METHOD AND COMPOSITION FOR ASPHALTENE DISPERSION

• US 20190330514A1
• Filed: 06/20/2017
• Published: 10/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Croda, Inc. (Croda International Plc (Technology Investment Group))
• Original Assignee: Croda, Inc. (Croda International Plc (Technology Investment Group))
• Inventors: Chen, Xin, Wang, Min Ma, Sungail, Craig Michael, Shen, Zhongqi
• Granted Patent: US 10,717,917 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 8/524 organic depositions, e.g. paraffins or asphaltenes
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2300/1033 Oil well production fluids
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2300/206 Asphaltenes
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 75/04 by addition of antifouling agents
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 1/1905 of di- or polycarboxylic acids
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 10/18 use of detergents or dispersants for purposes not provided for in groups C10L10/02 - C10L10/16
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 21/068 using chemical treatment

Abstract

A method of dispersing asphaltenes to inhibit asphaltenes precipitation and/or deposition in a hydrocarbon is disclosed. An asphaltene dispersing agent is added to the hydrocarbon. The asphaltene dispersing agent is an ester of a mono-carboxylic fatty acid and a sugar. The sugar has at least 4 hydroxyl groups and more than one of the hydroxyl groups on the sugar are reacted with the mono-carboxylic fatty acid to form the ester. A composition comprising the asphaltene dispersing agent is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of dispersing asphaltenes to inhibit asphaltene precipitation and/or deposition in a hydrocarbon, the method comprising adding to the hydrocarbon an asphaltene dispersing agent which is an ester of a mono-carboxylic fatty acid and a sugar;

wherein the sugar comprises at least 4 hydroxyl groups; and

wherein more than one of the hydroxyl groups on the sugar are reacted with the mono-carboxylic fatty acid to form the ester.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the hydroxyl groups on the sugar remains unreacted in the ester.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein on average, at most 75% of the hydroxyl groups on the sugar are reacted with the fatty acid to form the ester.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the sugar is a disaccharide.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the sugar is sucrose.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the fatty acid comprises at least 10 wt % polyunsaturated species.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the fatty acid is derived from soybean oil.

8. A composition comprising a diluent medium and an asphaltene dispersing agent according to claim 1.

9. A composition according to claim 8 wherein the diluent medium is a non-aqueous solvent or fuel.

10. A composition according to claim 8 wherein the diluent medium comprises an ester.

11. A composition according to claim 8 wherein the diluent medium is a biodiesel.

12. Crude oil or a product derived therefrom comprising asphaltenes and an asphaltene dispersing agent according to claim 1.

15. The method according to claim 1 wherein the ester has an asphaltene dispersing value of at least 60% at a concentration of 50 ppm in the hydrocarbon.

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)