Floating Dispersant Paste

Abstract

An agent and a method for dispersing spilled oil, particularly on a body of water. The compound is a viscous dispersant liquid comprising a mixture of surfactants and a viscosifying agent that may be stored, shipped, mixed, and delivered on site using standard equipment and methods. The compound is released as a cohesive, persistent, visible, gel-like or paste-like liquid that floats on water. At least one method includes delivering the viscous dispersant liquid onto an oil spill in a body of water utilizing a jet airplane flying at over about 100 feet and spraying the liquid in large, pea-sized droplets.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of manufacturing an oil spill treating agent comprising:
 mixing selected ingredients to form a viscous dispersant liquid formulated to disperse oil floating on the surface of a body of water, wherein the viscous dispersant liquid is opaque and floats on water.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the viscous dispersant liquid is cohesive and persistent. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the selected ingredients include at least one surfactant and at least one low density viscosifying agent. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the low density viscosifying agent comprises microballoons. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the microballoons have a particle size of about 25 micrometers to about 90 micrometers. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the low density viscosifying agent comprises one of gas bubbles or a low density solid. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the viscous dispersant liquid has a density between about 0.80 g/ml and about 1.02 g/ml. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the viscous dispersant liquid has a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance between about 9.0 and about 12.0. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the viscous dispersant liquid has a viscosity between about 5.000 cP and about 6,000 cP. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one surfactant includes at least one non-ionic surfactant and at least one anionic surfactant. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the non-ionic surfactants include at least one of sorbitan monooleate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate, and polyoxyethylene sorbitan trioleate. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one anionic surfactant comprises an alkali metal salt of a dioctyl sulfosuccinate. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selected ingredients comprise at least one solvent and the at least one solvent comprises one of isopropyl alcohol and ExxSol D80. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the viscous dispersant liquid comprises: sorbitan monooleate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan trioleate, an alkali metal salt of a dioctyl sulfosuccinate, a hydrocarbon or alcohol solvent, and microballoons. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the viscous dispersant liquid comprises: about 3-13 weight percent of sorbitan monooleate, about 5-15 weight percent of polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate, about 30-50 weight percent of polyoxyethylene sorbitan trioleate, about 20-40 weight percent of alkali metal salt of a dioctyl sulfosuccinate, about 5-15 weight percent of hydrocarbon or alcohol solvent, and about 1-3 weight percent of microballoons. 
     
     
         21 .- 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A method of manufacturing an oil spill treating agent comprising:
 mixing at least one surfactant with microballoons to form a viscous dispersant liquid formulated to disperse oil floating on the surface of a body of water.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the viscous dispersant liquid is opaque and floats on water. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the viscous dispersant liquid is cohesive and persistent. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the microballoons have a particle size between about 25 micrometers to about 90 micrometers. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the viscous dispersant liquid has a density between about 0.80 g/ml and about 1.02 g/ml. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the viscous dispersant liquid has a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance between about 9.0 and about 12.0. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the viscous dispersant liquid has a viscosity between about 1,000 centipoise (cP) and about 10,000 cP. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the at least one surfactant comprises at least one non-ionic surfactant and at least one anionic surfactant. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the at least one non-ionic surfactant comprises at least one of sorbitan monooleate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate, and polyoxyethylene sorbitan trioleate. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the oil spill treatment agent comprises a hydrocarbon or alcohol solvent. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the hydrocarbon or alcohol solvent comprises one of isopropyl alcohol and ExxSol D80. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the hydrocarbon or alcohol solvent comprises from about 0-15 percent by weight of the viscous dispersant liquid. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the at least one surfactant comprises between about 85 percent to about 98 percent by weight of the viscous dispersant liquid.