surfactant-rich, middle phase that can be reutilized in surfactant flooding. A first extraction is performed with an aqueous solution of a first extracting compound, which yields three phases after separation, a substantially water-free and surfactant-free crude oil phase, a first surfactant-rich middle phase and an oil-free aqueous phase. The first extracting compounds employed are the alkali metal salts and ammonium salts of cumene sulfonate, propyl benzene sulfonate, ethyl benzene sulfonate, methyl ethyl benzene sulfonate, diethyl benzene sulfonate, methyl propyl benzene sulfonate, xylene sulfonate and dicyclopentadiene sulfonate.

Abstract: There are provided a process and apparatus for the reclamation of oil from emulsified mixtures of oil, water and particulate solids. Basic to the process is the introduction of the emulsified mixture to undergo reclamation into a settler providing an internal mixing centerwell in communication with a surrounding settling tank at a first temperature. Typically, the surrounding settling tank consists of a cylindrical zone and a conical zone. At a base of the settling zone is an exhaust for sludge and, if desired, water. At the opposed or upper end of the settling zone is a clarified-oil outlet, which is preferably in the form of an annular, peripheral weir. The mixing centerwell has an inlet and outlet for flow of a heating fluid, typically steam; or of a cooling fluid, typically water, therethrough. The emulsion and demulsifying agent are added to the central mixing zone. Agitation is substantially confined thereto. Operation may be on a batch, semi-continuous or continuous basis.

Abstract: An invention for extracting surfactants from produced emulsions of oil, water and surfactant and concentrating the surfactants into a relatively small volume, emulsion phase that can be reutilized in surfactant flooding. The two phases left behind in the extraction are a substantially water-free and surfactant-free crude oil phase and an oil-free aqueous phase. The extracting compounds employed are the alkali metal salts and ammonium salts of cumene sulfonate, propyl benzene sulfonate, ethyl benzene sulfonate, methyl ethyl benzene sulfonate, diethyl benzene sulfonate, methyl propyl benzene sulfonate, xylene sulfonate and dicyclopentadiene sulfonate.

Abstract: Bituminous froths, typically obtained from the known Hot Water Method of extraction treatment of oil sands, are processed to remove water and part of the coarse mineral solids contained in the froth. In the process, the froth feed stock from the Hot Water Method treatment is mixed with a naphtha diluent, preferably naphtha which is derived from upgrading or refining of separated bitumen, in preferably the minimum amount sufficient to effectively remove all water by azeotropic distillation, while providing a workable feed viscosity. The mixture of naphtha and froth is treated to remove coarse solids and part of the water in a settling device, heated to a temperature sufficient to cause vaporization of the naphtha and remaining water as an azeotrope and flashed to substantially separate all water and naphtha from the bitumen. The dry bitumen with remaining solids, is normally not suitable for passing to a refinery but rather is sent to upgrading at a typical oil sands mining upgrading complex.