+441518081136Special Issue Article - Journal of Chemical Technology and Applications (2021) Volume 4, Issue 2
The influence of chemical inhibitors on the rheological properties of waxy crude oil
Oil companies are expanding their activities in cold environments such as offshore deep water and onshore for more reservoirs due to increased global demand for energy. These oil companies face the problem of wax deposition from the crude oil building up on the pipe wall during hydrocarbon processing in the cold climate. It contributes to a rise in operating and remedial costs, as well as a reduction in productivity, although simultaneously stifling oil production Wax inhibitors are one of the mitigation technologies whose effect on crude oil viscosity and wax appearance temperature has been studied (the temperature at which the first crystal of wax starts to deposit from crude oil). During this research, the performance of wax inhibitors such as acetone, copolymer + acrylate monomers coded W804, and copolymer + acrylate monomers coded W804 and copolymer + acrylate monomers coded W804 and copolymer + acrylate monomers coded W804 and copolymer + acrylate monomers coded W805 was evaluated to determine their effects on the crude oil rheology, using the programmable remoter rig at gradient temperatures 55 to 0°C and shear rate 120 1/s. By applying 250, 500, 1000, 1500, and 2000 ppm of inhibitor mixtures to crude oil, the synergy of using mixtures of such chemical inhibitors was investigated. Acetone with copolymer + acrylate monomers (W804) is used in the first mixture, and acetone with copolymer + acrylate monomers is used in the second mixture (W805). In comparison to their original components, these mixtures perform well. Without inhibitors, the wax appearance temperature of the crude oil used in this analysis is 30°C. At concentrations of 250, 500, 1000, 1500, and 2000 ppm, the first mixture of inhibitors lowered the wax appearance temperature of oil to 25.2, 24, 18.4, 16.8, and 15.4°C, respectively. At concentrations of 250, 500, 1000, 1500, and 2000 ppm, the second mixture of inhibitors lowered the wax appearance temperature of the crude oil to 24.3, 21.7, 16.7, 15.3, and 14.2°C, respectively. This combination of inhibitory properties and a major decrease in wax appearance temperature and oil viscosity makes it a one-of-a-kind contribution to wax removal methods.