Abstract: Methods are described for improving flow of oil containing fluids through vessels, pipelines, heat exchangers, and other equipment. Polymeric surfactants with lipophilic head groups and long hydrophilic poly(ethene oxide) tails are added to the fluid to coat the oil and metal surfaces with drag reducing aqueous filaments, allowing the oil to slip past those surfaces without sticking and with little resistance. Such surface coatings also promote coalescence of viscous emulsions of water-in-oil or oil-in-water without creating oil-wet flow blocking residues on stationary surfaces. Such fouling obstructs the flow of oil and water and results in both material and energy losses.

Abstract: A small-scale, batch-wise device to simulate high-shear, short-duration emulsification of fluids from various industrial processes at elevated temperatures and pressures for the purpose of determining the quality and stability of those emulsions under different conditions and with different additives. A threaded, transparent tube capable high temperature and pressure is fitted with a threaded bearing with a shaft sealed gas tight at two points with spring-loaded, internally-facing, open rings. A socket head on the external end of the shaft held on a high-speed motor-drive rotates mixing blades on the internal end of the shaft. Process fluids and additives are added to the tube with a vaporizing liquid. The tube is sealed, heated to the process temperature under pressure, then inverted onto the motor drive, by which the blades are rotated at high-speed for a short duration. The tube is righted and the emulsion observed over time at process temperature under pressure.

Abstract: Amines or ammonia and amines may be used to enhance recovery of heavy hydrocarbons. The amines or ammonia and amines alone or with water, steam or an oil solvent are combined with the heavy hydrocarbons to promote the transport of the heavy hydrocarbons. The amines or ammonia and amines may be injected downhole or admixed with heavy hydrocarbon containing ore on the surface, optionally with water or steam. Ammonia may be used alone with high quality steam.

Abstract: Amines or ammonia and amines may be used to enhance recovery of heavy hydrocarbons. The amines or ammonia and amines alone or with water, steam or an oil solvent are combined with the heavy hydrocarbons to promote the transport of the heavy hydrocarbons. The amines or ammonia and amines may be injected downhole or admixed with heavy hydrocarbon containing ore on the surface, optionally with water or steam. Ammonia may be used alone with high quality steam. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: Certain metal and metal-like hydroxides may be added to hydrocarbons with an immiscible and/or more volatile non-hydrocarbon phase to reduce the acidic potential of hydrocarbons with respect to downstream storage, transport, and processability once the non-hydrocarbon phase is removed. These metal hydroxides reduce TAN stoichiometrically and permanently while improving the demulsibility of the oil. A particularly effective metal hydroxide is lithium hydroxide and a particularly easy solvent to remove is water.