Crude Oil Composition Comprising an Additive for Improving the Flow Properties of Paraffin-Containing Crude Oil

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This patent describes a crude oil composition that includes an additive specifically designed to enhance the flow properties of crude oils high in paraffin content. The key innovation is the use of a copolymer additive made from monomers such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, styrene, and styrene derivatives. When added to paraffin-containing crude oil, this copolymer lowers the oil's pour point, meaning it remains liquid at lower temperatures, thus preventing blockages and improving transportability, especially in cold conditions.

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• Pipeline transport of crude oil in cold climates to prevent solidification and blockages.
• Storage of paraffin-rich crude oil at lower temperatures without flow issues.
• Improving operational reliability in oil production, transport, and refining systems that handle paraffinic crude.
• Transportation of crude oil through regions experiencing seasonal temperature drops or cold weather.
• Facilitating offloading and processing of heavy, paraffinic crude oils at terminals and refineries.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Significantly reduces the pour point of paraffin-rich crude oil, keeping it fluid at lower temperatures.
• Prevents or mitigates paraffin deposit build-up and blockages in pipelines and storage tanks.
• Reduces the need for mechanical or thermal methods (scraping, heating) to maintain flow, lowering operational costs and energy usage.
• Enhances reliability and safety in crude oil logistics, minimizing downtime due to oil solidification.
• Flexible formulation: copolymer additives can be tailored to match the characteristics of different crudes and temperature profiles.
• Potential for lower additive dosages (effective at low concentrations), reducing additive costs and environmental impact.

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Patent Abstract

The invention relates to the improvement of the flow properties of paraffin-containing crude oil. The problem addressed by the present invention is that of providing a means of favourably influencing the pour point of crude oil and hence improving the flow properties of paraffin-containing crude oil. In one aspect, the invention, for this purpose, provides a crude oil composition comprising a paraffin-containing crude oil and an amount of an additive that brings about lowering of the pour point of the crude oil, wherein the additive comprises at least one copolymer composed of at least two comonomers, and wherein all comonomers that make up the copolymer are selected from the groups (a) and (b) of comonomers, and wherein group (a) consists of comonomers formed from acrylic acid and methacrylic acid, and group (b) consists of comonomers formed from styrene and a styrene derivative.