Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating an aqueous solution comprising at least an oil phase dispersed as drops in an aqueous phase, the oil being petroleum crude oil. According to the invention, at least the following steps are carried out: adding at least a tetravalent salt to the aqueous solution at a predetermined concentration, then separating by flotation the oil phase from the aqueous phase present in the aqueous solution to which at least the tetravalent salt has been added. Application in particular to the treatment of a produced water or a produced effluent of petroleum origin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for treating an aqueous liquid comprising oil droplets and a surfactant and/or a base. For this method, a pore size threshold of a filter is determined taking into account the interfacial tension between the oil droplets and the water, and a filter is selected whose pore size is less than or equal to this threshold for filtration of the aqueous liquid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for treating an aqueous liquid comprising oil droplets and a surfactant and/or a base. For this method, a pore size threshold of a filter is determined taking into account the interfacial tension between the oil droplets and the water, and a filter is selected whose pore size is less than or equal to this threshold for filtration of the aqueous liquid.

Abstract: An enhanced recovery method that optimizes the stages of pumping, transport and surface treatment of the production effluent, during which a sweep fluid having at least one polymer so as to displace hydrocarbons towards a production well is injected into a reservoir, the resulting production effluent having hydrocarbons is collected through the production well, and a degradation agent for a polymer within the sweep fluid is injected into the effluent.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved enhanced recovery method using polymers, wherein these polymers are preserved from mechanical degradation by adding an additive comprising sacrificial compounds. The sacrificial compounds are preferentially degraded instead of the active polymers, thus allowing optimized recovery of the oil in the petroleum reservoir. The sacrificial compounds can be polymers of same nature as the active polymers, but of higher molecular weight, or polymers of different nature having more fragile bonds. The sacrificial compound(s) is/are selected according to a lesser resistance to mechanical degradation, in comparison with the active polymers of the solution allowing enhanced recovery.

Abstract: The invention relates to a copolymer having: A) at least one monomer unit a) derived from at least one ethylenically unsaturated aliphatic monocarboxylic or polycarboxylic acid, a corresponding anhydride, or a corresponding water-soluble salt; B) at least one monomer unit b) derived from a particular sulfonated or sulfated ethylenically unsaturated ether or at least one monomer unit (b?) derived from a sulfonated ethylenically unsaturated monomer other than (b), C) at least one monomer unit (c) derived from a monomer with the average general formula [CH2?CH—CH2—R6—O—]xP(?O)(OM)3-x. The invention also relates to a method for preparing such a copolymer, an inhibitor composition including such a copolymer, and a method for inhibiting inorganic deposits in a petroleum reservoir by means of said inhibitor composition.

Abstract: The invention relates to an enhancing oil recovery method by injecting into a subterranean oil formation an aqueous flooding fluid comprising at least one injecting galactomannan polymer substituted by at least one sulfonation agent. The invention also relates to an flooding fluid having better injectivity properties than existing flooding fluids.

Abstract: The invention relates to an enhanced recovery method that optimizes the stages of pumping, transport and surface treatment of the production effluent. The method of the invention comprises the following stages: injecting into said reservoir (1) a sweep fluid comprising at least one polymer so as to displace said hydrocarbons towards at least one production well (4), collecting a production effluent comprising the hydrocarbons through production well (4), injecting into said effluent at least one degradation agent for said polymer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a copolymer having: A) at least one monomer unit a) derived from at least one ethylenically unsaturated aliphatic monocarboxylic or polycarboxylic acid, a corresponding anhydride, or a corresponding water-soluble salt; B) at least one monomer unit b) derived from a particular sulfonated or sulfated ethylenically unsaturated ether or at least one monomer unit (b?) derived from a sulfonated ethylenically unsaturated monomer other than (b), C) at least one monomer unit (c) derived from a monomer with the average general formula [CH2?CH—CH2—R6—O—]xP(?O)(OM)3-x. The invention also relates to a method for preparing such a copolymer, an inhibitor composition including such a copolymer, and a method for inhibiting inorganic deposits in a petroleum reservoir by means of said inhibitor composition.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for treating viscous hydrocarbon containing asphaltenes, which consists in performing the following steps: precipitating at least part of the asphaltenes by adding into the hydrocarbon an appropriate solvent; adding into the hydrocarbon polymerization products adapted to encapsulate the precipitated asphaltenes to inert same.

Abstract: The invention relates to an enhancing oil recovery method by injecting into a subterranean oil formation an aqueous flooding fluid comprising at least one injecting galactomannan polymer substituted by at least one sulfonation agent. The invention also relates to an flooding fluid having better injectivity properties than existing flooding fluids.

Abstract: Heavy crude transportation optimization method wherein at least one solvent is added to said crude. According to the method, a predetermined amount of dimethyl ether (DME) is added under pressure so as to adjust the viscosity of the crude.

Abstract: Heavy crude transportation optimization method wherein at least one solvent consisting of a petroleum cut is added to said crude. According to the method, the polar component ?p of the Hildebrand parameter of the solvent is increased, and the contribution of hydrogen bond ?h of the Hildebrand parameter of the solvent is controlled, by adding a predetermined amount of at least one specific additive.

Abstract: Method relating to the transportation of viscous products in a pipe by core annular flow, allowing to limit the restart pressures required for circulating the viscous product. Core annular flow is a technique allowing pipe transportation of a very viscous product with limited pressure drops. However, in case of density difference between the fluids, transverse displacements of the viscous product towards the wall lead to stratification and the restart pressures are then high, because the viscous part has to be deformed. In order to limit these pressures, we propose limiting transverse displacements by injecting into said pipe a yield stress fluid allowing to generate a transverse displacement resistance. Additives can be added to the water layer conventionally used to obtain such a yield stress fluid. Application: notably viscous hydrocarbons transportation.

Abstract: An emulsion is optimized in that it is stabilized by the presence of a surfactant specifically selected according to the type of a polymer, or copolymer, also present in the emulsion. The surfactant and the polymer are selected oppositely charged.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of treating permeable rocks wherein the following stages are carried out: producing particles of nanometric size comprising an active anti-mineral-deposit water-soluble polymer encapsulated in either a matrix so as to form a nanocomplex or a nanosphere, or in a membrane so as to form a nanocapsule; maintaining an amount of said particles dispersed in a liquid phase; injecting the dispersion into the permeable rock; and releasing the active polymer upon contact with salt water.

Abstract: The process according to the invention includes the combination, with a liquid phase change material (PCM), of a texturing agent chosen so as to greatly reduce the thermal convection and whose viscosity is decreased reversibly under shearing. The material formed has a gelled consistency when at rest, and fluidized under shearing. The PCM comprises a mixture of chemical compounds from the alkane family: paraffins, waxes, fatty alcohols, fatty acids etc., and the texturing agent is a high mass polymer (hydrocarbonate polymers, ester or ether polymers, mixed ester-hydrocarbon polymers), an ionomer polymer or a di, tri or multi-block styrene copolymer (SBS: styrene-butadiene-styrene, SEBS: styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene). Applications: thermal insulation of vessels or lines, and more especially, for hydrocarbon transport lines.

Abstract: Heavy crude transportation optimization method wherein at least one solvent is added to said crude. According to the method, a predetermined amount of dimethyl ether (DME) is added under pressure so as to adjust the viscosity of the crude.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stable emulsion of an immiscible fluid and of an aqueous phase having a determined pH value. The emulsion is optimized in that it comprises an ionic surfactant and a polyampholytic polymer whose charge depends on the pH value. The respective amounts of surfactant and of polymers are determined according to the charges. Stabilization or destabilization of the emulsion is adjusted by controlling the pH value. The invention also relates to a method of stabilizing and destabilizing an emulsion comprising a surfactant combined with an ampholytic polymer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of breaking an oil-in-water emulsion, the oil essentially consisting of a heavy hydrocarbon, i.e. having a viscosity above approximately 100 centipoise at ambient temperature. According to the invention, at least one solvent defined by: a polar coefficient according to the Hansen classification above 5, a “hydrogen” coefficient according to the Hansen classification below 16, is added to the emulsion.