Abstract:
The recovery of crude oil may be improved by inhibiting deposition of wax from the oil. Wax deposition may be inhibited by adding to the oil a polymer having pendant polar and non-polar moieties, such as a partially hydrolyzed ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer.
Abstract:
Hydrocarbon polymers comprising linear C.sub.18.sub.+ alkyl side chains are added to residual fuels to improve their pour point and flow characteristics. These polymers are prepared by polymerizing C.sub.20 -C.sub.40 alpha-olefins in the presence of a Ziegler-type catalyst to a number average molecular weight within the range between about 500 and 125,000. Particularly effective polymers are prepared from C.sub.3 -C.sub.18 alphaolefins and C.sub.20 -C.sub.40 alpha-olefins.
Abstract:
Paraffin deposition in flow systems handling petroleum crude oil is substantially reduced or inhibited by blending the crude oil with a polymer comprised of 20 to 100 wt. % of a C18-C40 alphaolefin and 0 to 80 wt. % of a C3-C16 alpha-olefin. The polymers have a number average molecular weight within the range between about 500 and 125,000 and are preferably copolymers containing 4 to 50 wt. % of a C3-C8 alpha-olefin and 50 to 96 wt. % of a C20C28 alpha-olefin.