Method of transporting heavy crude oils in dispersion

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of transporting a viscous petroleum effluent in pipes, wherein the following stages are carried out: separating the effluent into at least a solid phase consisting of particles coming from the colloidal elements acting on the viscosity of said effluent and into a fluidized liquid phase, keeping an amount of particles dispersed in said fluidized liquid phase so as to obtain a suspension ( 2 ), and circulating the suspension in the pipe.

1 ) A method of transporting a viscous petroleum effluent in pipes, characterized in that the following stages are carried out: 
 separating the effluent into at least a solid phase consisting of particles coming from the colloidal elements that act on the viscosity of said effluent and into a fluidized liquid phase,    keeping an amount of particles dispersed in said fluidized liquid phase so as to obtain a suspension,    circulating said suspension in the pipe.    
   
   
       2 ) A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein separation is carried out by addition of an amount of n-alkane such as butane, pentane, heptane.  
   
   
       3 ) A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the particles are removed from the fluidized liquid phase.  
   
   
       4 ) A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said elements are asphaltenes.  
   
   
       5 ) A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said particles are dispersed through mechanical mixing.  
   
   
       6 ) A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the temperature of said circulating suspension is controlled so as to slow down dissolution of the particles in the effluent.  
   
   
       7 ) A method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the temperature of the suspension is kept below 40° C.  
   
   
       8 ) A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said particles are encapsulated after separation.  
   
   
       9 ) A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said particles are chemically modified prior to being dispersed in the fluidized effluent.  
   
   
       10 ) A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein an additive is added to disperse said particles.  
   
   
       11 ) A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a predetermined amount of a diluent for said liquid phase is added.  
   
   
       12 ) A method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein a badly-solubilizing diluent of said particles is selected.  
   
   
       13 ) A method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the precipitated asphaltenes are added in proportions ranging between 1 and 30% by mass.