Viscosity reduction of oils by sonic treatment

Abstract

The invention describes a method for decreasing the viscosity of crude oils and residuum utilizing a combination of acid and sonic treatment.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A process for decreasing the viscosity of crude oils and residuum comprising the steps of: 
 (a) contacting the crude oil or crude oil residuum with an effective amount of an acid,    (b) sonicating said crude oil or crude oil residuum and said acid at a temperature and for a time sufficient to decrease the viscosity of said crude oil or residuum.    
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said acid is selected from the group consisting of mineral acids, organic acids, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said acid is a mineral acid.  
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 2  wherein said acid is selected from the group consisting of sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, perchloric acid, acetic acid, para-toluene sulfonic acid, alkyl toluene sulfonic acids, mono di and trialkyl phosphoric acids, organic mono and di carboxylic acids, C 3  to C 16  organic carboxylic acids, succinic acid, petroleum naphthenic acid and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 4  wherein said acid is sulfuric acid.  
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 4  wherein said acid is petroleum naphthenic acid.  
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said step (b) is conducted at temperatures of about 20 to about 70° C.  
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said step (b) is conducted for times of about 0.15 to 6 hours.  
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the amount of said acid utilized is about 10 to about 10,000 ppm based on the amount of crude oil or crude oil residuum.  
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said sonication is conducted at frequencies of about 15 kHz to about 10 MHz.  
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said sonication is conducted at energy of about 25 to about 800 watts/cm 2 .  
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said process is conducted in an inert environment.  
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said process step (b) further includes an inert gas purge.  
     
     
         14 . A crude oil or crude oil residuum having decreased viscosity prepared by 
 contacting the crude oil or residuum with an effective amount of an acid,    sonicating said crude oil or residuum and said acid at a temperature and for a time sufficient to decrease the viscosity of said crude oil or residuum.    
     
     
         15 . A sonicated crude oil residuum having decreased viscous and elastic moduli relative to the unsonicated crude oil; said crude oil contacted with mineral acid prior to sonication.