Removal of water solubilized organics

Abstract

Methods and compositions for removing organics solubilized in a water-like fluid (WSO), such as the water produced in connection with the production of hydrocarbons from subterranean formations, are described. Hydrophilic α-hydroxy-monocarboxylic acids (AHAs), such as hydroxyacetic (glycolic) acid, alone or optionally together with anionic polymers, have been found to be effective. The compositions and methods of this invention have reduced corrosion and scale formation problems as compared with other methods employing stronger acids to remove WSO. The AHAs have pK a 's of greater than 3.8.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A composition for removing solubilized organics from a water-like fluid phase consisting essentially of: 
 a hydrophilic a-hydroxymonocarboxylic acid (AHA); and    an anionic polymer.    
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  where the AHA has a pK a  of greater than 3.8.  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1  where the AHA has the structure RR′C(OH)COOH where 
 R and R′ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and nonacidic hydrocarbonaceous groups,  
 with the proviso that  
   n   H +0.5( n   C )−7( n   O )<15( n   OH )  
 where  
 n H =the total number of hydrogens on carbons,  
 n C =the total number of carbons,  
 n O =the total number of oxygens not attached to hydrogens, and  
 n OH =the total number of —OH groups in the molecule.  
 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1  where the anionic polymer is selected from the group consisting of poly(acrylic acid) and poly(methacrylic acid) and salts thereof, poly(acroyl sulfonic acid) and poly(vinyl sulfonic acid) and salts thereof, and copolymers of the aforementioned polymers with acrylic amides and esters, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1  where the anionic polymer has a degree of polymerization of above 30.  
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1  where the anionic polymer has a degree of polymerization between about 3000 and about 300,000.  
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1  where the anionic polymer is selected from the group consisting of poly(acrylic acid) and poly(methacrylic acid) and salts thereof, poly(acroyl sulfonic acid) and poly(vinyl sulfonic acid) and salts thereof, and copolymers of the aforementioned polymers with acrylic amides and esters, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1  where the weight ratio of AHA to anionic polymer in the composition ranges from about 1:1 to about 10,000 to 1.  
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1  where the weight ratio of AHA to anionic polymer in the composition ranges from over 50:1 to about 10,000 to 1.  
     
     
         10 . A composition for removing solubilized organics from a water-like fluid phase comprising: 
 a hydrophilic α-hydroxymonocarboxylic acid (AHA) having a degree of polymerization of above 30; and    an anionic polymer,    where the weight ratio of AHA to anionic polymer in the composition ranges from over 50:1 to about 10,000 to 1.    
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 10  where the AHA has a pK a  of greater than 3.8.  
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 10  where the AHA has the structure RR′C(OH)COOH where 
 R and R′ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and nonacidic hydrocarbonaceous groups,  
 with the proviso that  
   n   H +0.5( n   C )−7( n   O )<15( n   OH )  
 where  
 n H =the total number of hydrogens on carbons,  
 n C =the total number of carbons,  
 n O =the total number of oxygens not attached to hydrogens, and  
 n OH =the total number of -OH groups in the molecule.  
 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 10  where the anionic polymer is selected from the group consisting of poly(acrylic acid) and poly(methacrylic acid) and salts thereof, poly(acroyl sulfonic acid) and poly(vinyl sulfonic acid) and salts thereof, and copolymers of the aforementioned polymers with acrylic amides and esters, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 10  where the anionic polymer has a degree of polymerization between about 3000 and about 300,000.  
     
     
         15 . A composition comprising: 
 a water-like fluid phase;    at least one solubilized organic in the water-like fluid phase;    an anionic polymer; and    a hydrophilic α-hydroxymonocarboxylic acid (AHA),    where the weight ratio of AHA to anionic polymer in the composition ranges from over 50:1 to about 10,000 to 1.    
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 15  where the AHA has a pK a  of greater than 3.8.  
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 15  where the AHA has the structure RR′C(OH)COOH where 
 R and R′ are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and nonacidic hydrocarbonaceous groups,  
 with the proviso that  
   n   H +0.5( n   C )−7( n   O )<15( n   OH )  
 where  
 n H =the total number of hydrogens on carbons,  
 n C =the total number of carbons,  
 n O =the total number of oxygens not attached to hydrogens, and  
 n OH =the total number of —OH groups in the molecule.  
 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 15  where the anionic polymer is selected from the group consisting of poly(acrylic acid) and poly(methacrylic acid) and salts thereof, poly(acroyl sulfonic acid) and poly(vinyl sulfonic acid) and salts thereof, and copolymers of the aforementioned polymers with acrylic amides and esters, and mixtures thereof.