US1513371A - Process for treating pipe lines - Google Patents

Description

Patepted Act. 28,1924.

AETIS G. CAMPBELL, OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA.

PROCESS FOR TREATING PIPE LINES.

N'o Drawing. Application filed June 29,

7 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTIS C. CAMPBELL, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Tulsa, in the county of Tulsa and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Process for Treating Pipe. Lines; and I do declare the follmving to be a full, clear, and exact de scription of the invention, such as will onable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention resides in a process of cleaning pipe lines used for conveying crude petroleum, whereby deposits collecting on the inner walls of the pipes as a result of the settling of impurities in the oil, can be readily removed.

Crude oil as it is taken from the oil wells contains a considerable amount of natural sediment and heavy oily matter, which has been variously termed waste oil, cut oil, and B. S. This natural sediment and the heaviest oily matter contained in crude oil, that is, the so-called waste oil, cut oil, or B. S., has heretofore always been considered as waste and thrown away as soon as it could be separated from the desirable portions of the crude oil. The waste portions of crude oil has sometimes been thrown into streams and rivers with, not only the result of polluting the same, but also with the consequence of killing the fish therein, or destroying the animal and vegetable life therein. Other times it has been discharged onto the land with a detrimental effect upon the soil and vegetable life. Even before it has been separated from the desirable portions of" the crude oil, it has collected and become deposited in all the pipe lines and apparatus through and in which the crude oil has been run and placed prior to being refined, and all those pipe lines and apparatus have been clogged )y the deposits of this natural sediment and heavy oily matter.

I have discovered a preparation which will dissolve the natural sediment and the heaviest oily matter contained in crude oil, namely the waste oil, cut oil, or B. S., and by the use of this preparation the tubings, casings, pipe and shipping lines, re ceiving tanks, and all apparatus through and in which crude oil is run and placed prior to being refined can be cleansed from the matter deposited therein by the natural 1922. Serial No. 571,815

sediment and heaviest oily matter contained in crude oil.

.1 have also discovered a practical use for all of the sediment and heaviest oily matter contained in crude oil, that is, the so-called waste oil, cut oil, or B. S., and in fact for practically all of the heretofore con-- sidered waste portions of crude oil, for I have found that by dissolving this heretofore considered waste portions of crude oil and thinning it by treatment with my preparation, which is an alkaline solution, said heretofore considered Waste portions of crude oil will become a highly elficient, useful and desirable crude oil in fluid form, or thin oil,

ready for shipment to the refineries to be used for the production of lubricatin oil, fuel oil, hard oil, and their by-prod ucts. By hard oil is meant an oil which has become so thick that it has a consistency-similar to that of grease. By treating said waste portions of crude oil with my preparation, thin and hard oil can be produced. For it must also be remembered that 'if in the process of treatment as hereinafter set out, said crude oil is boiled too long it will become a hard oil, which as such can be used in cups, etc. Hard oil will also result if after treatment the fluid mentioned above is permitted to stand until congelation. Aside from having an aim to'provide a preparation for treating the said waste portions of crude oil, I have as an object of my invention the utilization of said heretofore considered waste portions of crude oil to the production of lubricating and fuel and hard oils, and their icy-products.

My preparation preferably consists of amixture of soda ash, sal soda, bicarbonate of soda and naphtha. These substances may be mixed together in various proportions, but I have found that very good results may be obtained by mixing them together in the proportions of one pound of soda ash, to one pound of sal soda, to one pound of bicarbonate of soda and one pound by weight of naphtha.

To use this preparation which is in dry form, it should be dissolved in water or steam. It is preferable to dissolve it in hot water, and I have found that. very good results can be obtainedby dissolving about three pounds of the dry preparation in about thirty-one gallons of water. I wish it understood, however, that the solus run and: 301m: Saind sholiid be merely 1n tank I apparaau or 5 mm: through the: same, and run; ;tl nnlglzig p rit w" i elea' es: the i gg hen ""nereasi' etion.=

' toib'eu d he prepoiitien fl q ndheavy; ingwater; .=.=.=.dsfioilyimatter sheuildt ted fremi;f;:2;:1n=ia:preees, I I I the other portion of the crude oil in any apfrom pipe lines used for conveying crude propriate manner, and after that has been oil, the step of passing through the pipe. done, it should be treated with the emullines a composition consisting of the followsion, and when treated the sediment will ing ingredients combined in substantially 85 =0 be dissolved by the emulsion and the heavy the proportions stated, to Wit, soda ash, one 'oily matter thinned. The resulting mixture; pound; sodium bicarbonate, one pound; and

or product will be suitable for shipment to naphtha dissolved in water. the refineries for the production of lubri- In s im ny fifl I have r unt Se eating, fuel, and hard oil, and their by-prodmy hand- 3 ucts; or if during the process of treatment as hereinbefore mentioned, the portion un- ARTIS C. CAMPBELL.