초록 ▼

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 quant

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.

대표청구항 ▼

A method for extracting and concentrating enhanced oil recovery surfactants into a relatively small volume surfactant-rich middle phase from produced emulsions comprising oil, water and surfactant, which comprises: mixing a produced emulsion with an extracting compound solution of water containing a

A method for extracting and concentrating enhanced oil recovery surfactants into a relatively small volume surfactant-rich middle phase from produced emulsions comprising oil, water and surfactant, which comprises: mixing a produced emulsion with an extracting compound solution of water containing about 0.3% to about 6.0% of a first extracting compound selected from the group consisting of the alkali metal salts and ammonium salts of propyl benzene sulfonate, cumene sulfonate, ethyl benzene sulfonate, methyl ethyl benzene sulfonate, diethyl benzene sulfonate, methyl propyl benzene sulfonate, xylene sulfonate and dicyclopentadiene sulfonate; allowing the mixture of produced emulsion and first extracting compound solution to separate into at least three phases, including a substantially surfactant-free and water-free crude oil phase, a first relatively low volume middle phase containing surfactant, oil and water, and an oil-free aqueous phase; mixing about a 0.1% to about 3.0% volume of a second extracting compound per volume of first middle phase with said first middle phase, said second extracting compound consisting of an ethoxylated phenol with an average of about one to about fifteen ethylene oxide groups and having an alkyl side chain containing 0 to about 12 carbon atoms; and allowing the mixture of first low volume middle phase and ethoxylated phenol to separate into at least two phases, including a substantially surfactant-free and water-free crude oil phase, a second relatively small volume surfactant-rich middle phase containing surfactant, oil and water, and usually, a third oil-free aqueous phase.