# Patent

## Title
Stabilized aqueous water clarifier composition and methods of use

## Abstract

Oil-water dispersions and emulsions derived from petroleum industry operations are demulsified and clarified using an aqueous water clarifier composition. Formation of such oil-water dispersion and emulsions is inhibited and mitigated using the aqueous water clarifier composition comprising a latex dispersion of an anionic polymer, an alcohol, and a base. The latex dispersion of an anionic polymers comprise an anionic polymer comprising: A) 2-80% by weight of at least one C3-C8 α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer; B) 15-80% by weight of at least one nonionic, copolymerizable α,β-ethylenically unsaturated monomer; C) 0-50% by weight of one or more of the following monomers: C1) at least one nonionic vinyl surfactant ester; or C2) at least one nonionic, copolymerizable α,β-ethylenically unsaturated monomer having longer polymer chains than monomer B), or C3) at least one nonionic urethane monomer; and, optionally, D) 0-5% by weight of at least one crosslinker.

## Background
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a freeze protected aqueous water clarifier composition and method for demulsifying and clarifying oil-water emulsions and dispersions derived from petroleum production and refining operations using said aqueous water clarifier composition.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A dispersion is a mixture in which one phase is dispersed in another, continuous phase, of a different composition or phase. An emulsion is a dispersion comprising two immiscible liquids, one of which is dispersed as droplets (internal phase) in the other (continuous or external phase). Thus, all emulsions are dispersions, but not all dispersions are emulsions. Stable emulsions are those which are unable to resolve themselves into their constituent phases without some form of mechanical or chemical treatment.
In the petroleum industry, various operations including, but not limited to, exploration, production, refining and chemical processing of hydrocarbons including, but not limited to, crude oil, gas and their derivative products, routinely produce mixtures and dispersions of oil and water. Such mixtures typically also contain other compounds, including but not limited to, waxes, asphaltenes, various salts, suspended materials, biological surface active material from the ground, added surface active corrosion/scale inhibiting reagents, etc., which may vary from location to location. In addition, synthetic and natural surfactants, produced either in-situ or added in enhanced oil recovery techniques such as alkali-surfactant (AS) and alkali-surfactant-polymer (ASP) floods, can cause phase separation issues. Along with the presence of these other compounds, high shear and mixing forces cause these oil and water mixtures to form dispersions and relatively stable emulsions. Some such emulsions are water in oil emulsions, commonly referred to in the petroleum industry as “regular” emulsions, in which oil is the continuous phase. Others are oil in water emulsions, commonly referred to in the petroleum industry as “reverse” emulsions, in which water is the continuous phase.
“Breaking” oil-water emulsions means separation of the oil and water phases. The term “breaking” implies that the emulsifying films around the droplets of water or oil are “broken” so that coalescing may occur and result in separation of the oil and water phases over time, for example, by gravitational settling. For example, demulsifiers describe the class of agents which break or separate an emulsion, whether normal or reverse, into its constituent phases. Clarifiers describe compounds which are applied to break emulsions and separate the oil phase from the water, thereby, making the water “clearer.” There is known to be some overlap in the types of compounds which effectively demulsify and those which clarify, i.e., some compounds are useful for both demulsifying and clarifying oil-water emulsions and dispersions.
During the production phase of an oil well, a large quantity of water may be pumped down into the ground via one or more injector wells to push oil in the underground formation toward the producing well and out of the ground. As the wells age, formation water is produced from the well in combination with the oil. Further, in many secondary and tertiary oil recovery techniques such as steam flooding, oil extraction from tar/oil sands and steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD), large amounts of water are used to recover oil. In such circumstances, the oil typically comes out of the ground as an emulsion. To break this emulsion, i.e., separate the water from the oil phase, demulsifiers such as polyalkylene glycols (PAGs), block copolymers of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly(propylene oxide) (PPO), and alkylphenol resin alkoxylates are generally used. In some cases water clarifiers are also added to the crude emulsion stream.
Once the emulsion is separated into an oil fraction and a water fraction, the produced water fraction (i.e., “produced water”) may contain about 1000 parts per million (ppm) oil entrained in the water phase. In other words, a “reverse” i.e., oil in water, emulsion is formed. This emulsion appears anywhere from brown to black, depending on the amount of impurities present. Such produced water may be generated in huge quantities (i.e., up to millions of gallons per day), and is either reinjected into the formation, or disposed of into the ocean. Governmental regulations, such as the US Clean Water Act and the US EPA Code of Federal Regulations in the United States, require reduction of the amount of oil content down to very low levels before the produced water may be discharged. Although the amount of oil permitted in discharged water under such regulations varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, the standard is generally very low, i.e., usually much less than 100 ppm oil in water. Further with the increasing cost and regulation on fresh water use, low levels of oil are demanded for water reuse. The practice of reducing the oil in water from the naturally occurring amount to below 50 ppm is commonly known as “clarification,” and is simply the breaking of the reverse emulsion. Clarification of such demulsified oilfield water typically involves use of acrylate polymers, cationic polymers, cationic polyelectrolytes, and water-soluble amphiphilic polymers to flocculate suspended oily and particulate materials and, thereby, obtain clear(er) water.
Successful selection and use of effective polymer compounds to demulsify and clarify oil-water emulsions formed during petroleum industry operations is very complex because whether or not a particular polymer will work depends on many factors including, but not limited to: the geology and location of underground oil-containing formations, the source of water, the nature of suspended solids, the type of oil, the nature of other reagents used, etc. Thus, there is no one solution for the practice of demulsification and clarification of oilfield emulsions. Depending on individual oilfields and the conditions involved, different polymers will provide optimum performance in different locations.
The prior art includes many patents and general literature relating to demulsification and clarification of oil-water dispersions and emulsions produced by petroleum industry operations.
For example, US Patent Application Publication US 2007/0244248 discloses the use of a polymer containing aromatic and oleophilic groups for demulsifying oil-water emulsions. U.S. Pat. No. 5,100,582 discloses a very specific composition of tetrapolymer containing random combinations of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, methyl methacrylate and butyl acrylate for use as demulsifying agent for water-in-crude oil.
Further, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,025,426 and 5,330,650 each teach the use of hydrophilic cationic copolymers of acrylamide having high molecular weight as water clarification aids. U.S. Pat. No. 4,582,628 discloses the use of vinyl-type polymers, derived from hydrophilic and hydrophobic vinyl monomers, for demulsifying petroleum industry emulsions of oil and water.
Low molecular weight, water soluble, cationic polymers of dimethylaminoethyl acrylate methyl chloride and benzyl chloride quaternary salt are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,460 for breaking oil in water emulsions resulting from oilfield operations. U.S. Pat. No. 5,472,617 provides a method for demulsifying a crude oil and water emulsion which involves adding demulsifiers made from (meth)acrylates of oxyalkylates copolymerized with hydrophilic monomers.
Chinese Patent Application Publication CN1883740 discloses the use of polymers derived from hydrophobic (meth)acrylate ester monomers and hydrophilic (meth)acrylic acid monomers, and having molecular weights of 5,000 to 100,000 g/mol, for demulsifying crude oil and water emulsions.
US Patent Publication US 2011 0031163 discloses hydrophobically modified, surfactant modified, and lightly crosslinked anionic acrylate copolymers for separating oil and water dispersions or emulsions generated in connection with oilfield operations.
However, none of the above mentioned patents and publications disclose stabilized polymers for breaking oil-water emulsions derived from oilfield and oil refining operations located and/or operating in extremely cold environments, such as arctic regions. Improved low temperature stability, sometimes referred to as freeze protection, is important for not only use, but also for storage and transportation. This includes both shipping in barrels and pumping through pipes, polymer compounds to petroleum industry operations in cold environments. If aqueous solutions of polymers are stored in a location where the ambient temperature falls below 0° C., the solutions may freeze, separate, or form sediment thus inhibiting the ability to pump sufficient polymer solution to the desired fluid. There exists a need for a low temperature aqueous water clarifier composition useful for demulsifying petroleum industry emulsions of oil and water that demonstrates improved low temperature stability.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides such a stabilized aqueous water clarifier composition and a method for use thereof for separating oil and water phases of an oil-water dispersion or emulsion derived from petroleum industry operations, wherein the aqueous water clarifier composition is stable between −40° C. to 60° C. and cycling between −40° C. to 60° C. The aqueous water clarifier composition is provided to the oil-water emulsion in an amount to result in a demulsifying effective. The aqueous water clarifier composition comprises i) a latex dispersion of an anionic polymer, preferably in an amount of from 20 to 80 weight percent, wherein the anionic polymer comprises: A) at least one C3-C8 α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer, preferably methacrylic acid, acrylic acid or a mixture thereof, preferably in an amount of 15-80% by weight; B) at least one nonionic, copolymerizable α,β-ethylenically unsaturated monomer, preferably a monovinyl ester, more preferably ethyl acetate, preferably in an amount of 15-80% by weight; C) optionally, one or more of the following: (1) at least one nonionic vinyl surfactant ester; (2) at least one nonionic, copolymerizable α,β-ethylenically unsaturated monomer having longer polymer chains than monomer B); and, (3) at least one nonionic urethane monomer, preferably in an amount of 0-50% by weight; and D) optionally, at least one crosslinker, preferably in an amount of 0-5% by weight of, wherein weight percents of A, B, C, and D total 100 percent and are based on the total weight of the latex dispersion of an anionic polymer i); ii), an alcohol, preferably ethylene glycol or propylene glycol, preferably in an amount of from 5 to 70 weight percent; iii) a base, preferably in an amount of from 0.05 mmol/g to 0.22 mmol/g based on the weight of the latex dispersion of an anionic polymer i); and iv) water which makes up the balance of the composition. Weight percents for i), ii), iii), iv) total 100 percent and are based on the total weight of the aqueous water clarifier composition.
In particular, the at least one C3-C8 α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer have the formula:




where R is H, and R′ is H, C1-C4 alkyl, or —CH2COOX; R is —COOX and R′ is H or —CH2COOX; or R is CH3 and R′ is H; and X is H or C1-C4 alkyl.

The at least one nonionic, copolymerizable α,β-ethylenically unsaturated monomer have the formula:

CH2═CYZ  (II)

where Y is H and Z is —COOR, —C6H4R′, CN, Cl,





or —CH═CH2; Y is CH3 and Z is —COOR, —C6H4R′, CN or —CH═CH2; or Y and Z are Cl; and R is C1-C8 alkyl or C2-C8 hydroxyalkyl; R′ is H, Cl, Br, or C1-C3 alkyl; and R′′ is C1-C8 alkyl.

Furthermore, if present, monomeric component C) is one or more of the following monomers:

    
    
        (1) at least one nonionic vinyl surfactant ester of the formula:
    
    






    
    
        where R is H or CH3, each R′ is C1-C4 alkyl, R′′ is C8-C20 alkyl or C8-C16 alkylphenyl, n is an average number from 6-100, and m is an average number from about 0-50 provided that n≧m and (n+m) is about 6-100;
        (2) at least one nonionic, copolymerizable α,β-ethylenically unsaturated monomer having longer polymer chains than monomer B) and having the formula;

CH2═CYZ  (IV)

        where Y is H and Z is —COOR, —C6H4R′, or
    
    






    
    
         Y is CH3 and Z is —COOR, —C6H4R′ and R is C10-C20 alkyl hydroxyalkyl; R′ is C4-C8 alkyl; and R′′ is C9-C20 alkyl; and
        (3) at least one nonionic urethane monomer which is the urethane reaction product of a monohydric non-ionic surfactant with a monoethylenically unsaturated monoisocyanate.
    
    


In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method for inhibiting and mitigating the formation of oil-water emulsions generated during petroleum industry operations from oil and aqueous precursors which become mixed during the operations. This method for inhibiting and mitigating the formation of oil-water emulsions comprises providing a demulsifying effective amount, preferably 1 to 10,000 ppm, of the aforesaid aqueous water clarifier composition to the oil precursor, the aqueous precursor, or both, prior to, during or after mixing of the precursors.
The oil-water dispersion or emulsion may be an oil in water dispersion or emulsion, or a water in oil dispersion or emulsion.


DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A “polymer,” as used herein and as defined by F W Billmeyer, J R. in Textbook of Polymer Science, second edition, 1971, is a relatively large molecule made up of the reaction products of smaller chemical repeat units. Polymers may have structures that are linear, branched, star shaped, looped, hyperbranched, crosslinked, or a combination thereof; polymers may have a single type of repeat unit (“homopolymers”) or they may have more than one type of repeat unit (“copolymers”). Copolymers may have the various types of repeat units arranged randomly, in sequence, in blocks, in other arrangements, or in any mixture or combination thereof. Chemicals that react with each other to form the repeat units of a polymer are known herein as “monomers,” and a polymer is said herein to be made of, or comprise, “polymerized units” of the monomers that reacted to form the repeat units. The chemical reaction or reactions in which monomers react to become polymerized units of a polymer, whether a homopolymer or any type of copolymer, are known herein as “polymerizing” or “polymerization.”
In all of the compositions herein the weight percentages will always total 100 percent. Thus, the percentages stated hereinbelow to describe the proportions of the various monomeric components in the polymer are all based on the total weight of the polymer, with the total being 100 percent
Polymer molecular weights can be measured by standard methods such as, for example, size exclusion chromatography (also called gel permeation chromatography) or intrinsic viscosity.
As used herein, the prefix “(meth)acryl-” means “methacryl- or acryl-.”
The term “petroleum industry operations,” as used herein, includes, but not is limited to, activities and processes for exploration, production, refining and chemical processing of hydrocarbons including, but not limited to, crude oil, gas and their derivatives. For example, exploration often involves the initial drilling of wells wherein drilling fluid, or drilling mud, which is typically a mixture of liquid and gaseous fluids and solids, is used as lubricant and heat sink. Suitable dispersants are helpful to stabilize such mud to a homogenous composition. Production operations include, but are not limited to, pumping large quantities of water into the ground, as described above, which commensurately generates large quantities of “formation water,” an oil in water dispersion or emulsion. Breaking of such emulsions with additives to remove and recover oil from the produced water is a common and beneficial practice. Oil refining processes, for example, include but are not limited to, the removal of inorganic solids and salts (referred to as “desalting”) from produced oil. Desalting operations produce oil in water mixtures which require clarification and/or demulsifying prior to discharge or reuse. Lastly, chemical processing in the petroleum industry includes many various activities such as, for example, without limitation, production of ethylene by fractionation which involves water quench operations. The quench operations of ethylene manufacturing generate quench waters containing heavy, middle and light hydrocarbons and, therefore, require demulsifying and/or clarification. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize the many various operations performed in the petroleum industry to which the present invention is reasonably applicable and the invention is intended to include all such applications.
The term “oil-water emulsion,” as used herein, includes dispersions even where a stable emulsion does not exist and also includes water in oil emulsions and oil in water emulsions, as well as multiple emulsions, such as water in oil in water. Oil is the continuous, or external, phase in water in oil emulsions. For oil in water emulsions, the continuous, or external, phase is water.
Endpoints of ranges are considered to be definite and are recognized to incorporate within their tolerance other values within the knowledge of persons of ordinary skill in the art, including, but not limited to, those which are insignificantly different from the respective endpoint as related to this invention (in other words, endpoints are to be construed to incorporate values “about” or “close” or “near” to each respective endpoint). The range and ratio limits, recited herein, are combinable. For example, if ranges of 1-20 and 5-15 are recited for a particular parameter, it is understood that ranges of 1-5, 1-15, 5-20, or 15-20 are also contemplated and encompassed thereby.
The term stable when referring to the aqueous water clarifier compositions of the present invention is defined herein to mean the composition does not form a gel or precipitate due to temperature, be it at a low temperature, a high temperature, or cycling between a low temperature and a high temperature. Typically, low temperatures are −40° C. or higher and high temperatures are 60° C. and lower.
The present invention provides an aqueous water clarifying composition and a method for use thereof to separate oil and water phases of an oil-water dispersion or emulsion derived from petroleum industry operations. The aqueous water clarifying composition comprises:

    i) a latex dispersion of an anionic polymer wherein the anionic polymer comprises:
    
        A) at least one C3-C8 α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer;
        B) at least one nonionic, copolymerizable α,β-ethylenically unsaturated monomer;
        C) optionally, one or more of the following:
        
            (1) at least one nonionic vinyl surfactant ester;
            (2) at least one nonionic, copolymerizable α,β-ethylenically unsaturated monomer having longer polymer chains than monomer B); and,
            (3) at least one nonionic urethane monomer; and
        
        
        D) optionally, at least one crosslinker.
    
    


The latex dispersion of an anionic polymer may also comprise up to about 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the latex dispersion of an anionic polymer, of other anionic, cationic monomers, or nonionic monomers.
The latex dispersion of an anionic polymer i) is present in an amount equal to or greater than 20 weight percent, preferably equal to or greater than 30, and more preferably equal to or greater than 40 weight percent, based on the total weight of the aqueous water clarifier composition. The aqueous water clarifier composition comprises the latex dispersion of an anionic polymer i) in an amount equal to or less than 80 weight percent, preferably equal to or less than 70, and more preferably equal to or less than 60 weight percent, based on the total weight of the aqueous water clarifier composition.
The aqueous water clarifier composition further comprises an alcohol ii). Suitable alcohols may be selected from the group consisting of glycols, glycol ethers, methanol, ethanol and combinations thereof. Preferably, the alcohol is selected from isopropanol, diethyleneglycol monobutyl ether, ethyleneglycol monobutyl ether, diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethyleneglycol monobutylether, ethyleneglycol monopropylether, dipropyleneglycol monomethyl ether, dipropyleneglycol monobutyl ether, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, propyleneglycol monopropyl ether, propyleneglycol monobutyl ether, butyl acetate, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, and combinations thereof, preferably propylene glycol, more preferably ethylene glycol.
The alcohol ii) is present in an amount equal to or greater than 5 weight percent, preferably equal to or greater than 25, and more preferably equal to or greater than 45 weight percent, based on the total weight of the aqueous water clarifier composition. The aqueous water clarifier composition comprises the alcohol ii) in an amount equal to or less than 70 weight percent, preferably equal to or less than 60, and more preferably equal to or less than 55 weight percent, based on the total weight of the aqueous water clarifier composition.
The aqueous water clarifier composition further comprises a base iii). Surprisingly, we have found that the addition of base allows for a greater concentration of anionic polymer in the aqueous water clarifier composition of the present invention while retaining acceptable viscosity at reduced temperatures and remaining stable at higher temperatures and/or remaining stable while cycling between low and high temperatures. Too little base may result in instability during temperature cycling, e.g., the aqueous water clarifier composition may form a gel or precipitate. Too much base may result in instability, e.g., gel formation, at higher temperatures and during temperature cycling. Different anionic polymers require different amounts of base, an effective amount of base for a specific anionic polymer is an amount which provides stability to the aqueous water clarifier composition between −40° C. to 60° C. and cycling between −40° C. to 60° C.
Suitable bases are strong bases such as lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, barium hydroxide or rubidium hydroxide and week bases such as ammonia, methylamine and pyridine, preferably sodium hydroxide. The base is present in the aqueous water clarifier composition in an amount equal to or greater than 0.05 mmol per gram based on the dry weight of the anionic polymer (mmol/g), preferably equal to or greater than 0.65, and more preferably equal to or greater than 0.08 mmol/g based on the dry weight of the anionic polymer. The base is present in the aqueous water clarifier composition in an amount equal to or less than 0.22 mmol/g based on the dry weight of the anionic polymer, preferably equal to or less than 0.17 mmol/g, and more preferably equal to or less than 0.12 mmol/g based on the dry weight of the anionic polymer.
The aqueous water clarifier composition of the present invention comprises water. Water may be present in the latex dispersion of an anionic polymer i), diol ii), and/or base iii). If the latex dispersion of an anionic polymer i) comprises water and/or the diol ii) comprises water and/or the base iii) comprises water, the water is included in the weight percents described in the ranges for i), ii), and iii) herein above. However, additional water iv) may be added to the aqueous water clarifier composition. If additional water is added, the amount will make up the balance of the weight of the aqueous water clarifier composition such that the weight percents for i), ii), iii), and iv) add up to a total of 100 weight percent.
The present invention also provides a method for inhibiting and mitigating the formation of oil-water emulsions generated during petroleum industry operations from oil (organic) and water (aqueous) precursors which become mixed during said operations and otherwise form oil-water dispersions and emulsions. This method for inhibiting and mitigating the formation of oil-water emulsions comprises providing the above-described aqueous water clarifier composition to the oil precursor, the aqueous precursor, or both, prior to, during or after mixing of the precursors.
Whether provided to the precursors of oil-water dispersion or emulsions, or to already formed oil-water dispersions or emulsions, the use of the aqueous water clarifier composition in accordance with the present invention may reduce the viscosity of the resulting mixture of oil and water and, thus, better flow characteristics may be achieved which may facilitate further processing and handling.
Furthermore, whereas cationic polymers have typically been used in petroleum industry operations as demulsifiers and/or clarifiers of oil-water dispersions and emulsions, use of the latex dispersion of an anionic polymers in accordance with the methods of the present invention is expected to reduce potential harm to the environment. This is because it is believed that the latex dispersion of an anionic polymers described herein and their use as oil-water demulsifiers and clarifiers are less toxic than the cationic polymers previously used.
More particularly, the latex dispersion of an anionic polymers suitable for use in accordance with the present invention comprise 15-80% by weight, based on the total weight of the latex dispersion of an anionic polymer, of at least one unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer A), having the formula:




where R is H, and R′ is H, C1-C4 alkyl, or —CH2COOX; R is —COOX and R′ is H or —CH2COOX; or R is CH3 and R′ is H; and X is H or C1-C4 alkyl.

Suitable C3-C8 α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomers A) for use in the methods of the present invention include, for example, without limitation, (meth)acrylic acid, alpha-chloroacrylic acid, crotonic acid, fumaric acid, citraconic acid, mesaconic acid, itaconic acid, maleic acid, aconitic acid, and mixtures thereof. (Meth)acrylic acids are believed to be the most suitable.
The latex dispersion of an anionic polymers suitable for use in the methods of the present invention further comprise 15-80% by weight, based on the total weight of the latex dispersion of an anionic polymer, of at least one nonionic, copolymerizable α,β-ethylenically unsaturated monomer B), having the formula:

CH2═CYZ  (II)

where Y is H and Z is —COOR, —C6H4R′, CN, Cl,





or —CH═CH2; Y is CH3 and Z is —COOR, —C6H4R′, CN, C(O)OR, or —CH═CH2; or Y and Z are Cl; and R is C1-C8 alkyl or C2-C8 hydroxyalkyl; R′ is H, Cl, Br, or C1-C3 alkyl; and R′′ is C1-C8 alkyl.

Suitable nonionic, copolymerizable C2-C11 α,β-ethylenically unsaturated monomers B) for use in the methods of the present invention include, for example, without limitation, C1-C8 alkyl and C2-C8 hydroxyalkyl esters of acrylic and methacrylic acid including ethyl acrylate, ethyl methacrylate, methyl methacrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, propyl methacrylate, isopropyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate, butyl methacrylate, n-amyl methacrylate, sec-amyl methacrylate, hexyl methacrylate, crotyl methacrylate, hydroxy ethyl methacrylate, hydroxy propyl methacrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, 2-hydroxybutyl methacrylate; styrene, vinyltoluene, isopropylstyrene, and p-chlorostyrene; vinyl acetate, vinyl butyrate, vinyl caprolate; acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, butadiene, isoprene, vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride, vinyl propionate, vinyl butyrate, vinyl tert-butyrate, vinyl caprate, vinyl methyl ether, vinyl ethyl ether, vinyl n-propyl ether, vinyl iso-propyl ether, vinyl n-butyl ether, vinyl iso-butyl ether, vinyl phenyl ether, α-chlorovinyl phenyl ether, methacryonitrile, acrylamide, methacrylamide, N-alkyl acrylamides, N-aryl acrylamides, N-vinyl pyrrolidone, N-vinyl-3-morpholinones, N-vinyl-oxazolidone, N-vinyl-imidazole, and combinations thereof. In practice, a monovinyl ester such as ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, or a mixture thereof with styrene, hydroxyethyl acrylate, acrylonitrile, vinyl chloride or vinyl acetate is preferred.
The latex dispersion of anionic polymers suitable for use in the methods of the present invention may further comprise 0-50% by weight, based on the total weight of the latex dispersion of an anionic polymer, of one or more of the following monomers:
C1) at least one nonionic vinyl surfactant ester monomer, having the formula:




where R is H or CH3, each R′ is C1-C4 alkyl, R′′ is C8-C30 alkyl or C8-C16 alkylphenyl, n is an average number from 6-100, and m is an average number from about 0-50 provided that n≧m and (n+m) is about 6-100;

C2) at least one nonionic, copolymerizable α,β-ethylenically unsaturated monomer, having longer polymer chains than monomer B) and having the formula:

CH2═CYZ  (IV)

where Y is H and Z is —COOR, —C6H4R′,





Y is CH3 and Z is —COOR, —C6H4R′, C(O)OR; and R is C10-C20 alkyl hydroxyalkyl; R′ is C4-C8 alkyl; and R′′ is C9-C20 alkyl; or

C3) at least one nonionic urethane monomer which is the urethane reaction product of a monohydric non-ionic surfactant with a monoethylenically unsaturated monoisocyanate.
Suitable nonionic vinyl surfactant ester monomers C1) for use in the methods of the present invention are selected from the group consisting of:

    
    
        (1) alkylphenoxypoly(ethyleneoxy)ethyl acrylates of the formula:
    
    






    
    
        where R is H or CH3; Y′ is C8-C16 alkyl, and n is about 6-100;
        (2) alkoxypoly(ethyleneoxy)ethyl acrylates of the formula:
    
    






    
    
        where R is H or CH3, R′′ is C8-C20 alkyl, and n is about 6-50; and
        (3) alkoxypoly(alkyleneoxy)ethyl acrylates of the formula:
    
    






    
    
        where R is H or CH3, each R′ is C1-C4 alkyl, R′′ is C8-C20 alkyl, and n is about 6-50 and m is about 1-40.
    
    


Suitable nonionic, copolymerizable α,β-ethylenically unsaturated monomers C2) include, but are not limited to: lauryl methacrylate, stearyl methacrylate, ethylhexyl methacrylate, cinnamyl methacrylate, oleyl methacrylate, ricinoleyl methacrylate, t-butylstyrene, vinyl decanoate, vinyl stearate, vinyl laurate, vinyl oleate, vinyl iso-octyl ether, vinyl β-naphthyl ether, and combinations thereof.
Suitable nonionic urethane monomers include, but are not limited to, alkyl modified alpha-dimethyl-m-isopropenyl benzyl isocyanate, where the alkyl groups are, for example, nonyl-phenol, octyl-phenol, dinonyl-phenol, lauryl, stearyl, oleyl, and the like. Dimethyl-m-isopropenyl benzyl isocyanate is believed to be particularly suitable in the method of the present invention.
The latex dispersion of an anionic polymer suitable for use in the methods of the present invention further comprise, optionally, 0-5% by weight, based on the total weight of the latex dispersion of an anionic polymer, of at least one crosslinker D). For example, the latex dispersion of an anionic polymers may further include 0-3% by weight, or even 0-2% by weight, of at least one crosslinker.
Crosslinkers D) suitable for use in the methods of the present invention include, for example, without limitation, any copolymerizable compound which contains two or more nonconjugated points of ethylenic unsaturation or two or more nonconjugated vinylidene groups of the structure, CH2═C═, such as divinyltoluene, trivinylbenzene, divinylnaphthalene, trimethylene glycol diacrylate or dimethacrylate, 2-ethylhexane-1,3-dimethyacrylate, divinylxylene, divinylethylbenzene, divinyl ether, divinyl sulfone, allyl ethers of polyhdric compounds such as of glycerol, pentaerythritol, sorbitol, sucrose and resorcinol, divinylketone, divinylsulfide, allyl acrylate, diallyl maleate, diallyl fumarate, diallyl phthalate, diallyl succinate, diallyl carbonate, diallyl malonate, diallyl oxalate, diallyl adipate, diallyl sebacate, diallyl tartrate, diallyl silicate, trimethylolpropane diallyl ether, triallyl tricarballylate, triallyl aconitate, triallyl citrate, triallyl phosphate, N,N-methylenediacrylamide, N,N′-methylenedimethacrylamide, N,N′-ethylidenediacrylamide, 1,2-di-(α-methylmethylenesulfonamide)-ethylene, and combinations thereof. Trimethylolpropane diallyl ether is believed to be particularly suitable.
The weight percentages of the monomers comprising the anionic polymer total 100 percent.
The anionic polymers suitable for use in the methods of the present invention have weight average molecular weights between 10,000 and 20,000,000 g/mol, such as between 10,000 and 10,000,000 g/mol, or even between 40,000 and 1,000,000 g/mol. The anionic polymer molecular weights may be determined by standard methods such as, for example, size exclusion chromatography (also called gel permeation chromatography) or intrinsic viscosity. As will be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the relevant art, since some of the anionic polymers suitable for use in the present invention may be crosslinked and, therefore, may comprise extremely large polymer molecules. The molecular weight of such crosslinked anionic polymers may be extremely high and, therefore, practicably unmeasurable.
A demulsifying effective amount of the aqueous water clarifier composition, where it is to be added to a water in oil emulsion, or to the oil precursor of a water in oil dispersion or emulsion, is suitably 1 to 10,000 ppm, for example 1 to 1,000 ppm, or 1 to 500 ppm, or even 1 to 100 ppm. When added to an oil in water emulsion, for example, without limitation, comprising up to 10% by volume water, or to the aqueous precursor of an oil in water dispersion or emulsion, a demulsifying effective amount of anionic polymer is suitably 1 to 10,000 ppm, for example 1 to 1,000 ppm, or 1 to 500 ppm, or 1 to 200 ppm, or 1 to 100 ppm, or 1 to 50 ppm or even 1 to 5 ppm.
Anionic polymers in accordance with the present invention may be produced using any polymerization method, including, for example, solution polymerization, bulk polymerization, heterogeneous phase polymerization (including, for example, emulsion polymerization, suspension polymerization, dispersion polymerization, and reverse-emulsion polymerization), and combinations thereof. Independently, any type of polymerization reaction, including, for example, free radical polymerization, may be used. The preferred method of polymerization for production of anionic polymers suitable for use in the method of the present invention is emulsion polymerization. Such methods are well known in the prior art and the details can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,384,096.
When solution polymerization is used, the solvent may be an aqueous solvent (i.e., the solvent is 75% or more water, by weight, based on the weight of the solvent) or an organic solvent (i.e., a solvent that is not aqueous). Some suitable solvents contain, for example, a mixture of water and up to 75% by weight, based on the mixture, of one or more OH-containing solvents, which may be selected from the group consisting of: C1-C4-alkanols; C2-C10-alkylene glycols, in which the alkylene chain may be interrupted by one or more non-adjacent oxygen atoms; monoethers of the C2-C10-alkylene glycols with C1-C4-alkanols; and mixtures thereof.
Examples of suitable OH-containing solvents are methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, methyl diglycol, dipropylene glycol, butyl glycol, butyl diglycol, triethylene glycol, the methylethers of said glycols and also oligomers of ethylene oxide containing from 4 to 6 ethylene oxide units, oligomers of propylene oxide containing from 3 to 6 propylene oxide units and also polyethylene glycol-polypropylene glycol cooligomers. Independently, a solvent that contains water may optionally further contain one or more other water-miscible solvents such as, for example, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, N-methylpyrrolidone, dimethylformamide, etc.
In some embodiments, at least one copolymer is made by free radical polymerization in solution or emulsion. In some of such embodiments, for example, at least one copolymer is made by free radical solution polymerization in an aqueous solvent.
Typically, polymerization takes place in a reaction vessel. It is contemplated that some or all monomer is added to the reaction vessel while polymerization is occurring. For example, initiator may be added to the reaction vessel prior to monomer, and the conditions of reaction vessel (e.g., temperature, radiation, presence of reactive species, etc.) may be adjusted so that the initiator generates one or more free radicals prior to addition of monomer. For another example, initiator may be added simultaneously with all of or with a portion of one or more monomers. It is also contemplated that initiator may be added both before monomer and also simultaneously with one or more monomer.
In some embodiments, the process for preparing the polymer in accordance with the present invention involves forming a copolymer using one or more free-radical polymerization reactions. Among such embodiments, some involve the use of one or more initiators. An initiator is a molecule or mixture of molecules that, under certain conditions, produces at least one free radical capable of initiating a free-radical polymerization reaction. Some initiators (“thermal initiators”) produce such radicals by decomposing when exposed to sufficiently high temperature. Some initiators produce such radicals when certain molecules are mixed together to cause a chemical reaction that results in at least one free radical (such as, for example, some combinations known as “redox” initiators, which contain at least one oxidizing agent and at least one reducing agent). Some initiators (“photoinitiators”) produce radicals when exposed to radiation, such as, for example, ultraviolet light or electron beam. Also contemplated are initiators that can be exposed to high temperature simultaneously with the presence of at least one reducing agent, and such initiators may produce free radicals by thermal decomposition, by oxidation-reduction reaction, or by a combination thereof.
Examples of suitable photoinitiators are azobisisobutyronitrile, benzophenone, acetophenone, benzoin ether, benzyl dialkyl ketones and derivatives thereof.
Of the suitable thermal initiators, some have a decomposition temperature of 20° C. or higher; or 50° C. or higher. Independently, some have decomposition temperature of 180° C. or lower; or 90° C. or lower. Examples of suitable thermal initiators are inorganic peroxo-compounds, such as peroxodisulfates (ammonium and sodium peroxodisulfate), peroxosulfates, percarbonates and hydrogen peroxide; organic peroxo compounds, such as diacetyl peroxide, di-tert-butyl peroxide, diamyl peroxide, dioctanoyl peroxide, didecanoyl peroxide, dilauroyl peroxide, dibenzoyl peroxide, bis(o-tolyl) peroxide, succinyl peroxide, tert-butyl peracetate, tert-butyl permaleate, tert-butyl perisobutyrate, tert-butyl perpivalate, tert-butyl peroctoate, tert-butyl pemeodecanoate, tert-butyl perbenzoate, tert-butyl peroxide, tert-butyl hydroperoxide, cumene hydroperoxide, tert-butyl peroxy-2-ethylhexanoate and diisopropyl peroxydicarbamate; azo compounds, such as 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile, 2,2′-azobis(2-methylbutyronitrile), 2,2′-Azobis (2-methylpropionamidine)-dihydrochloride, and azobis(2-amidopropane) dihydrochloride.
In some embodiments, thermal initiators can optionally be used in combination with reducing compounds. Examples of such reducing compounds are phosphorus-containing compounds, such as phosphorus acid, hypophosphites and phosphinates; sulfur-containing compounds, such as sodium hydrogen sulfite, sodium sulfite, sodium metabisulfite, and sodium formaldehyde sulfoxylate; and hydrazine. It is considered that these reducing compounds, in some cases, also function as chain regulators.
One group of suitable initiators is the group of persulfates, including, for example, sodium persulfate. In some embodiments one or more persulfate is used in the presence of one or more reducing agents, including, for example, metal ions (such as, for example, ferrous ion, copper), sulfur-containing ions (such as, for example, S2O32−, HSO3−, SO32−, S2O52−, and mixtures thereof), and mixtures thereof.
When initiator is used, the amount of all initiator used, as a weight percentage based on the total weight of all monomers present, is 0.01% or more; or 0.03% or more; or 0.1% or more; or 0.3% or more. Independently, when initiator is used, the ratio of the weight of all initiator used to the total weight of all monomers used is 7% or less; or 3% or less; or 1% or less.
When initiator is used, it may be added in any fashion, at any time during the process. For example, some or all of the initiator may be added to the reaction vessel at the same time that one or more of the monomers are being added to the reaction vessel. In some embodiments, the initiator is added with a constant rate of addition. In other embodiments, the initiator is added with an increasing rate of addition, for example in two or more steps, where each step uses a higher rate of addition than the previous step. In some embodiments, the rate of addition of initiator increases and then decreases.
The process for preparing polymers in accordance with the present invention also involves the use of a chain regulator. A chain regulator is a compound that acts to limit the length of a growing polymer chain. Some suitable chain regulators are, for example, sulfur compounds, such as mercaptoethanol, 2-ethylhexyl thioglycolate, thioglycolic acid, and dodecyl mercaptan. Other suitable chain regulators are the reducing compounds mentioned herein above. In some embodiments, the chain regulator includes sodium metabisulfite. In some embodiments, the amount of chain regulator, as a percentage by weight based on the total weight of all monomers present, is 0% or 0.5% or more; or 1% or more; or 2% or more; or 4% or more. Independently, in some embodiments, the amount of chain regulator, as a percentage by weight based on the total weight of all monomers present, is 6% or less; or 4% or less; or 2% or less. In some embodiments, amounts of initiator larger than the amount needed to initiate polymerization can act as a chain regulator.
Other suitable chain regulators are, for example, the OH-containing compounds described hereinabove as suitable for use in a mixture with water to form a solvent. It is contemplated that, in some embodiments, the chain regulator is a component of the solvent and thus the chain regulator may be present in amounts larger than 15% by weight total weight of all monomers present.
Chain regulator may be added to the reaction vessel in any fashion. In some embodiments, the chain regulator is added to the reaction vessel at a constant rate of addition. In some embodiments, the chain regulator is added to the reaction vessel at a rate of addition that increases or decreases or a combination thereof.
For each ingredient that is added to the reaction vessel, that ingredient may be added in pure form. Alternatively, an ingredient that is added to the reaction vessel may be added in the form of a solution in a solvent, in the form of a mixture with one or more other ingredient, or as a combination thereof (i.e., as a mixture with one or more other ingredient, where that mixture is dissolved in a solvent). The form in which any one ingredient is added to the reaction vessel may be chosen independently of the form in which any other ingredient is added to the reaction vessel.
The way in which the aqueous water clarifier composition is provided to the oil-water emulsion is not critical and many delivery methods are well known and understood by persons of ordinary skill in the relevant art.
The use of reverse emulsion breaker compounds, which are typically lower molecular weight, high charge materials that break reverse emulsions so that the flocculants can function better, is common in petroleum industry operations. Examples of such reverse emulsion breaker compounds are, without limitation, polyamines, polyamine quats, tannins, and metal salts (Al-, Fe-based chlorides, hydroxides, etc.). The method of the present invention may further comprise use of the above-described anionic polymers along with such reverse emulsion breaker compounds.
Blends and formulations of the aqueous water clarifier composition with other components such as, without limitation, additional antifreeze agents, solvents, biocides, neutralizing agents, flow aids, and the like, may be formed and used in accordance with the method of the present invention. Such blends and formulations may be prepared as an emulsion or aqueous solution or otherwise.
It will be understood that the embodiments of the present invention described hereinabove are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art may make variations and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. All such variations and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.
EXAMPLES
In Examples 1 to 18 a latex dispersion of an anionic polymer of the present invention comprising a 29% active latex containing a lightly crosslinked methacrylic acid/ethyl acrylate copolymer is used. The latex dispersion of an anionic polymer is added to a mixture of ethylene glycol, and additional distilled water or 10% sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution in a 20 ml vial. Amounts are weight percents based on the total weight of the composition. Compositions and performance for Examples 1 to 18 are shown in Table 1.
In Table 1:
Low temperature stability is evaluated by placing 10 g of the formulation in a −40° C. freezer overnight. The formulation is considered to pass if the viscosity at −40° C. is less than 2000 cP and the formulation is gel free when warmed back to room temperature.
60° C. stability is evaluated by placing 10 g of the formulation in a 60° C. oven in a sealed vessel. The formulation is considered to pass if no obvious viscosity increase occurred at 60° C. or after the sample was cooled to room temperature.
Samples from these two tests were then cycled by testing the −40° C. test samples in the 60° C. test and the samples from the original 60° C. test were moved to the −40° C. If any of these samples produced evidence of polymer precipitation or gelling they were considered to be failed formulations.
Viscosity is determined at each temperature by visually comparing how the formulation flows in the sample vial versus a set of viscosity standards loaded in reference sample vials.















TABLE 1






Anionic
Ethylene
Water,
10%


−40° C./60° C.
NaOH,


Example
Polymer, %
Glycol, %
%
NaOH, %
−40° C.
60° C.
cycle
mmol/g























 1*
25
50
25

Pass
Pass
pass



 2*
30
45
25

Fail
Pass
Fail


 3*
30
50
20

Pass
Pass
Pass


 4*
35
50
15

Pass
Pass
Pass


 5*
35
55
10

Pass
Fail
Fail


 6*
37
50
13

Pass
Fail
Fail


 7*
40
50
10

Pass
Fail
Fail


 8*
49.9
50

0.1
Pass
Pass
Fail
0.016


 9*
49.8
50

0.2
Pass
Fail
Fail
0.033


 10*
49.7
50

0.3
Pass
Pass
Fail
0.050


11
49.5
50

0.5
Pass
Pass
Pass
0.083


12
49.4
50

0.6
Pass
Pass
Pass
0.100


13
49.3
50

0.7
Pass
Pass
Pass
0.117


14
49.0
50

1
Pass
Pass
Pass
0.168


15
48.8
50

1.2
Pass
Pass
Pass
0.202


 16*
48.7
50

1.3
fail
fail
Fail
0.220


 17*
48.6
50

1.4
fail
fail
Fail
0.237


 18*
48.0
50

2
fail
fail
Fail
0.343





*not an example of the present invention

## Claims

1. An aqueous water clarifier composition comprising:
i) a latex dispersion of an anionic polymer wherein the anionic polymer comprises:
A) at least one C3-C8 α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer;
B) at least one nonionic, copolymerizable α,β-ethylenically unsaturated monomer having the formula:


CH2═CYZ  (II)

where
Y is H and Z is —COOR, —C6H4R′, CN, Cl,








or —CH═CH2;
Y is CH3 and Z is —COOR, —C6H4R′, CN or —CH═CH2; or
Y and Z are Cl; and
R is C1-C8 alkyl or C2-C8 hydroxyalkyl;
R′ is H, Cl, Br, or C1-C3 alkyl; and
R′′ is C1-C8 alkyl;

C) optionally, one or more of the following:
1) at least one nonionic vinyl surfactant ester,
2) at least one nonionic, copolymerizable α,β-ethylenically unsaturated monomer having the formula:


CH2═CYZ  (IV)

where Y is H and Z is —COOR, —C6H4R′, or










 Y is CH3 and Z is —COOR, —C6H4R′ and R is C10-C20 alkyl hydroxyalkyl; R′ is C4-C8 alkyl; and R′′ is C9-C20 alkyl,

and
3) at least one nonionic urethane monomer; and

D) optionally, at least one crosslinker;

ii) an alcohol;
and
iii) a base,

wherein the aqueous water clarifier composition demonstrates no polymer precipitation or gelling between −40° C. to 60° C. and cycling between −40° C. to 60° C., and wherein:
a) the latex dispersion of an anionic polymer is present in an amount of from 20 to 80 weight percent;
b) the alcohol is present in an amount of from 5 to 70 weight percent;
c) the base present in an amount of greater than 0.05 mmol/g to less than 0.22 mmol/g based on the dry weight of the anionic polymer;
and
d) the balance of the composition is water,
wherein weight percents of a), b), c) and d) total 100 and are based on the total weight of the aqueous water clarifier composition.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the carboxylic acid monomer A) is methacrylic acid, acrylic acid or a mixture thereof and the unsaturated monomer B) is a monovinyl ester.

3. The composition of claim 1 wherein the alcohol is propylene glycol or ethylene glycol.

4. A method for inhibiting and mitigating the formation of oil-water emulsions generated during petroleum industry operations from oil and aqueous precursors which become mixed during said operations, said method comprising providing to the oil precursor, the aqueous precursor, or both, prior to, during or after mixing of the precursors, a demulsifying effective amount of an aqueous water clarifier composition comprising:
i) a latex dispersion of an anionic polymer comprising:
A) at least one C3-C8 α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer;
B) at least one nonionic, copolymerizable α,β-ethylenically unsaturated monomer having the formula:


CH2═CYZ  (II)

where
Y is H and Z is —COOR, —C6H4R′, CN, Cl,








or —CH═CH2;
Y is CH3 and Z is —COOR, —C6H4R′, CN or —CH═CH2; or
Y and Z are Cl; and
R is C1-C8 alkyl or C2-C8 hydroxyalkyl;
R′ is H, Cl, Br, or C1-C3 alkyl; and
R′′ is C1-C8 alkyl;

C) optionally, one or more of the following:
1) at least one nonionic vinyl surfactant ester,
2) at least one nonionic, copolymerizable α,β-ethylenically unsaturated monomer having the formula:


CH2═CYZ  (IV)

where Y is H and Z is —COOR, —C6H4R′, or










Y is CH3 and Z is —COOR, —C6H4R′ and R is C10-C20 alkyl hydroxyalkyl; R′ is C4-C8 alkyl; and R′′ is C9-C20 alkyl,

and
3) at least one nonionic urethane monomer; and

D) optionally, at least one crosslinker;

ii) an alcohol;
and
iii) a base,

wherein the aqueous water clarifier composition demonstrates no polymer precipitation or gelling between −40° C. to 60° C. and cycling between −40° C. to 60° C., and wherein:
a) the latex dispersion of an anionic polymer is present in an amount of from 20 to 80 weight percent;
b) the alcohol is present in an amount of from 5 to 70 weight percent;
c) the base present in an amount of greater than 0.05 mmol/g to less than 0.22 mmol/g based on the dry weight of the anionic polymer;
and
d) the balance of the composition is water,

wherein weight percents of a), b), c) and d) total 100 and are based on the total weight of the aqueous water clarifier composition.

5. The aqueous water clarifier composition of claim 1 wherein
i) the latex dispersion of an anionic polymer comprises:
A) 15-80% by weight of at least one C3-C8 α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer of the formula:






where R is H, and R′ is H, C1-C4 alkyl, or —CH2COOX;
R is —COOX and R′ is H or —CH2COOX; or
R is CH3 and R′ is H; and
X is H or C1-C4 alkyl;
B) 15-80% by weight of at least one nonionic, copolymerizable α,β-ethylenically unsaturated monomer of the formula (II);
and
C) 0-50% by weight of one or more of the following monomers:
1) at least one nonionic vinyl surfactant ester of the formula:








where
R is H or CH3, each R′ is C1-C4 alkyl,
R′′ is C8-C20 alkyl or C8-C16 alkylphenyl,
n is an average number from 6-100, and m is an average number from about 0-50 provided that n≧m and (n+m) is about 6-100; and
2) at least one nonionic, copolymerizable α,β-ethylenically unsaturated monomer having the formula (IV);
and
3) at least one nonionic urethane monomer which is the urethane reaction product of a monohydric non-ionic surfactant with a monoethylenically unsaturated monoisocyanate

wherein weight percents are based on the total weight of the latex dispersion of an anionic polymer.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the oil-water dispersion or emulsion is an oil in water dispersion or emulsion.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the oil-water dispersion or emulsion is a water in oil dispersion or emulsion.

8. The method according to claim 4, wherein the aqueous water clarifier composition is provided to the aqueous precursor.

9. The method according to claim 4, wherein the demulsifying effective amount of the aqueous water clarifier composition is 1 to 10,000 ppm.