Decreasing fouling in hydrocarbon-based fluids

Abstract

An effective amount of at least one first component and an effective amount of at least one second component may contact a hydrocarbon-based fluid or be introduced into a hydrocarbon-based fluid having at least one foulant for decreasing the fouling by the foulant(s) as compared to an otherwise identical hydrocarbon-based fluid absent the first component(s) and second component(s). The first component(s) may be considered a dispersant, and the second component(s) may be considered free radical inhibitors in a non-limiting embodiment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for decreasing fouling during the refining of a hydrocarbon-based fluid comprising at least one foulant; wherein the method comprises:
 contacting the hydrocarbon-based fluid with an effective amount of at least one first component to decrease fouling by the at least one foulant; wherein the at least one first component is selected from the group consisting of an acrylate vinyl pyrolidinone copolymer, a succinimide, an alpha olefin and maleic anhydride reaction product, a reaction product from nonyl phenol reaction with ethylene diamine, a C 24 -C 28  olefin and maleic anhydride copolymer, a Mannich reaction product, a dodecyl/tert-octyl phenol resin, a sulfonic acid, an inorganic overbase, and combinations thereof;   contacting the hydrocarbon-based fluid with an effective amount of at least one second component to decrease fouling by the at least one foulant; wherein the at least one second component is selected from the group consisting of 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol; 4-sec-butyl-2,6-di-tert-butylphenol; mixed tertiary butyl phenols; mixed hindered phenols; butylated hydroxytoluenes; quinones; amino-para-cresols; and combinations thereof;   wherein the contacting the hydrocarbon-based fluid with the at least one first component and the at least one second component occurs at the same time or a different time; and   decreasing the fouling by the at least one foulant within the hydrocarbon-based fluid as compared to an otherwise identical hydrocarbon-based fluid absent the contacting the hydrocarbon-based fluid with the at least one first component and the at least one second component.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the contacting the hydrocarbon-based fluid with the at least one first component occurs at a location selected from the group consisting of upstream from an ebullated bed hydrocracking unit, into an ebullated bed hydrocracking unit, into an interstage separator, into a vacuum distillation unit, into an atmospheric distillation unit, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the contacting the hydrocarbon-based fluid with the at least one second component occurs at a location selected from the group consisting of upstream from an ebullated bed hydrocracking unit, into an ebullated bed hydrocracking unit, into an interstage separator, into a vacuum distillation unit, into an atmospheric distillation unit, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon-based fluid is selected from the group consisting of a crude oil, a bitumen, a shale oil, a tight oil, a refinery fluid, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the hydrocarbon-based fluid is a crude oil blend having at least two different crude oils. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the effective amount of the at least one first component ranges from about 0.1 ppm to about 10,000 ppm based on the total amount of the hydrocarbon-based fluid. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the effective amount of the at least one second component ranges from about 0.1 ppm to about 10,000 ppm based on the total amount of the hydrocarbon-based fluid. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one foulant is selected from the group consisting of asphaltenes, coke precursors, coke, polyolefins, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . A method for decreasing fouling during the refining of a hydrocarbon-based fluid comprising at least one foulant; wherein the method comprises:
 introducing an additive into the hydrocarbon-based fluid in an amount ranging from about 0.1 ppm to about 10,000 ppm based on the total amount of the hydrocarbon-based fluid to decrease fouling by the at least one foulant; wherein the additive comprises at least one first component and at least one second component; wherein the at least one first component is selected from the group consisting of an acrylate vinyl pyrolidinone copolymer, a succinimide, an alpha olefin and maleic anhydride reaction product, a reaction product from nonyl phenol reaction with ethylene diamine, a C 24 -C 28  olefin and maleic anhydride copolymer, a Mannich reaction product, a dodecyl/tert-octyl phenol resin, a sulfonic acid, an inorganic overbase, and combinations thereof; wherein the at least one second component is selected from the group consisting of 2,6-di-ter-butyl-4-methylphenol, 4-sec-butyl-2,6-di-tert-butylphenol; mixed tertiary butyl phenols; mixed hindered phenols; butylated hydroxytoluenes; quinones; amino-para-cresols; and combinations thereof; and   decreasing the fouling by the at least one foulant within the hydrocarbon-based fluid as compared to an otherwise identical hydrocarbon-based fluid absent the introducing the additive into the hydrocarbon-based fluid;   
       wherein the hydrocarbon-based fluid is selected from the group consisting of a crude oil, a bitumen, a shale oil, a tight oil, a refinery fluid, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the introducing the additive into the hydrocarbon-based fluid occurs at a location selected from the group consisting of upstream from an ebullated bed hydrocracking unit, into an ebullated bed hydrocracking unit, into an interstage separator, into a vacuum distillation unit, into an atmospheric distillation unit, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the hydrocarbon-based fluid is a crude oil blend having at least two different crude oils. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one foulant is selected from the group consisting of asphaltenes, coke precursors, coke, polyolefins, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . A treated hydrocracked hydrocarbon-based fluid composition comprising:
 a hydrocarbon-based fluid selected from the group consisting of a crude oil, a bitumen, a shale oil, a tight oil, a refinery fluid, and combinations thereof;   at least one first component in an amount ranging from about 0.1 ppm to about 10,000 ppm based on the total amount of the hydrocarbon-based fluid; wherein the at least first component is selected from the group consisting of an acrylate vinyl pyrolidinone copolymer, a succinimide, an alpha olefin and maleic anhydride reaction product, a reaction product from nonyl phenol reaction with ethylene diamine, a C 24 -C 28  olefin and maleic anhydride copolymer, a Mannich reaction product, a dodecyl/tert-octyl phenol resin, a sulfonic acid, an inorganic overbase, and combinations thereof;   at least one second component in an amount ranging from about 0.1 ppm to about 10,000 ppm based on the total amount of the hydrocarbon-based fluid; wherein the at least one second component is selected from the group consisting of 2,6-di-ter-butyl-4-methylphenol; 4-sec-butyl-2,6-di-tert-butylphenol; mixed tertiary butyl phenols; mixed hindered phenols; butylated hydroxytoluenes; quinones; amino-para-cresols; and combinations thereof;   at least one foulant; and   wherein the treated hydrocracked hydrocarbon-based fluid composition comprises a decreased amount of the at least one foulant as compared to an otherwise identical hydrocracked hydrocarbon-based fluid composition absent the at least one first component and the at least one second component.   
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein the treated hydrocracked hydrocarbon-based fluid is present at a location selected from the group consisting of upstream from an ebullated bed hydrocracking unit, into an ebullated bed hydrocracking unit, into an interstage separator, into a vacuum distillation unit, into an atmospheric distillation unit, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein the hydrocarbon-based fluid is a crude oil is a crude oil blend having at least two different crude oils. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one foulant is selected from the group consisting of asphaltenes, coke precursors, coke, polyolefins, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . A treated hydrocracked hydrocarbon-based fluid composition comprising:
 a crude oil;   at least one first component selected from the group consisting of an acrylate vinyl pyrolidinone copolymer, a succinimide, an alpha olefin and maleic anhydride reaction product, a reaction product from nonyl phenol reaction with ethylene diamine, a C 24 -C 28  olefin and maleic anhydride copolymer, a Mannich reaction product, a dodecyl/tert-octyl phenol resin, a sulfonic acid, an inorganic overbase, and combinations thereof;   at least one second component selected from the group consisting of 2,6-di-ter-butyl-4-methylphenol; 4-sec-butyl-2,6-di-tert-butylphenol; mixed tertiary butyl phenols; mixed hindered phenols; butylated hydroxytoluenes; quinones; amino-para-cresols; and combinations thereof;   at least one foulant;   wherein the volume ratio of the at least one first component to the at least one second component ranges from about 1:1 to about 1:20; and   wherein the treated hydrocracked hydrocarbon-based fluid composition comprises a decreased amount of the at least one foulant as compared to an otherwise identical hydrocracked hydrocarbon-based fluid composition absent the at least one first component and the at least one second component.   
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 17 , wherein the crude oil is a crude oil blend having at least two different crude oils. 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one foulant is selected from the group consisting of asphaltenes, coke precursors, coke, and combinations thereof.