Transport of heavy oil

Abstract

Provided herein are, inter alia, heavy crude oil emulsion compositions and methods of making the same. The compositions and methods provided herein are particularly useful for the transport of heavy crude oils.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heavy crude oil emulsion comprising a heavy crude oil, a co-solvent, a basic agent and water, wherein the viscosity of said emulsion is lower than the viscosity of said heavy crude oil. 
     
     
         2 . The emulsion of  claim 1 , wherein said emulsion is at a transport temperature. 
     
     
         3 . The emulsion of  claim 2 , wherein said transport temperature is less than 70° C. 
     
     
         4 . The emulsion of  claim 1 , wherein said co-solvent has the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein
 L 1  is unsubstituted C 1 -C 6  alkylene, unsubstituted phenylene, unsubstituted cyclohexylene, unsubstituted cyclopentylene or methyl-substituted cyclopentylene; 
 R 2  is independently hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; 
 R 3  is independently hydrogen or 
 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         
           R 4  is independently hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; 
           n is an integer from 0 to 30, and 
           m is an integer from 0 to 30. 
         
       
     
     
         5 . The emulsion of  claim 1 , wherein said co-solvent has the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein
 R 1  is independently hydrogen, unsubstituted C 1 -C 6  alkyl or R 5 —OH; 
 R 2  is independently hydrogen or unsubstituted C 1 -C 2  alkyl; 
 R 5  is independently a bond or unsubstituted C 1 -C 6  alkyl; 
 n is an integer from 1 to 30; 
 o is an integer from 1 to 5; and 
 z is an integer from 1 to 5. 
 
       
     
     
         6 . The emulsion of  claim 1 , wherein said basic agent is an alkali or an organic base. 
     
     
         7 . The emulsion of  claim 1 , further comprising a salt. 
     
     
         8 . The emulsion of  claim 7 , wherein said salt is NaCl, or KCl. 
     
     
         9 . The emulsion of  claim 1 , wherein said emulsion is within a vessel. 
     
     
         10 . The emulsion of  claim 9 , wherein said vessel is a pipeline. 
     
     
         11 . A method of forming a heavy crude oil emulsion, said method comprising:
 (i) contacting a heavy crude oil extracted from an oil reservoir with a co-solvent, a basic agent and water at an emulsion forming temperature, thereby forming a high temperature heavy crude oil emulsion;   (ii) allowing said high temperature heavy crude oil emulsion to cool to a transport temperature, thereby forming a heavy crude oil emulsion.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said basic agent is an alkali or an organic base. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising contacting said heavy crude oil with a salt. 
     
     
         14 . A method of transporting a heavy crude oil, comprising:
 (i) extracting a heavy crude oil from an oil reservoir, thereby forming an extracted heavy crude oil;   (ii) contacting said extracted heavy crude oil with a co-solvent, a basic agent and water at an emulsion forming temperature, thereby forming a high temperature heavy crude oil emulsion;   (iii) allowing said high temperature heavy crude oil emulsion to cool to a transport temperature, thereby forming a heavy crude oil emulsion;   (iv) transporting said heavy crude oil emulsion from a first location to a second location, thereby transporting said heavy crude oil.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said transporting of step (iv) is performed in a vessel. 
     
     
         16 . A method of forming a heavy crude oil emulsion in a production well, said method comprising contacting an extracted heavy crude oil in a production well with a co-solvent, a basic agent and water, thereby forming a heavy crude oil emulsion in the production well. 
     
     
         17 . A heavy crude oil emulsion comprising a first phase and a second phase, wherein said first phase comprises an oil-immiscible compound and a basic agent and said second phase comprises a heavy crude oil. 
     
     
         18 . The heavy crude oil emulsion of  claim 17 , wherein said heavy crude oil emulsion further comprises an amphiphilic co-solvent. 
     
     
         19 . The heavy crude oil emulsion of  claim 18 , wherein said amphiphilic co-solvent has the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein
 L 1  is unsubstituted C 1 -C 6  alkylene, unsubstituted phenylene, unsubstituted cyclohexylene, unsubstituted cyclopentylene or methyl-substituted cyclopentylene; 
 R 2  is independently hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; 
 R 3  is independently hydrogen or 
 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         
           R 4  is independently hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; 
           n is an integer from 0 to 30, and 
           m is an integer from 0 to 30. 
         
       
     
     
         20 . The heavy crude oil emulsion of  claim 18 , wherein said amphiphilic co-solvent has the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein
 R 1  is independently hydrogen, unsubstituted C 1 -C 6  alkyl or R 5 —OH; 
 R 2  is independently hydrogen or unsubstituted C 1 -C 2  alkyl; 
 R 5  is independently a bond or unsubstituted C 1 -C 6  alkyl; 
 n is an integer from 1 to 30; 
 o is an integer from 1 to 5; and 
 z is an integer from 1 to 5.