HIGHLY RANDOM ADDITION BYPOLYMERS FOR DESTABILIZATION OF COMPLEX EMULSIONS IN CRUDE OIL BLENDS

Abstract

The present invention is related to the use of ethylene alkanoate-alkyl acrylate bipolymers with a high randomness monomers distribution, which are synthesized by semicontinuous emulsion polymerization process, characterized because it is carried out using slow addition rate of the pre-emulsion feeding ({dot over (q)}≤0.009 kg.Math.L.sup.−1.Math.min.sup.−1), stabilized this last one by alkyl glycol ether type surfactants, at temperatures higher than 75° C. and with solids contents above 25 wt %, which avoids the formation of large sequences (blocks) of a same monomer. This structural characteristic gives the ethylene alkanoate-alkyl acrylate bipolymers a high efficiency as chemical agents for removal of complex water/crude oil emulsions of crude oil blends.

Claims

1. A high randomness addition bipolymer with a high randomness distribution of ethylene alkanoate and alkyl acrylate monomers for destabilizing complex emulsions of crude oils blends, comprising the structural formula: ##STR00002## Where: R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are independent radicals represented by the groups; R.sub.1═H, CN, CH.sub.2CH═CH.sub.2, CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH═CHCCH.sub.2CH.sub.3; R.sub.2═H, CH.sub.3; R.sub.3═CH.sub.3, C.sub.2H.sub.5, C.sub.4H.sub.9, C.sub.6H.sub.13, C.sub.8H.sub.17, C.sub.10H.sub.21, C.sub.12H.sub.25, C.sub.18H.sub.37; R.sub.4═CH.sub.3, Ph, C.sub.2H.sub.5, C.sub.5H.sub.7, C.sub.11H.sub.23, C.sub.17H.sub.33; u=number of ethylene alkanoate monomers between 1 and 40; v=number of alkyl acrylates monomers between 1 and 95.

2. The high randomness bipolymer according to claim 1, comprising an average molecular mass of from 1112 to 11960 g.Math.mol.sup.−1.

3. A composition of high randomness biopolymer for destabilizing complex emulsions in crude oils blends, comprising a composition of ethylene alkanoate-alkyl acrylate bipolymer dissolved at a concentration of from 10 to 50 wt % in a carrier solvent selected from the group consisting of xylene, benzene, toluene, methyl-ethyl-ketone, kerosene, jet fuel, naphtha, and mixtures thereof, and having a boiling point between 35 and 200° C.

4. A method for synthesizing ethylene alkanoate-alkyl acrylate bipolymers comprising the steps of: performing a semi-continuous emulsion polymerization of a combination of two monomers in a main reactor at a temperature between 75 and 82° C. under monomer starved feed conditions; adding a pre-emulsion from a stirred feeding tank at a feeding rate between 0.001 and 0.009 kg.Math.L.sup.−1.Math.min.sup.−1; and adding an initiator solution from a stirred tank at a feeding rate between 0.0002 and 0.0009 kg.Math.L.sup.−1.Math.min.sup.−1.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the combination of monomers constitutes between 30 and 40 wt % of a total amount of components in the main reactor.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the combination of monomers comprises an alkyl acrylate monomer selected from the group consisting of methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, pentyl acrylate, iso-bornyl acrylate, iso-butyl acrylate, tert-butyl acrylate, hexyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, 3,5,5-trimethylhexyl acrylate, 2-methoxyethyl acrylate, 2-phenoxyethyl acrylate, 4-tert-butylciclohexyl acrylate, octyl acrylate, iso-decyl acrylate, decyl acrylate, lauryl acrylate, tridecyl acrylate, octadecyl acrylate, behenyl acrylate and mixtures thereof.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the combination of monomers comprises an ethylene alkanoate monomer selected from the group consisting of ethylene ethanoate, ciano ethylene ethanoate, vinyl propianoate, ethenyl benzoate, vinyl butyrate, vinyl laurate, vinyl stearate and mixtures thereof.

8. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of mixing the combination of monomers in a pre-emulsion tank, wherein the combination of monomers includes from 4 to 35 wt % of an ethylene alkanoate monomer and from 60 to 95 wt % of an alkyl acrylate monomer.

9. The method according to the claim 8 further comprising the step of feeding one or more surfactants to the combination of monomers, the one or more surfactants selected from the group consisting of ether glycol alkyl sodium salts, in an amount of 1.0 to 10.0 wt % based on a mass of the combination of monomers in the pre-emulsion tank.

10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of feeding a transfer agent, of alkyl mercaptane type, in an amount between 0.5 and 3.5 wt %, based on a mass of the combination of monomers in the pre-emulsion tank.

11. The method according to the claim 8, further comprising the step of feeding an initiator comprising at least one of sodium, potassium and ammonium persulfate or methabisulfite in an amount of 0.5 to 3.5 wt % based on a mass of the combination of monomers in the pre-emulsion tank.

12. A method of using a random bipolymer based on alkyl acrylate and ethylene alkanoate for removing complex emulsions of crude oils blends with API gravities between 4 and 35° API, comprising the step of adding the random bipolymer to one of said crude oils blends in an amount between 10 and 2000 ppm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0065] In order to have a better understanding of the highly random addition bipolymers to destabilize complex emulsions in crude oil blends of the present invention, a brief description of the drawings is provided below:

[0066] FIG. 1 shows, in schematic form, the bipolymers structure of low randomness, where, (a) long sequences of one of the monomers are observed, as well as the current monomer in smaller numbers is not placed at the ends of the chain [31]; compared with the bipolymers of high randomness and, (b) the monomers distribution in the bipolymers chains is shown, where a better distribution is detected, being able to locate the current monomers in even a fewer amount in the ending fragments of polymeric chain.

[0067] FIG. 2 presents the performance of bipolymers of low randomness, showing a schematic shape, as the reported in FIG. 1a), to destabilize complex emulsions in crude oils blends that are described in the present invention and are presented in order to set forth the dehydrating effect of the BA/EE bipolymer—60/40 wt % (M.sub.n=2181 g.Math.mol.sup.−1)—(data taken from Ramírez, D. [30]) and the FC-01 polyethers formulation (results obtained by our research group) at different dosages in a Mexican heavy crude oil (Φ.sub.H2O=56 vol %, T=80° C.).

[0068] FIG. 3 displays the .sup.13C NMR spectrum of the BA/EE acrylic-ethylene ethanoate bipolymer, 60/40 wt %, Mn=2181 g.Math.mol.sup.−1, reported by Ramírez, D. [32], this bipolymer show a schematic shape of low randomness to destabilize complex emulsions in crude oil blends as was reported in FIG. 1(a).

[0069] FIG. 4 shows the FTIR spectrum of BV-642 random ethylene ethanoate-acrylic bipolymer of the present invention, where the characteristic bands of the functional groups are identified (BA/EE composition 60/40 wt %, M.sub.n=3668 g.Math.mol.sup.−1).

[0070] FIG. 5 displays the .sup.13C NMR spectrum of BV-642 random bipolymer of the present invention, where its main signals are identified (BA/EE composition: 60/40 wt %, M.sub.n=3668 g.Math.mol.sup.−1). In the upper left part is shown the signal enlargement at δ=69.78, 20.88 and 20.57 ppm, since it is essential that the BV random bipolymer contains these signals to prove its high randomness.

[0071] FIG. 6 shows the DEPT-135 NMR spectrum of the random acrylic-ethylene ethanoate bipolymer of the present invention (BV-642, BA/EE composition 60/40 wt %, M.sub.n=3668 g.Math.mol.sup.−1), which has been used for the assignment of the signals of each carbon atoms, according to their type (CH.sub.3, CH.sub.2 or CH).

[0072] FIG. 7 shows the .sup.1H NMR spectrum of the random bipolymer of the present invention, (BV-642, AB/EE composition of 60/40 wt %, M.sub.n=3668 g.Math.mol.sup.−1), where the main signals are identified.

[0073] FIG. 8 shows the DEPT-135 NMR spectrum of COP-04 copolymer, synthesized according to the procedure reported by Ramírez, D. [29], with an AB/EE composition of 60/40 wt %, M.sub.n=2198 g.Math.mol.sup.−1.

[0074] FIG. 9 presents the performance as dehydrating agents of heavy crude oil (MCO) (φ.sub.H2O=22 vol %; T=60° C.; 20.17° API) of the random bipolymer based on ethylene ethanoate-acrylic of the present invention (BV-642, AB/EE composition of 60/40 wt %, M.sub.n=3668 g.Math.mol.sup.−1), the COP-04 ethylene ethanoate-acrylic copolymer (AB/EE composition of 60/40 wt %, M.sub.n=2198 g.Math.mol.sup.−1) and the FC-01 commercial formulation at a dosage of 500 ppm.

[0075] FIG. 10 illustrates the bottle images and micrographics of MCO.sub.1 heavy crude oil of 20.17° API after the assessment with the random BV-642 bipolymer (AB/EE composition of 60/40 wt %, M.sub.n=3668 g.Math.mol.sup.−1), COP-04 ethylene ethanoate-acrylic copolymer (AB/EE composition of 60/40 wt %, M.sub.n=2198 g.Math.mol.sup.−1), and the FC-01 commercial formulation at a dosage of 500 ppm.

[0076] FIG. 11 shows the performances as dehydrating agents of the MCO.sub.1 heavy crude oil (φ.sub.H2O=22 vol %; T=60° C.; 20.17° API) for the series of random bipolymers based on alkyl acrylate and ethylene ethanoate of different molecular weights at a dosage of 500 ppm. It is observed that the water removal strongly depends on the number average molecular weight of the highly random BV acrylic/ethylene alkanoate bipolymers (composition of AB/EE: 60/40 wt %, M.sub.n=4107 g.Math.mol.sup.−1 (BV-641), 3668 g.Math.mol.sup.−1 (BV-642), 3297 g.Math.mol.sup.−1 (BV-643), and 3092 g.Math.mol.sup.−1 (BV-644)).

[0077] FIG. 12 shows the bottles images and micrographs of the heavy crude oil of 20.17° API (MCO) after the assessment of the series of random bipolymers based on alkyl-ethylene ethanoate of different molecular weights at a dosage of 500 ppm. It is observed the water removal strongly depends of the number average molecular weight of the highly random BV acrylic/ethylene alkanoate bipolymers (composition, AB/EE: 60/40 wt %, M.sub.n=4107 g.Math.mol.sup.−1 (BV-641), 3668 g/mol (BV-642), 3297 g.Math.mol.sup.−1 (BV-643,) and 3092 g.Math.mol.sup.−1 (BV-644)).

[0078] FIG. 13 shows the performance as dehydrating agents in the MCO.sub.2 light crude oil (φ.sub.H2O=39 vol %; T=80° C.; 33.1° API) of the random BV-642 bipolymer based on alkyl acrylate-ethylene ethanoate of the present invention (AB/EE composition of 60/40 wt %, M.sub.n=3668 g.Math.mol.sup.−1), COP-04 ethylene ethanoate-acrylic copolymer (AB/EE composition of 60/40 wt %, M.sub.n=2198 g.Math.mol.sup.−1), and the FC-01commercial formulation at a dosage of 1500 ppm.

[0079] FIG. 14 shows the bottles images and micrographs of the light crude oil of 33.1° API (MCO.sub.2) after the assessment with the random BV-642 bipolymer (AB/EE composition of 60/40 wt %, M.sub.n=3668 g.Math.mol.sup.−1), COP-04 ethylene ethanoate-acrylic copolymer (AB/EE composition: 60/40 wt %, M.sub.n=2198 g.Math.mol.sup.−1), and the FC-01 commercial formulation at a dosage of 1500 ppm.

[0080] FIG. 15 shows the performances as dehydrating agents in the MCO.sub.3 extra heavy crude oil (φ.sub.H2O=72 vol %; T=80° C.; 4.64° API) of the random BV-642 ethylene alkanoate-acrylic bipolymers of the present invention (AB/EE composition of 60/40 wt %, M.sub.n=3668 g.Math.mol.sup.−1), the COP-04 copolymer (AB/EE composition of 60/40 wt %, M.sub.n=2198 g.Math.mol.sup.−1), and the FC-01 commercial formulation at a dosage of 1500 ppm.

[0081] FIG. 16 shows the bottles images and micrographs of the MCO.sub.3 extra heavy crude oil of 4.64° API once the evaluation has been completed. Only the BV-642 bipolymer (AB/EE composition of 60/40 wt %, M.sub.n=3668 g.Math.mol.sup.−1) removed 100 vol % of the emulsified water, and the FC-01commercial formulation, that removed than that, at a dosage of 1500 ppm.

[0082] FIG. 17 show the performance as dehydrating agents in the MCO.sub.4 heavy crude oil (φ.sub.H2O=6 vol %; T=56° C.; 21.09° API) of the random BV-642 bipolymer based on ethylene alkanoate-acrylic (AB/EE composition of 60/40 wt %, M.sub.n=2198 g.Math.mol.sup.−1) and the FC-01 commercial formulation at a dosage of 25 ppm.

[0083] FIG. 18 shows the bottles images and micrographs of the MCO.sub.4 heavy crude oil of 21.09° API after the assessment with the BV-642 bipolymer (AB/EE composition of 60/40 wt %, M.sub.n=3668 g.Math.mol.sup.−1), compared with the COP-04 ethylene ethanoate-acrylic copolymer (AB/EE composition of 60/40 wt %, M.sub.n=2198 g.Math.mol.sup.−1), and the FC-01 commercial formulation at a dosage of 25 ppm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0084] The present invention refers to basic compounds for the dehydrating or demulsifying in the crude oil conditioning, specifically, in the application of bipolymers based on ethylene alkanoate-acrylic with a highly random distribution in the bipolymer chain to destabilize complex water-in-crude oil emulsions, with the purpose of removing or destabilizing the emulsified water and the salts dissolved in this water, in the triphasic separation units, for different crude oils blends of API densities between 4 and 35° API. The following method to prepare random bipolymers, based on butyl acrylate and ethylene alkanoate, with application as dehydrating agents, was employed. This method is illustrative but not limiting:

[0085] Latex of random bipolymers, based on butyl acrylate and ethylene alkanoate, were synthetized by semi-continuous emulsion polymerization, process described, in general and by way of example, in the U.S. Pat. No. 9,120,885 B2 [33]. The monomers were dosed from an addition tank, containing the pre-emulsion, to the main reactor under careful monomers starved feed conditions, more strict than those reported in literature [29]. In the specific case of the synthesis process, the present patent application and unlike the aforementioned U.S. Pat., the addition rate of the pre-emulsion, that enters toward the main reactor, was set at very low value of q.sub.pre-emulsion≤0.009 g.Math.cm.sup.−3.Math.min.sup.−1, while that of the initiator was fixed on q.sub.initiator solution≤0.0009 g.Math.cm.sup..Math.3.Math.min.sup.−1, and the reactor temperature was raised until 80° C., to utterly ensure the immediate incorporation of the monomers to the polymeric chain, avoiding the formation of long sequences of the same monomers (see FIG. 1). Once the monomers in a pre-emulsion drop fall into the main reactor, they are immediately incorporated into the polymer chain. The initiator feeding ensures the required flux of free radicals in the reactive system. In this process, the pre-emulsion and latex are stabilized by a sodium salt of alkyl ether glycol, which prevents the precipitation even at high solids content (25.0<S.R<45.0 wt %) and high temperatures (75<T<82° C.). The use of other surfactants, such as those reported in literature [15], does not allow reaching these high solids contents, which are very advantageous from an economic point of view and able to be scaled up at industrial plant level. The composition homogeneity of the synthesized bipolymers, as well as their distribution randomness (that one means a better distribution of the monomers along the polymeric chains) are also guaranteed by this semi-continuous polymerization process. Furthermore, this process allows controlling any reaction exothermy by just adjusting the feeding rate into the polymerization reactor.

[0086] Bipolymers are prepared in latex form, which consists of a dispersion of submicron polymeric particles in water, easy to handle, avoiding the use of organic solvents. The water is removed from the obtained latex by distillation at a temperature of 80 to 120° C. and, subsequently, the bipolymer is dissolved in a suitable organic solvent that allows its final applications as a demulsifying agent in crude oils with densities of 4 to 35° API. The ethylene alkanoate-acrylic bipolymer is dissolved in solvents, with boiling points comprised in the range between 35 and 200° C., such as dichloromethane, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, chloroform, benzene and its derivatives, toluene, xylene, jet fuel, naphtha, individually or as mixture of the aforementioned.

[0087] The structure of the different random bipolymers, based on ethylene alkanoate-alkyl acrylate, is shown in Formula (1), comprising in the present invention, preferably, for the second monomer, an alkyl ester of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid:

##STR00001## [0088] Where: [0089] R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are independent radicals represented by the groups; [0090] R.sub.1═H, CN, CH.sub.2CH═CH.sub.2, CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH═CHCCH.sub.2CH.sub.3; [0091] R.sub.2═H, CH.sub.3; [0092] R.sub.3═CH.sub.3, C.sub.2H.sub.5, C.sub.4H.sub.9, C.sub.6H.sub.13, C.sub.8H.sub.17, C.sub.10H.sub.21, C.sub.12H.sub.25, C.sub.18H.sub.37; [0093] R.sub.4═CH.sub.3, Ph, C.sub.2H.sub.5, C.sub.5H.sub.7, C.sub.11H.sub.23, C.sub.17H.sub.33; [0094] u=ethylene alkanoate monomer number between 1 and 40; [0095] v=number of acrylic monomer number between1 and 95.

[0096] The number average molecular weight (Mn) of the bipolymers are in the range from 1,112 to 11,960 g/mol.

[0097] The following alkyl acrylate monomers employed to synthesize the bipolymers object of the present invention, which does not imply any limitation are described as examples: methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, pentyl acrylate, isobornyl acrylate, isobutyl acrylate, tert-butyl acrylate, hexyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, 3,5,5-trimetylhexyl acrylate, 2-metoxyetyl acrylate, 2-phenoxyetyl acrylate, 4-tert-butylciclohexyl acrylate, octyl acrylate, iso-decyl acrylate, decyl acrylate, lauryl acrylate, tridecyl acrylate, octadecyl acrylate, and behenyl acrylate. On the other hand, the ethylene alkanoate monomers selected in the present invention, which does not imply any limitation: ethylene ethanoate, cyano ethylene ethanoate, vinyl propynate, ethenyl benzoate, vinyl butyrate, vinyl laurate, and vinyl stearate.

[0098] The dehydration method consists in adding an effective amount of random ethylene ethanoate-alkyl acrylate bipolymers to the crude oils, with densities ranging from 4 to 35° API, in concentrations between 10 and 2000 ppm, to provoke the coalescence of emulsified water drops in the aforementioned crude oils.

[0099] The present invention is described with reference to a specific number of examples, which are considered as illustrative and not as restrictive. Once obtained, the bipolymers based on butyl acrylate and ethylene ethanoate were characterized using the following instrumental methods.

[0100] 1.—Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC), using an Agilent® model 1100 chromatograph, with PLgel column, and employing tetrahydrofuran (THF) as eluent to calculate the distribution of molecular masses of the polymers, as well as the polydispersity index (I).

[0101] 2.—Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), using a Thermo Nicolet™ AVATAR 330 spectrometer, using the method of films technique with the OMNIC software, version 7.0™.

[0102] 3.—.sup.13C and DEPT-135 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), using a Bruker™ Avance III spectrometer, operating at 300 MHz. The deuterated chloroform (CDCl3) was used as solvent and tetramethylsilane (TMS/Si(CH.sub.3).sub.4) as a reference.

[0103] The number average molecular weights and polydispersity indexes of the different random bipolymers based on ethylene alkanoate-alkyl acrylate bipolymers are listed in Table 1; while, their spectroscopic characteristics are also reported, which does not imply any limitation:

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Characteristics of ethylene alkanoate-acrylic bipolymers, synthetized by the semicontinuous emulsion polymerization process, described in this document (T = 80° C., q.sub.pre-emulsion = 0.008 g .Math. cm.sup.−3 .Math. min.sup.−1) y q.sub.initiator solution = 0.0008 kg .Math. L.sup.−1 .Math. min.sup.−1). WEIGHT SOLID FINAL POLYDISPERSITY RATIO CONTENT CONVERSION M.sub.n INDEX Bipolymer (WT %) (WT %) (%) (g .Math. mol.sup.−1) (I) BV-640 60/40 39.05 97.63 4450 3.70 BV-641 60/40 39.93 99.83 4107 2.89 BV-642 60/40 39.98 99.95 3668 2.52 BV-643 60/40 39.99 99.98 3297 2.55 BV-644 60/40 39.98 99.95 3092 2.42

EXAMPLES

[0104] The following examples are presented to illustrate the spectroscopic characteristics of random bipolymers based on butyl-acrylate-ethylene ethanoate employed as dehydrating agents to remove or destabilize complex petroleum emulsions.

[0105] These examples should not be considered as limiting what herein is claimed.

[0106] Example 1: Ethylene alkanoate-acrylic bipolymers, BV series. Random bipolymer based on butyl acrylate-ethylene ethanoate, characteristic signals of the FTIR spectroscopy, ν cm.sup.−1: 2966, 2937, 2876, 1736, 1448, 1365, 1233, 1172, 1020, and 945.

[0107] Characteristic signals of the .sup.13C NMR spectroscopy, δ (ppm): 174.60, 70, 50, 64.44, 41.23, 31.77, 30.61, 29.77, 20.88, 20.57, 19.10, 14.14, and 13.74.

[0108] .sup.1H NMR δ (ppm): 4.87, 4.05, 3.65, 2.31, 2.06, 1.98, 1.60, 1.38, 1.26, and 0.94.

[0109] The signal at 20.88 ppm, corresponding to the methyl group in the ethylene ethanoate structure, appears as a very broad signal, because of a different chemical environment surrounding to this methyl group in the polymeric chain of bipolymer identified as BV in the present patent application, which indicates a high randomness of the system. If the amplitude of the signal were to decrease, this would indicate a lower number of interactions with the acrylic comonomers and, therefore, there would be a chain with long structural sequences, both of ethylene ethanoate units and of acrylic units, which is typical of a bipolymer in block (to compare with the spectrum in FIG. 3, where the signal is narrow and incipient). Additionally, the signal at 20.57 ppm is assigned to the methyl group of the ethylene ethanoate units that are found at the end of the polymeric chain. If this signal is not observed, as in the spectrum of the COP-04 copolymer, it means that long sequences (blocks) of ethylene ethanoate have been formed, and only acrylic terminal units can have at the ends of the chains.

[0110] Example 2. COP-04 ethylene alkanoate-acrylic copolymer. In order to show the structural advantages of the ethylene alkanoate-acrylic bipolymers synthetized through the semicontinuous emulsion polymerization process, under strict conditions of monomer deficiency that we have developed, the COP-04 ethylene ethanoate-acrylic copolymer was obtained, following the procedure reported by Ramirez, D. [29], with which the synthesis was carried out at a high rate of addition of monomers and at a relatively low temperature (70° C.). The results of the synthesis of a 100 g batch of this dehydrating agent are shown in Table 2.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Characteristics of the COP-04 latex synthetized by semicontinuous emulsion polymerization, following the procedure reported by Ramirez, D. [29]. Final conversion Solids content M.sub.n Key (%) (wt %) (g .Math. mol) Polydispersity COP-04 100 20.40 2198 3.4

[0111] It is important to note that, by this procedure (Ramírez, D. [29]), only solids contents of around 20 wt % are obtained, since at higher polymer concentrations the latex precipitation occurs. In contrast, the latexes synthetized by the process object of the present patent application reached solids content of 40 wt %, without any problem of colloidal precipitation (see Table 1).

[0112] The sample obtained was subjected to gentle evaporation for 48 h in an over at 60° C. Once the dry ethylene ethanoate-acrylic bipolymer was obtained, the NMR characterization of bipolymer was carried out, in order to determine the randomness of the monomers distributed along the chains. The NMR spectra are reported in FIGS. 3 and 8. Regarding the .sup.13C-NMR spectrum for the COP-04 copolymer in FIG. 3, the terminal methyl signal at 20.66 ppm, corresponding to the final structural units of ethylene ethanoate, could not be detected when the chains end by a disproportionation mechanism.

[0113] This characteristic was further evidenced in the DEPT-135 spectrum (FIG. 8). The complete absence of the methyl signal from the terminal vinyl units indicates that the bipolymer is made up of sequence of considerable length (block) of vinyl units, with acrylic structural units always located at the ends. These characteristics of the sequence distribution in the chains of the COP-04 copolymer contrast with those revealed by the NMR characterization of the random BV bipolymer sample.

[0114] Once the sample of COP-04 ethylene alkanoate-acrylic copolymer has been characterized, it was dissolved in xylene at concentration of 35 wt %.

[0115] Example 3. FC-01 commercial polyethers formulation. In addition to evaluating the performance of a series of highly randomized ethylene alkanoate-acrylic bipolymers and of one ethylene alkanoate-acrylic bipolymer synthesized with a laboratory level procedure as dehydrating agent of crude oils blends, the commercial formulation labeled as FC-01 was obtained, widely used in the oil industry, in order to contrast the performance as dehydrating agent of crude oil of both ethylene alkanoate-acrylic polymers and polyethers. Table 3 describes the polymers that comprise the FC-01 formulation, made up of four triblock bipolymers based on polyethers, each one of them with a specific function as an emulsion breaker, coalescer of water droplets dispersed in crude oil or clarifier of the aqueous phase. The fact that the FC-01 dehydrating formulation has been made up by mixing several polyethers (dehydrating basics), which contributes to be more expensive that a formulation comprises by only one basic, the similar cost, dissolved in an appropriate solvent. In contrast, the ethylene alkanoate-acrylic bipolymers, object of the present invention, are basics that work without the need to be formulated in mixtures, since a single molecule possesses the three demulsifying functions—breaking, coalescing and clarifying—. The integration of the three properties in a single molecule represents a huge advantage over the commercial formulation, since the demulsifying product is prepared in a single reactive stage and do not require another mixing stage.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Characterization components of the FC-01 commercial formulation, including number average molecular weight (M.sub.n) and POP/POE composition (wt %). FDH-1 formulation Key M.sub.n POP/POE composition name (g .Math. mol.sup.−1) (wt %) TP 89 7750 90/10 TP 03 5330 70/30 TP 14 3050 60/40 TP 71 1400 90/10

[0116] Example 4. Evaluation of the random bipolymers based on butyl acrylate and ethylene ethanoate as dehydrating agents in crude oils with densities from 4 to 35° API. Different concentrated solutions of each of the synthesized bipolymers were prepared, from 4 to 35 wt %, using solvents whose boiling point is comprised in the range of 35 to 200° C., such as dichloromethane, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, chloroform, benzene, toluene, xylene, jet fuel, naphtha, individually or in mixtures of them, thus that, small volumes of the solution were added to avoid any e effect of the solvent on the removal of water from the evaluated crude oil. Bipolymers based on butyl acrylate and ethylene ethanoate were evaluate at concentrations ranging from 10 to 2000 ppm.

[0117] The ethylene alkanoate-acrylic bipolymers, object of the present invention, were evaluated simultaneously, by way of comparison, with a dehydrating agent, specifically, the COP-04 ethylene alkanoate-acrylic copolymer (Table 2), synthesized with the laboratory procedure reported by Ramirez, D. [29]. The dehydrating performance of the new ethylene alkanoate-acrylic bipolymers, object of this invention, was also contrasted with the FC-01 commercial dehydrating formulation, comprising of four block polymers derived from propylene and ethylene oxides (Table 3).

[0118] The evaluation procedure is described following: the number of oblong bottles provided with insert and cover is indicated by the number of compounds to evaluate, plus one bottle corresponding to crude oil without demulsifier (blank); in each one of the bottles was added the crude oil sample up to the 100 mL mark. All the bottles were placed in a temperature-controlled water bath at 80° C. for 20 minutes, at the end of this time, the aliquot of the solutions of the random bipolymers base on ethylene alkanoate-acrylic, the COP-04 copolymer and the FC-01 commercial product ( ) was added; all bottles were shaken for 3 minutes at the rate of two strokes per second. After being purged each bottle, these were placed again in the temperature-controlled water bath and the breakdown of the water-in-oil emulsion was measured every 5 minutes during the first hour; subsequently, each hour, until the end of the assessment (5 h). All the random bipolymers, that are the subject of this invention, as well as the referents, ethylene alkanoate-acrylic bipolymer and the commercial formulation based on polyethers, were evaluated at different concentrations in the range between 10 and 2000 ppm.

[0119] The MCO.sub.1, MCO.sub.2, MCO.sub.3 and MCO.sub.4 crude oils, that were used in the evaluation of the random bipolymers based on butyl acrylate-ethylene ethanoate as dehydrating agents, were characterized as shown in Table 4

[0120] Crude oils mixtures with a considerable amounts of asphaltenes were used in this assessment, which causes the formation of complex emulsions that are difficult to remove. Even the MCO.sub.3 blend, formed mainly by light crude oil, has asphaltene aggregates of large size, as shown in the first micrograph of FIG. 16. The morphology of the complex emulsions formed in these crude oil blends, with high amounts of asphaltenes, is reported in FIGS. 10, 14, 16 and 18.

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Characteristics and properties of crude oil blends used to evaluate the performance as dehydrating agents of highly random ethylene alkanoate-acrylic bipolymers. Property MCO.sub.1 MCO.sub.2 MCO.sub.3 MCO.sub.4 API gravity (°) 20.17 33.1 4.64 21.09 Salt content 18476 104 17774 22045 (lb .Math. mbb.sup.−1) Paraffins content 2.68 1.14 0.52 1.95 (wt %) Runoff temperature −27 −45 −20 −27 (° C.) Water by distillation 22.2 39.0 72.6 6.0 (vol %) Water and sediments 26.3 39.4 78.7 6.1 (vol %) M.sub.n by cryoscopy 307 232 376 367 (g .Math. mol.sup.−1) n-Heptane insoluble 15.78 2.78 12.43 13.56 fraction (wt %) Saturates (wt %) 18.68 7.63 9.03 26.45 Aromatics (wt %) 26.38 72.93 56.01 27.12 Resins (wt %) 40.35 16.40 22.90 33.23 Asphaltenes (wt %) 14.59 3.04 12.06 13.20

[0121] As a manner of demonstration, which does not imply any limitation, FIGS. 9, 11, 13, 15, and 17 display the obtained performance in the assessment as dehydrating agents of the new ethylene alkanoate-acrylic bipolymers and the reference compounds, that were previously described; while FIGS. 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18 show the images of the bottles and micrographs of the samples of crude oils blends after the evaluation.

[0122] Example 5. Evaluation of the BV-642 random bipolymer, COP-04 copolymer and FC-01 commercial formulation as dehydrating agents in the MC01 crude oil with API gravity of 20.17°. FIG. 9 shows the demulsifying performance of the BV-642 random bipolymer, COP-04 copolymer and FC-01 commercial formulation, dosed at 500 ppm in the MCO .sub.1 crude oil, with a gravity of 20.17° API ( ). The BV-642 demulsifier induces a higher rupture of the emulsion in comparison with the COP-04 copolymer and FC-01 formulation, besides that it displays a greater coalescence rate throughout the whole period of evaluation , achieving the total removal of emulsified water after 90 min. Concerning the COP-04 demulsifier, a slightly greater coalescence rate was observed compared with the FC-01 commercial formulation, reaching its maximum WRE, 93 vol %, after 240 min of the assessment; in contrast, the FC-01 polyethers formulation solely removed 82 vol % at 50 min of the evaluation, staying in this value until the end of the test. Finally, the blank did not show any breakdown, which demonstrates that the emulsion is colloidally stable during the whole period of evaluation.

[0123] The water removal efficiencies of the BV-642 random bipolymer, COP-04 copolymer and FC-01 commercial formulation in the MCO.sub.1 crude oil are compared in FIG. 10; on the other hand, it is shown the bottle corresponding to the blank and, since no rupture of the emulsion was detected, is assumed that the dispersion in the MCO.sub.1 crude oil blend is colloidally stable. Firstly, regarding the micrograph of the blank, MCO.sub.1 without any additive, a yellowish halo surrounding a ring of organic matter was observed around the water droplets, which indicates the presence of two physical barriers that hinder the coalescence of the water droplets. Subsequently, it is observed in the bottles that the BV-642 bipolymer induced a homogeneous rupture of the phases, same that is comparable to the induced by the COP-04 ethylene alkanoate-acrylic copolymer and FC-01 formulation. On the other hand, it is observed in the sample of MCO1 crude oil blend containing the BV642 bipolymer a total absence of water droplets, confirming the complete removal of emulsified water and the presence of paraffins (shining yellow matter) dispersed in crude oil; whereas for the COP-04 copolymer can be appreciated some water droplets of less than 1 μm, surrounded by a fine layer of asphaltenes, which, evidently, are also dispersed in the medium. Lastly, the FC-01 commercial formulation induces a bad clarification of the aqueous phase, in contrast with the excellent clarification induced by the BV-642 bipolymer and the COP-04 copolymer. It is observed in this micrograph a greater quantity of water droplets surrounded by a thick halo of asphaltenes; besides this agglomerated organic matter that is clearly dispersed in the crude oil, is observed, which allows inferring that the FC-01 formulation was not capable of completely displacing the layer of asphaltenes in the water/crude oil interface. The superior dehydrating efficiency of the BV-642 alkyl acrylate-ethylene ethanoate, as well as the homogeneity of the rupture and the excellent induced clarification, represent clear advantages as demulsifying agent in comparison with the COP-04 copolymer and FC-01 formulation.

[0124] Example 6. Evaluation of random bipolymers based on butyl acrylate and ethylene ethanoate with different average molecular mass as dehydrating agents in the MCO.sub.1 crude oil with API gravity of 20.17°. FIG. 11 shows the water removal efficiencies of the BV-641random bipolymers based on butyl acrylate-ethylene ethanoate (acrylic/ethylene alkanoate composition, BB/EE: 60/40 wt %, M.sub.n=4107 g.Math.mol.sup.−1), BV-642 (acrylic/ethylene alkanoate composition, BA/EE: 60/40 wt %, M.sub.n=3668 g.Math.mol.sup.−1), BV-643 (acrylic/ethylene alkanoate composition, BA/EE: 60/40 wt %, M.sub.n=3297 g.Math.mol.sup.−1) and BV-644 (acrylic/ethylene alkanoate composition, BA/EE: 60/40 wt %, M.sub.n=3092 g.Math.mol.sup.−1) in the MCO.sub.1 crude oil. It could be appreciated that the BV-642 bipolymer removed all the emulsified water, being the one to achieve it. On the other hand, the BV-643 bipolymer removed 95 vol %, displaying a lower coalescence rate than the BV-642 bipolymer. The BV-641 bipolymer separated 90 vol % of the emulsified water, exhibiting a slightly lower coalescence rate than the BV-643 bipolymer. Finally, the BV-644 bipolymer displayed the lowest dehydrating efficiency of all BV bipolymers, removing 86 vol % of the emulsified water. As can be seen, the molecular mass of the synthesized bipolymers influences in their efficiency as dehydrating agents.

[0125] It can be seen in FIG. 12 the absence of emulsified water in the micrograph of the crude oil treated with the BV-642 bipolymer. Concerning the BV-641, BV-643, and BV-644 bipolymers, it can be observed residual water droplets in the micrographs of the MCO.sub.1 crude oil treated with the aforesaid bipolymers; however, the quantity of observed water droplets is considerably lower to the observed in the micrograph of the blank.

[0126] Example 7. Evaluation of the BV-642 random bipolymer, COP-04 copolymer and FC-01 commercial formulation as dehydrating agents in the MCO.sub.2 crude oil with API gravity of 33.1°. It is displayed in FIG. 13 the dehydrating performance of the BV-642 bipolymer and FC-01 commercial formulation in the MCO.sub.2 light crude oil (33.1° API), dosed at 1500 ppm. As can be observed, the three demulsifying agents start the breakdown of the emulsion after 15 min; however, the BV-642 random bipolymer presents a higher coalescence rate during the whole evaluation and, at 300 min of the assessment, achieves the removal of 100 vol % of the emulsified water. On the other hand, the COP-04 bipolymer presented a greater coalescence rate and removal efficiency than the FC-01 commercial formulation, removing 37 and 26 vol %, respectively. Lastly, the blank did not show any breakdown, therefore, it must be concluded that the emulsion is colloidally stable throughout the whole period of evaluation.

[0127] FIG. 14 shows that the blank of the MCO.sub.2 crude oil sample does not present rupture of the emulsion throughout the period of assessment to determine the dehydrating efficiencies of demulsifying agents. On the other hand, the micrograph of the blank presents water droplets with a size polydispersed system, where the water droplets are surrounded by a thick layer of asphaltenes, despite being, theoretically, a light crude oil (33° API). The presence of these huge asphaltenes agglomerates is caused by the incorporation of a small fraction of crude oil in the mixture, as well as residues coming from cleaning operations of the wells. Despite the presence of these asphaltenic agglomerates, which stabilize the emulsion and hinder the diffusion of the chemical products, the BV-642 random bipolymer was capable of removing the total amount of emulsified water, and also presented homogeneous interfacial rupture and excellent clarification. It was observed in the micrograph of the organic phase of this bottle a great quantity of asphaltenes agglomerates; while the absence of water droplets confirmed the total removal of emulsified water. On the other hand, the COP-04 copolymer showed a slightly non homogeneous rupture of the organic and aqueous phases, comparable to that of the FC-01 formulation; however, the clarification of the aqueous phase of both demulsifiers is quite similar to the obtained using the BV-642 bipolymer. The micrograph in the upper part of the sample with COP-04 revealed a system with water droplets of monodisperse size, where the asphaltenes are agglomerated and dispersed in the organic phase. Conversely, the sample with the FC-01 formulation allowed observing a system with polydispersed drop diameters, with a slight layer of asphaltenes surrounding the water droplets. Based on the above, it is evident that the FC-01 commercial formulation is not capable of displacing the asphaltenes, which are present in the light crude oil stream, in contrast with the BV-642 bipolymer and COP-04 copolymer.

[0128] Example 8. Evaluation of the BV-642 random bipolymer, the COP-04 copolymer and the FC-01 commercial formulation as dehydrating agents in the MCO.sub.3 crude oil with API gravity of 4.64°. FIG. 15 displays the performance of the highly random BV-642 ethylene alkanoate-acrylic bipolymer, and the COP-04 ethylene alkanoate-acrylic copolymer, compared with the FC-01 commercial formulation, based on polyethers, in the MCO.sub.3 extra-heavy crude oil (4.64° API). It is notorious that the BV-642 bipolymer of high randomness exhibits the greatest coalescence rate and a water removal of 100 vol %. On the other hand, the COP-04 copolymer, with low monomer alternation in the chains, and the FC-01 commercial formulation, based on block bipolymers, present similar coalescence rates; however, the COP-04 bipolymer removed 87 vol %; whereas the FC-01 formulation removed 2 vol % less than the last one, despite having started the emulsion breakdown before the random bipolymers.

[0129] Additionally, FIG. 16 shows that the MCO.sub.3 crude oil dosed with the BV-642 bipolymer presents a homogeneous rupture, in contrast with the rupture observed when the COP-04 copolymer or FC-01 formulation are dosed to crude oils blends, which induce a slightly heterogeneous rupture. However, once these products are added to the MCO.sub.3 crude oil, a good clarification of the aqueous phase is observed. Despite that, the dehydrating efficiency of the BV-642 bipolymer in the MCO.sub.3 crude oil blend was noticeably superior to that of the COP-4 copolymer and FC-01 formulation, which was confirmed by the micrographic analysis, that revealed the complete absence of water and the presence of agglomerates of paraffins that reach a length of 8.3 μm when the crude oil was dosed with the BV-642 bipolymer. By contrast, the crude oil sample treated with the COP-04 copolymer revealed a great quantity of very tiny droplets, 0.1-0.3 μm, as well as paraffins agglomerates, which are probably found encircling the water droplets of greater size (0.6-0.9 μm). Finally, the crude oil sample with the FC-01 formulation presented water droplets of approximately 1 μm, characterized by having a halo of asphaltenes and a great quantity of agglomerated paraffins, which, are probably found between the asphaltenes halo and the water droplet.

[0130] Example 9. Evaluation of the BV-642 random bipolymer, the COP-04 copolymer and the FC-01 commercial formulation as dehydrating agents in the MCO.sub.4 crude oil with API gravity of 21.09°. FIG. 17 displays the dehydrating activity of the BV-642 bipolymer, COP-04 ethylene alkanoate-acrylic copolymer and FC-01 commercial formulation, dosed at 25 ppm in the MCO.sub.4 heavy crude oil (21.09° API). In this case, a similar coalescence rate is appreciated during the first 30 min of assessment where the COP-04 copolymer reaches its maximum water removal, 67 vol %; while the BV-642 bipolymer is able to withdraw 100 vol % of emulsified water at 50 min. Finally, the FC-01 formulation displayed the lowest coalescence rate and reached its maximum removal of 58 vol % at 300 min. The BV-642 bipolymer has an excellent demulsifying behavior even at a quite low concentration.

[0131] FIG. 18 exhibits the homogeneous rupture obtained for the three demulsifying products in the MCO.sub.4 crude oil blend, resulting in a comparable clarification, highlighting as an advantage the best demulsifying efficiency of the new BV-642 random bipolymer. On the other hand, on the blank micrograph is appreciated a droplets system that is polydispersed in diameter, where the water droplets are surrounded by a thick layer of asphaltenes; while the images of the organic phase, after the application of BV-642, show absence of water droplets and a great quantity of asphaltenes agglomerates that are dispersed in crude oil. Otherwise, the COP-04 copolymer was not capable of removing the asphaltenes that surround the water droplets; likewise, the FC-01 formulation generated a residual emulsion with a droplet size between 0.5 and 0.8 μm, which keep the thick layer of asphaltenes in their interface. It is clear that a demulsifier of high efficiency achieves the displacement of the asphaltenes barrier in the water/crude oil interface, allowing the coalescence of the water droplets. This is the case of the novel random alkyl acrylic-ethylene alkanoate bipolymers, which are able to completely eliminate the emulsified water in heavy crude oils.