Patent ID: 6734144
Filing Date: 2004-05-11
Classification: C09K,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for enhancing the stability of a solids-stabilized water-in-oil emulsion, said method comprising the step of pretreating at least a portion of said oil prior to emulsification, said pretreating step comprising at least one of the steps of adding dilute mineral acid or acetic acid to said oil, adding a lignosulfonate to said oil, sulfonating said oil, thermally treating said oil at a pressure in the range of between about 30 psi to about 300 psi in an inert environment and thermally oxidizing said oil, wherein the severity of said thermal treatment of said oil is sufficient to reduce the viscosity of said solids-stabilized water-in-oil emulsion as compared to the viscosity of a solids-stabilized water-in-oil emulsion made with oil that has not been pretreated and wherein when said pretreating includes said dilute acid pretreatment said solids-stabilized emulsion is formed by adding water after said dilute acid pretreatment.