Method for reducing corrosiveness of aqueous fluids
First Claim
1. A method for reducing the corrosiveness of an oxygen-containing aqueous fluid, the method comprising contacting the aqueous fluid with a deoxygenating system comprising (a) an enzyme which catalyzes the reaction between a substrate material and oxygen, (b) the substrate material and (c) at least one hydrocarbon.
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Abstract
A method is provided for reducing the corrosiveness of an aqueous fluid, particularly water containing dissolved oxygen and corrosive chemical agents such as naturally-occurring brine. According to the method, an enzyme which reacts with a substrate and consumes oxygen is added to the water along with a suitable substrate. Crude oil or other hydrocarbon material is also added to the water. The resulting water is less corrosive than water not containing the described system. In another embodiment of the invention, a water-flood method of post-primary oil recovery is provided in which the brine used is made less corrosive to metal drilling equipment by the addition to the water of an oxygen-consuming enzyme, a suitable substrate for the enzyme, and crude oil or other hydrocarbon material.
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26 Claims
- 1. A method for reducing the corrosiveness of an oxygen-containing aqueous fluid, the method comprising contacting the aqueous fluid with a deoxygenating system comprising (a) an enzyme which catalyzes the reaction between a substrate material and oxygen, (b) the substrate material and (c) at least one hydrocarbon.
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12. In an oil recovery method in which an aqueous fluid is introduced into an oil-bearing reservoir via a metal conduit, the improvement comprising introducing into the oil-bearing reservoir aqueous fluid which has been treated by a method comprising:
contacting the oxygen-containing aqueous fluid with a deoxygenation system comprising (a) an enzyme which catalyzes the reaction between a substrate material and oxygen, (b) the substrate materal and (c) at least one hydrocarbon. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
- 23. A composition for deoxygenating oxygen-containing water comprising (a) an enzyme which catalyzes the reaction between a substrate material and oxygen, (b) the substrate material, and (c) a hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of crude oil, petroleum fractions, xylene, benzene, toluene, hexane, decane, butane, fuel oil, diesel and hexadecene.
Specification