Formulations useful as asphaltene dispersants in petroleum products

1. A composition comprising: (i) from 10% to 70% of a chelating aminocarboxylic acid-C 8 -C 22 amine complex; (ii) from 10% to 70% of a C 15 -C 21 bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amide; and (iii) from 15% to 70% of a C 15 -C 44 imidazoline compound which is a fatty acid-polyamine reaction product.

2. The composition of claim 1 in which said C 8 -C 22 amine is a tertiary-alkyl primary amine and said chelating aminocarboxylic acid is ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and said polyamine is diethylenetriamine.

3. The composition of claim 2 comprising 12-65% of an ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-tertiary-alkyl C 8 -C 22 primary amine complex, 12-65% of a C 15 -C 21 bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amide, and 20-65% of a C 15 -C 44 imidazoline compound which is a fatty acid-diethylenetriamine reaction product.

4. The composition of claim 3 in which said tertiary alkyl C 8 -C 22 primary amine is a C 10 -C 15 isomeric mixture and said fatty acid is a C 12 -C 20 fatty acid.

5. The composition of claim 4 in which said fatty acid is selected from the group consisting of (i) oleic acid, (ii) linoleic acid, and (iii) fatty acids from tall oil, soybean oil and palm oil.

6. A composition comprising:

(a) from 10% to 70% of a chelating aminocarboxylic acid-C 8 -C 22 amine complex;

(b) from 10% to 70% of a C 16 -C 21 bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amide;

(c) from 15% to 70% of a C 15 -C 44 imidazoline compound which is a fatty acid-polyamine reaction product;

wherein percentages are calculated based on total amount of (a), (b) and (c); and

(d) a petroleum product containing asphaltenes.

7. The composition of claim 6 in which said C 8 -C 22 amine is a tertiary-alkyl primary amine and said chelating aminocarboxylic acid is ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and said polyamine is diethylenetriamine.

8. The composition of claim 7 comprising 12-65% of an ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-tertiary-alkyl C 8 -C 22 primary amine complex, 12-65% of a C 15 -C 21 bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amide, and 20-65% of a C 15 -C 44 imidazoline compound which is a fatty acid-diethylenetriamine reaction product.

9. The composition of claim 8 in which the petroleum product is heavy crude oil or residual fuel oil.

10. The composition of claim 8 in which said tertiary alkyl C 8 -C 22 primary amine is a C 10 -C 15 isomeric mixture and said fatty acid is a C 12 -C 20 fatty acid.

11. The composition of claim 10 in which said fatty acid is selected from the group consisting of: (i) oleic acid, (ii) linoleic acid, and (iii) fatty acids from tall oil, soybean oil and palm oil.

12. A method for dispersing asphaltenes in heavy crude oil or residual fuel oil; said method comprising adding to said heavy crude oil or residual fuel oil: (i) from 10% to 70% at a chelating aminocarboxylic acid-C 8 -C 22 amine complex; (ii) from 10% to 70% of a C 15 -C 21 bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amide; and (iii) from 15% to 70% of a C 15 -C 44 imidazoline compound which is a fatty acid-polyamine reaction product; wherein percentages are calculated based on total amount of (i), (ii) and (iii).

13. The method of claim 12 in which said C 8 -C 22 amine is a tertiary-alkyl primary amine and said chelating aminocarboxylic acid is ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and said polyamine is diethylenetriamine.

14. The method of claim 13 comprising 12-65% of an ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-tertiary-alkyl C 8 -C 22 primary amine complex, 12-65% of a C 15 -C 21 bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amide, and 20-65% of a C 16 -C 44 imidazoline compound which is a fatty acid-diethylenetriamine reaction product.

15. The method of claim 14 in which said tertiary alkyl C 8 -C 22 primary amine is a C 10 -C 15 isomeric mixture and said fatty acid is a C 12 -C 20 fatty acid.

16. The method of claim 15 in which said fatty acid is selected from the group consisting of: (i) oleic acid, (ii) linoleic acid, and (iii) fatty acids from tall oil, soybean oil and palm oil.