Process for stabilizing an oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsion
A process for the preparation of at least one ARN acid or salt thereof comprising: (I) allowing at least one ARN acid salt to form during the production of crude oil in the presence of water; (II) removing at least 5 wt % of the formed at least one ARN acid salt, e.g. from the oil water interface; and optionally (III) converting said salt into an acid.
1. A process for stabilizing an oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsion comprising:
(I) adding at least one metal ion to a crude oil at a pH of at least 5 so as to form an ARN acid salt;
(II) separating at least a part of the formed ARN acid salt from the crude oil;
(III) converting said salt into an acid; and
(IV) adding said acid to a mixture of oil-in-water or water-in-oil.
2. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said salt is a calcium salt.
3. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein said ARN acid is a tetracarboxylic acid with molecular weight in the range 1227-1235 or mixture of such acids.
4. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein a pressure during ARN acid salt formation is ambient.
5. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ARN acid content of the crude oil is at least 10 ppm.
6. A process for stabilizing an oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsion comprising:
(I) allowing at least one ARN acid salt to form during the production of crude oil in the presence of water;
(II) separating at least a part of the formed ARN acid salt from the crude oil;
(III) converting said salt into an acid; and
(IV) adding said acid to a mixture of oil-in-water or water-in-oil.
7. A process as claimed in claim 6 wherein said salt is a calcium salt.
8. A process as claimed in claim 6 wherein said ARN acid is a tetracarboxylic acid with molecular weight in the range 1227-1235 or mixture of such acids.
9. A process as claimed in claim 6 wherein ARN acid salt formation is conducted at ambient pressure.
10. A process as claimed in claim 6 wherein the ARN acid content of the crude oil is at least 10 ppm.