Method and composition to decrease iron sulfide deposits in pipe lines

Abstract

The levels of iron sulfide present in a conduit, such as a pipeline, are reduced by contacting the conduit, on an inner surface, with a composition obtained from an aqueous solution containing at least one compound of Formula (I) and at least one amine or corresponding ammonium derivative in the presence of a solvent, wherein X is an anion of valency n. Preferably, the pH of the solution is about 8. Alternatively, the method employs a composition comprising tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine (TRIS) and at least one amine or corresponding ammonium derivative. The amine preferably is ammonia or a primary alkylamine. The compositions readily complex and thereby dissolve deposits of iron(II) sulfide, removing them from the conduit.

1 . A method of decreasing the level of iron sulfide in a conduit that has an internal surface, comprising 
 (a) contacting said internal surface with a first composition, obtained by a process comprised of combining at least one compound of Formula (I):                          with at least one amine or ammonium derivative thereof in the presence of an aqueous solvent, wherein X is an anion of valency n, whereby a second composition is obtained; and    (b) removing from said conduit said second composition.    
   
   
       2 - 24 . (canceled)  
   
   
       25 . A method of decreasing the level of iron sulfide in a conduit, comprising: 
 (a) contacting said conduit with a composition comprising tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine (TRIS), at least one amine or ammonium derivative thereof, and a solvent whereby a second composition is obtained; and    (b) removing from said conduit said second composition.    
   
   
       26 - 43 . (canceled)  
   
   
       44 . A composition obtained by a process comprised of combining at least one compound of Formula (I):  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     with at least one amine or ammonium derivative thereof selected from the group consisting of alkylamines, dialkylamines, and the conjugate acids thereof in the presence of an aqueous solvent, wherein X is an anion of valency n.  
   
   
       45 . The composition of  claim 44 , wherein X is selected from the group consisting of chloride, bromide, iodide, lower alkyl carboxylates, bisulfite, bisulfate, hydrocarbyl sulfonates, dihydrogenphosphate, nitrate, hexafluorophosphate, sulfate, sulfite, monohydrogenphosphate, and phosphate.  
   
   
       46 . The composition of  claim 44 , wherein said compound is selected from tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium sulfate and tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium chloride.  
   
   
       47 . (canceled)  
   
   
       48 . The composition of  claim 44 , wherein said amine or ammonium derivative is selected from the group consisting of alkylamines and the conjugate acids thereof.  
   
   
       49 . The composition of  claim 48 , wherein said alkylamine or conjugate acid thereof is selected from the group consisting of methylamine, ethylamine, propylamine, isopropylamine, butylamine, tertbutylamine, and the conjugate acids thereof.  
   
   
       50 . The composition of  claim 49 , wherein said alkylamine is methylamine.  
   
   
       51 . The composition of  claim 44 , wherein the molar ratio of phosphorus not in X to nitrogen in said amine or ammonium derivative thereof is from about 1:1 to about 15:1.  
   
   
       52 . The composition of  claim 51 , wherein said molar ratio is from about 1.5:1 to about 8:1.  
   
   
       53 . The composition of  claim 52 , wherein said molar ratio is about 2.5:1.  
   
   
       54 . The composition of  claim 44 , wherein said solvent is water or a mixture comprising water and an alcohol.  
   
   
       55 . The composition of  claim 54 , wherein said alcohol is methanol.  
   
   
       56 . The composition of  claim 54 , wherein said solvent is water.  
   
   
       57 . The composition of  claim 54 , wherein the pH of said solvent is between about 4.5 to about 10.  
   
   
       58 . The composition of  claim 54 , wherein said pH is between about 6 to about 9.  
   
   
       59 . The composition of  claim 58 , wherein said pH is about 8.  
   
   
       60 . The composition of  claim 44 , wherein said compound is present in an amount between 1 to 90% by weight of said composition.  
   
   
       61 . The composition of  claim 60 , wherein said compound is present in an amount of 5% by weight of said composition.  
   
   
       62 . The composition of  claim 61 , wherein said compound is present in an amount of 1% by weight of said composition.  
   
   
       63 . The composition of  claim 44 , wherein said amine or ammonium derivative thereof comprises between 0.05 to 2.0% by weight of said composition.  
   
   
       64 . A composition comprising tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine (TRIS), at least one amine or ammonium derivative thereof selected from the group consisting of alkylamines, dialkylamines, and the conjugate acids thereof, and a solvent.  
   
   
       65 . (canceled)  
   
   
       66 . The composition of  claim 64 , wherein said amine or ammonium derivative is selected from the group consisting of alkylamines and the conjugate acids thereof.  
   
   
       67 . The composition of  claim 66 , wherein said alkylamine or conjugate acid thereof is selected from the group consisting of methylamine, ethylamine, propylamine, isopropylamine, butylamine, tertbutylamine, and the conjugate acids thereof.  
   
   
       68 . The composition of  claim 67 , wherein said alkylamine is methylamine.  
   
   
       69 . The composition of  claim 64 , wherein the molar ratio of TRIS to amine or ammonium derivative thereof is from about 1:1 to about 15:1.  
   
   
       70 . The composition of  claim 69 , wherein said molar ratio is from about 1.5:1 to about 8:1.  
   
   
       71 . The composition of  claim 70 , wherein said molar ratio is about 2.5:1.  
   
   
       72 . The composition of  claim 64 , wherein said solvent is water or a mixture comprising water and an alcohol.  
   
   
       73 . The composition of  claim 72 , wherein said alcohol is methanol.  
   
   
       74 . The composition of  claim 72 , wherein said solvent is water.  
   
   
       75 . The composition of  claim 64 , wherein TRIS is present in an amount between 1 to 90% by weight of said composition.  
   
   
       76 . The composition of  claim 75 , wherein TRIS is present in an amount of 5% by weight of said composition.  
   
   
       77 . The composition of  claim 76 , wherein TRIS is present in an amount of 1% by weight of said composition.  
   
   
       78 . The composition of  claim 64 , wherein said amine or ammonium derivative thereof comprises between 0.05 to 2.0% by weight of said composition.  
   
   
       79 . A composition obtained by a process comprised of combining at least one compound of Formula (I):  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     with at least one amine or ammonium derivative thereof and at least one other amine or ammonium derivative thereof in the presence of an aqueous solvent, wherein X is an anion of valency n.  
   
   
       80 . The composition of  claim 79 , wherein X is selected from the group consisting of chloride, bromide, iodide, lower alkyl carboxylates, bisulfite, bisulfate, hydrocarbyl sulfonates, dihydrogenphosphate, nitrate, hexafluorophosphate, sulfate, sulfite, monohydrogenphosphate, and phosphate.  
   
   
       81 . The composition of  claim 80 , wherein said compound is selected from tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium sulfate and tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium chloride.  
   
   
       82 . The composition of  claim 79 , wherein said amine or ammonium derivative and other amine or ammonium derivative are selected from the group consisting of ammonia, alkylamines, dialkylamines, alkylenediamines, cycloalkylamines, and the conjugate acids thereof.  
   
   
       83 . The composition of  claim 82 , wherein said amine or ammonium derivative is selected from the group consisting of ammonia and alkylamines.  
   
   
       84 . The composition of  claim 83 , wherein said amine is selected from the group consisting of methylamine, ethylamine, propylamine, isopropylamine, butylamine, tertbutylamine, 1,2-diaminoethane, 1,3-diaminopropane, cyclopropylamine, cyclobutylamine, cyclopentylamine, cyclohexylamine, and the conjugate acids thereof.  
   
   
       85 . The composition of  claim 84 , wherein said amine is selected from the group consisting of methylamine and 1,2-diaminoethane.  
   
   
       86 . The composition of  claim 82 , wherein said other amine or ammonium derivative is selected from the group consisting of ammonia and ammonium chloride.  
   
   
       87 . The composition of  claim 82 , wherein said amine or ammonium derivative is selected from the group consisting of methylamine and 1,2-diaminoethane and said other amine or ammonium derivative is selected from the group consisting of ammonia and ammonium chloride.  
   
   
       88 . The composition of  claim 79 , wherein the molar ratio of phosphorus not in X to nitrogen in said amine or ammonium derivative thereof and said other amine or ammonium derivative thereof is from about 1:1 to about 15:1.  
   
   
       89 . The composition of  claim 88 , wherein said molar ratio is from about 1.5:1 to about 8:1.  
   
   
       90 . The composition of  claim 89 , wherein said molar ratio is about 2.5:1.  
   
   
       91 . The composition of  claim 79 , wherein said solvent is water or a mixture comprising water and an alcohol.  
   
   
       92 . The composition of  claim 91 , wherein said alcohol is methanol.  
   
   
       93 . The composition of  claim 91 , wherein said solvent is water.  
   
   
       94 . The composition of  claim 91 , wherein the pH of said solvent is between about 4.5 to about 10.  
   
   
       95 . The composition of  claim 94 , wherein said pH is between about 6 to about 9.  
   
   
       96 . The composition of  claim 95 , wherein said pH is about 8.  
   
   
       97 . The composition of  claim 79 , wherein said compound is present in an amount between 1 to 90% by weight of said composition.  
   
   
       98 . The composition of  claim 97 , wherein said compound is present in an amount of 5% by weight of said composition.  
   
   
       99 . The composition of  claim 98 , wherein said compound is present in an amount of 1% by weight of said composition.  
   
   
       100 . The composition of  claim 79 , wherein said amine or ammonium derivative thereof and said other amine or ammonium derivative thereof comprises between 0.05 to 2.0% by weight of said composition.  
   
   
       101 . A composition comprising tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine (TRIS), at least one amine or ammonium derivative thereof,and at least one other amine or ammonium derivative thereof in the presence of a solvent.  
   
   
       102 . The composition of  claim 101 , wherein said amine or ammonium derivative and other amine or ammonium derivative are selected from the group consisting of ammonia, alkylamines, dialkylamines, alkylenediamines, cycloalkylamines, and the conjugate acids thereof.  
   
   
       103 . The composition of  claim 102 , wherein said amine or ammonium derivative is selected from the group consisting of ammonia and alkylamines.  
   
   
       104 . The composition of  claim 103 , wherein said amine is selected from the group consisting of methylamine, ethylamine, propylamine, isopropylamine, butylamine, tertbutylamine, 1,2-diaminoethane, 1,3-diaminopropane, cyclopropylamine, cyclobutylamine, cyclopentylamine, cyclohexylamine, and the conjugate acids thereof.  
   
   
       105 . The composition of  claim 104 , wherein said amine is selected from the group consisting of methylamine and 1,2-diaminoethane.  
   
   
       106 . The composition of  claim 102 , wherein said other amine or ammonium derivative is selected from the group consisting of ammonia and ammonium chloride.  
   
   
       107 . The composition of  claim 102 , wherein said amine or ammonium derivative is selected from the group consisting of methylamine and 1,2-diaminoethane and said other amine or ammonium derivative is selected from the group consisting of ammonia and ammonium chloride.  
   
   
       108 . The composition of  claim 101 , wherein the molar ratio of phosphorus not in X to nitrogen in said amine or ammonium derivative thereof and said other amine or ammonium derivative thereof is from about 1:1 to about 15:1.  
   
   
       109 . The composition of  claim 108 , wherein said molar ratio is from about 1.5:1 to about 8:1.  
   
   
       110 . The composition of  claim 109 , wherein said molar ratio is about 2.5:1.  
   
   
       111 . The composition of  claim 101 , wherein said solvent is water or a mixture comprising water and an alcohol.  
   
   
       112 . The composition of  claim 111 , wherein said alcohol is methanol.  
   
   
       113 . The composition of  claim 111 , wherein said solvent is water.  
   
   
       114 . The composition of  claim 101 , wherein TRIS is present in an amount between 1 to 90% by weight of said composition.  
   
   
       115 . The composition of  claim 114 , wherein TRIS is present in an amount of 5% by weight of said composition.  
   
   
       116 . The composition of  claim 115 , wherein TRIS is present in an amount of 1% by weight of said composition.  
   
   
       117 . The composition of  claim 101 , wherein said amine or ammonium derivative thereof and said other amine or ammonium derivative thereof comprises between 0.05 to 2.0% by weight of said composition.