Patent ID: 7612117
Filing Date: 2009-11-03
Classification: C10G

Abstract:
1. A method of resolving a crude oil containing emulsion that includes an oil phase and an aqueous phase comprising contacting said crude oil emulsion with an amount of between about 1 to 1,000 ppm of an acetylenic surfactant compound or compounds selected from the groups Ia and Ib, wherein said Group Ia has the formula and wherein said Group Ib has the formula wherein R is —(CH 2 —CH 2 )—; R 5 is —(CH 2 (CH 3 )CH)—or —(CH 2 —CH 2 —CH 2 )—; R 1 and R 4 are a straight or a branched chain alkyl having from about 3 to 10 C atoms or an aryl group; R 2 and R 3 are H, an alkyl chain having 1 to 5 C atoms or aryl group, and m, n, p, and q are numbers that range from about 0 to about 30, said method further comprising contacting said crude oil emulsion with another surfactant (II) wherein said surfactant (II) is a polyol having the formula wherein the moieties x, y, and z are each at least 1 and are such as to provide the compound with a molecular weight of about 500 or higher.