Synthetic hydroxide compositions and uses thereof

Abstract

A synthetic caustic composition for use in oil & gas industry activities, said composition comprising: metal hydroxides; an amino acid; urea; a sodium silicate and water.

Claims

1. A synthetic caustic composition for use in oil industry activities, said composition comprising: at least one metal hydroxide; an amino acid; urea; a sodium silicate; and water.

2. The synthetic caustic composition according to claim 1, wherein the at least one metal hydroxide is selected from the group consisting of: sodium hydroxide and/or potassium hydroxide.

3. The synthetic caustic composition according to claim 1, wherein the amino acid is selected from the group consisting of: glycine, alanine and valine.

4. The synthetic caustic composition according to claim 1, wherein the at least one metal hydroxide is present in an amount ranging from 20% to 50% by weight of the total weight of the composition.

5. The synthetic caustic composition according to claim 4, wherein the at least one metal hydroxide is present in an amount ranging from 30% to 40% by weight of the total weight of the composition.

6. The synthetic caustic composition according to claim 1, wherein the amino acid is present in an amount ranging from 5% to 25% by weight of the total weight of the composition.

7. The synthetic caustic composition according to claim 6, where the amino acid is present in an amount ranging from 10% to 15% by weight of the total weight of the composition.

8. The synthetic caustic composition according to claim 1, where the sodium silicate is present in an amount ranging from 1% to 20% by weight of the total weight of the composition.

9. The synthetic caustic composition according to claim 8, where the sodium silicate is present in an amount ranging from 1% to 5% by weight of the total weight of the composition.

10. The synthetic caustic composition according to claim 1, wherein the synthetic caustic composition has a freeze point below 20 degrees Celsius.

11. The synthetic caustic composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition has a pH at or above 12.

12. The synthetic caustic composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition is used in any one of pH regulation of a fluid for a bitumen extraction process, pH regulation of caustic water drilling fluids, pH regulation in a cross-linked borate fracturing system, pH regulation of a mud based drilling fluids system, pH regulation in an enhanced polymer flood application, and changing the pH of an acidic fluid.

13. The synthetic caustic composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition is stable at temperatures of up to 300 F.

14. A composition for use as a cleaner or degreaser, the composition comprising the synthetic caustic composition of claim 1.

15. A composition for use in polymer hydration enhancement, the composition comprising the synthetic caustic composition of claim 1.

16. A composition the liberation of H.sub.2S or CO.sub.2 in drilling fluid systems, the composition comprising the synthetic caustic composition of claim 1.

17. A composition for use as an acid gas scrubber, the composition comprising the synthetic caustic composition of claim 1.

18. A composition for the removal of sulfurous impurities from crude oil, the composition comprising the synthetic caustic composition of claim 1.

19. A composition comprising the synthetic caustic composition of claim 1, wherein at least 90% of the composition biodegrades within 14 days.

20. A synthetic caustic composition for use in scale removal and/or scale control oil industry activities, said composition comprising: at least one metal hydroxide; an amino acid; urea; a sodium silicate; and water.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(1) The description that follows, and the embodiments described therein, is provided by way of illustration of an example, or examples, of particular embodiments of the principles of the present invention. These examples are provided for the purposes of explanation, and not limitation, of those principles and of the invention.

(2) According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a synthetic caustic composition comprising: a metal hydroxide selected from the group consisting of: sodium hydroxide; and/or potassium hydroxide; urea; an amino acid selected from the group consisting of: glycine, alanine, and/or valine; sodium silicate; and water.

Example 1Process to Prepare a Composition According to a Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

(3) Start with a sodium hydroxide solution and add water slowly. Circulate until temperature of solution begins to decrease, then begin to add glycine and continue to circulate to ensure a completely consistent composition. Add potassium hydroxide and maintain circulation until all products have been solubilized and temperature has dissipated somewhat. Add Urea solution and Sodium Silicate until all products are solubilized and temperature has stabilized.

(4) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Composition of a Preferred Embodiment of the Present Invention Chemical % Wt Composition CAS# Water 43% 7732-18-5 Sodium Hydroxide 15% 1310-73-2 Potassium Hydroxide 17% 1310-58-3 Glycine 7.5% 56-40-6 Sodium Silicate 15% 1344-09-8 Urea 2.5% 57-13-6

(5) The resulting composition of Example 1 is a clear, odourless liquid having a shelf-life of greater than 1 year. It has a freezing point temperature of approximately minus 20 C. and a boiling point temperature of approximately 100 C. It has a specific gravity of 1.240.02. It is completely soluble in water and its pH is +12.5.

(6) Metal Corrosiveness

(7) Corrosion studies were carried out using the formulation of Example 1. The corrosion studies involved exposing steel coupons (J-55 steel grade) of density 7.86 g/cm.sup.3 to the composition at a temperature of 90 C. for a period of 6 hours.

(8) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Corrosion Test Results with Formulation of Example 1 Initial Wt. Final wt. Loss wt. Surface Area Density (g) (g) (g) (cm2) g/cc Mils/yr mm/year lb/ft2 37.5433 37.5395 0.004 28.922 7.86 9.608398 0.244 0.000

(9) Steel coupons were also exposed to a solution of sodium hydroxide (50% concentration). The results are found in Table 3 below:

(10) TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Corrosion Test Results with Solution of Sodium Hydroxide Surface Initial Wt. Final wt. Loss wt. Area Density (g) (g) (g) (cm2) g/cc Mils/yr mm/year lb/ft2 38.045 38.0333 0.012 28.922 7.86 29.58375 0.751 0.001

(11) The results indicate that the composition of Example 1 displays very low metal corrosion. Comparative testing of a hydroxide composition show that a standard hydroxide composition displays a corrosion of the steel coupons three times higher than that observed with the formulation of Example 1.

(12) The composition is classified as non-corrosive (non-irritant) according to the classifications for skin tests. (such as the Epiderm SCT) The composition is non-fuming and has no volatile organic compounds nor does it have any BTEX levels above the drinking water quality levels. BTEX refers to the chemicals benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene.

(13) With respect to the corrosion impact of the composition on typical oilfield grade steel, it was established that it was clearly well below the acceptable corrosion limits set by industry. This is true for the compositions even when exposed to temperatures exceeding 90 C.

(14) Long term elastomer testing on the concentrated product at 70 C. and 28,000 kPa shows little to no degredation of various elastomers, including Nitrile 70, Viton 75, Atlas 80, and EPDM 70 style sealing elements.

(15) The compositions according to the present invention can be used directly (ready-to-use) or be diluted with water depending on their use.

(16) Table 4 includes a non-limiting list of uses (or applications) of the compositions according to the present invention upon dilution thereof ranging from approximately 0 to 99.9% dilution, include, but are not limited to: raise the pH of certain fluid systems, suppress calcium & magnesium in hard waters, liberate H.sub.2S and CO.sub.2, reduce corrosion in plants and pipelines, assist in bitumen extraction, crosslink borate fracturing systems, enhance polymer hydration, be utilized as a degreaser/cleaner, and as a neutralizing agent for acidic fluids.

(17) TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Uses of Formulation of the Present Invention Application Dilution Benefits Alkaline 0.1:100 Compatible with most polymers and Surfactant polymer blends, non-damaging, very cost Polymer Water effective, freeze protected. Floods Enhanced 0.1:100 Ease/safety of storage & handling, compared polymer to conventional caustic solutions. hydration Cleaner- 0.5:100 Enhanced safety, non-hazardous, reduced Degreaser human exposure, environmentally responsible Crosslinked 0.2:100 Enhanced safety & storage, non-hazardous, Borate reduced human exposure, environmentally frac system responsible, polymer compatibility. pH control Water Based 0.25:100 Enhanced safety, non-hazardous, reduced drilling human exposure, environmentally systems pH responsible, polymer & formation control compatibility. Less potential for Clay swelling. CHWP pH 1:100 Used in a variety of applications to adjust Control pH level of water based systems, such as bitumen extraction, freeze protected. Caustic 50:100 Cost effective. Enhanced safety, non- Scrubbers hazardous, reduced human exposure, environmentally responsible, equipment friendly. Freeze protected.

(18) Table 5 illustrates the effectiveness of the formulation of Example 1 in controlling pH versus a 50% Sodium Hydroxide solution.

(19) TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Comparative testing of pH Control between Sodium Hydroxide and the Formulation of Example 2 ml added 50% NaOH Example 1 0 8.62 8.19 0.2 11.47 9.57 0.4 11.79 9.86 0.6 11.96 10.25 0.8 12.13 10.51 1 12.24 10.77
Biodegradation

(20) The formulation of Example 1 has been tested for biodegradation and has been deemed readily biodegradable. The criteria for consideration as biodegradable are that the composition achieved 60% degradation within 28 days and achieved 60% biodegradation within 10 and 14 days after achieving 10% biodegradation (10-day window and 14-day window, respectively). Table 6 lists the results of the testing:

(21) TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 Biodegradation of the Formulation of Example 1 Day % degradation 0 0.0 4 56.0 7 72.0 11 86.0 14 90.0 21 92.0 28 94.0

(22) Based on visual assessment of the biodegradation curve, the test item achieved approximately 85% degradation 10 days after achieving 10% biodegradation (10 day window). Also based on visual assessment of the biodegradation curve, the test item achieved approximately 90% degradation 14 days after achieving 10% biodegradation (14 day window).