Effective Removal of Asphaltene Deposition in Metal-Capillary Tubes

SPE Journal ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (05) ◽  
pp. 1747-1754 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara M. Hashmi ◽  
Abbas Firoozabadi
Keyword(s):  
Organic Acid ◽  
Laboratory Scale ◽  
Asphaltene Precipitation ◽  
Aromatic Solvent ◽  
Benzene Sulfonic Acid ◽  
Chemical Treatments ◽  
Effective Removal ◽  
Dodecyl Benzene Sulfonic Acid ◽  
Asphaltene Deposition ◽  
Petroleum Fluid

Summary We describe asphaltene deposition and removal processes in metal capillaries. We induce asphaltene precipitation by adding an asphaltene precipitant, heptane, to a petroleum fluid. The mixture is then injected through a laboratory-scale capillary and allowed to deposit. We assess the reversal of the deposition by means of the use of two separate chemical treatments: (1) a strong organic acid surfactant and (2) an aromatic solvent. The strong organic acid surfactant, dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid (DBSA), was shown to completely dissolve asphaltenes by means of acid-base chemistry reactions at heteroatomic sites on the asphaltene molecules. We investigate the use of DBSA as an efficient removal agent, injecting it in a mixture of petroleum fluid after the deposit was already formed. An aromatic solvent, toluene, is also investigated in such a fashion to assess its ability in removing deposited asphaltenes. We find that DBSA can effectively remove asphaltene deposits within one pore-volume (PV) of injection and at concentrations roughly ten times less than that required by an aromatic solvent such as toluene. To the best of our knowledge, our current study is the first laboratory-scale investigation with surfactant chemicals to reverse asphaltene deposition in capillaries.

scholarly journals Effect of Rejuvenator Containing Dodecyl Benzene Sulfonic Acid (DBSA) on Physical Properties, Chemical Components, Colloidal Structure and Micro-Morphology of Aged Bitumen

Materials ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongliang Kuang ◽  
Zhou Ye ◽  
Lifeng Yang ◽  
Ning Liu ◽  
Zaihong Lu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Sulfonic Acid ◽  
Chemical Components ◽  
Structure Transformation ◽  
Colloidal Structure ◽  
Benzene Sulfonic Acid ◽  
Oven Test ◽  
Dodecyl Benzene Sulfonic Acid ◽  
Micro Morphology

DBSA was used as a solubilizer together with conventional rejuvenator (CR) to produce a solubilized rejuvenator (SR), two kinds of aged bitumen involving TFOT aged bitumen and PAV aged bitumen were obtained by thin film oven test (TFOT) and pressurized aging vessel (PAV), respectively. Effects of CR and SR on the physical properties, chemical components, colloidal structure and micro-morphology of TFOT aged bitumen and PAV aged bitumen were investigated. Testing results of physical properties and chemical components indicated that CR and SR can replenish aged bitumen with necessary aromatics, TFOT aged bitumen that chemical component variation deteriorates its physical properties. With regard to PAV aged bitumen, of which the performance attenuation lies in chemical components variation and colloidal structure transformation, even if the content of CR reached up to 10 wt %, the regenerated bitumen cannot meet the regeneration requirement yet due to its definite influence on colloidal structure transformation, comparatively, sulfonic group in SR can react with the superficial atoms of asphaltenes to reform a solvation layer to facilitate the colloidal structure transformation of PAV aged bitumen, performance and beelike structure of regenerated PAV aged with bitumen with 10 wt % SR were approximated to that of virgin bitumen.

Modeling and Simulation of Asphaltene Inhibition and Remediation Using Aromatic Solvents

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Abouie ◽  
Kamy Sepehrnoori
Keyword(s):  
Oil Fields ◽  
Asphaltene Precipitation ◽  
Chemical Additives ◽  
Aromatic Solvent ◽  
Solvent Injection ◽  
Intervention Cost ◽  
Gas Flooding ◽  
Pros And Cons ◽  
The Common ◽  
Side Track

Abstract Asphaltene precipitation and deposition occur in the reservoir, near-wellbore, inside the tubing, and production facilities during primary, secondary, or tertiary production. As more water-flooded oil fields produce under miscible gas flooding, this problem becomes more common around the world. If asphaltene deposition occurs in the reservoir or wellbore, it can severely affect the economics of the field in terms of production loss, intervention cost, and the requirement for chemical additives, if necessary. In some severe cases, intervention would be impossible and side-track well needs to be drilled. Hence, the best strategy for oil production in asphaltenic reservoirs is to control asphaltene precipitation and deposition through prevention and remediation jobs to minimize the number of well shut-ins, the downtime of the wells, and the associated cost. In this paper, we reviewed the common asphaltene prevention and remediation techniques along with their pros and cons. Since removing asphaltene deposits from the problematic wells is relatively expensive and sometimes requires substantial downtime of the well, we focused on one of the prevention techniques (i.e., continuous solvent injection through capillary injection string), which has become more popular, to control asphaltene precipitation in the wellbore. We obtained the physical properties of an aromatic solvent from literature and then characterized it as a component to be used with PC-SAFT EOS. Subsequently, we used the in-house wellbore model to evaluate the effectiveness of the continuous solvent injection with different injection rates on preventing asphaltene precipitation and deposition along the wellbore.

Laboratory Investigation of Permeability Impairment Caused by Asphaltene Precipitation during Screening for Gas-Injection Enhanced Oil Recovery and Pressure Change in a Major Gulf of Mexico Field

SPE Journal ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
M. R. Fassihi ◽  
E. Turek ◽  
M. Matt Honarpour ◽  
D. Peck ◽  
R. Fyfe
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Gas Injection ◽  
Rock Surface ◽  
Permeability Reduction ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Asphaltene Precipitation ◽  
The Core ◽  
Asphaltene Deposition ◽  
Core Permeability ◽  
Permeability Impairment

Summary As part of studying miscible gas injection (GI) in a major field within the Green Canyon protraction area in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), asphaltene-formation risk was identified as a key factor affecting a potential GI project. The industry has not conducted many experiments to quantify the effect of asphaltenes on reservoir and well performance under GI conditions. In this paper we discuss a novel laboratory test for evaluating the asphaltene effect on permeability. The goals of the study were to define the asphaltene-precipitation envelope using blends of reservoir fluid and injection gas, and measure permeability reduction caused by asphaltene precipitation in a core under GI. To properly analyze the effect of GI, a suite of fluid-characterization studies was conducted, including restored-oil samples, compositional analysis, constant composition expansion (CCE), and differential vaporization. Miscibility conditions were defined through slimtube-displacement tests. Gas solubility was determined through swelling tests complemented by asphaltene-onset-pressure (AOP) testing. The unique procedure was developed to estimate the effect of asphaltene deposition on core permeability. The 1-ft-long core was saturated with the live-oil and GI mixture at a pressure greater than the AOP, and then pressure was depleted to a pressure slightly greater than the bubblepoint. Several cycles of charging and depletion were conducted to mimic continuous flow of oil along the path of injected gas and thereby to observe the accumulation of asphaltene on the rock surface. The test results indicated that during this cyclic asphaltene-deposition process, the core permeability to the live mixture decreased in the first few cycles but appeared to stabilize after Cycle 5. The deposited asphaltenes were analyzed further through environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), and their deposition was confirmed by mass balance before and after the tests. Finally, a relationship was established between permeability reduction and asphaltene precipitation. The results from the asphaltene-deposition experiment show that for the sample, fluids, and conditions used, permeability is impaired as asphaltene flocculates and begins to coat the grain surfaces. This impairment reaches a plateau at approximately 40% of the initial permeability. Distribution of asphaltene along the core was measured at the end by segmenting the core and conducting solvent extraction on each segment. Our recommendation is numerical modeling of these test results and using this model to forecast the magnitude of the permeability impairment in a reservoir setting during miscible GI.

Integrated Leachate Treatment Technology

2020 ◽  
pp. 204-220
Author(s):  
Zawawi Daud ◽  
Halizah Awang
Keyword(s):  
Organic Compounds ◽  
Landfill Leachate ◽  
Combined Treatment ◽  
Treatment Technology ◽  
Leachate Treatment ◽  
Chemical Treatments ◽  
Physico Chemical ◽  
Effective Removal ◽  
Removal Of Heavy Metals ◽  
Pre Treatment

In this chapter, the performance of combined treatment of municipal landfill leachate is reviewed. Although individual physico-chemical treatments are suitable for the removal of heavy metals and hydrolyzation of some organic compounds, a combination of two physico-chemical treatments or physico-chemical and biological is required for optimum treatment of stabilized landfill leachate. A combination of two physico-chemical treatments can give optimum results in removal of recalcitrant organic compounds from stabilized leachate, as reflected by a significant decrease of the COD values after treatment. On the other hand, a combination of physico-chemical and biological treatments is required to achieve effective removal of NH3-N and COD with a substantial amount of biodegradable organic matter. In many cases, physico-chemical treatments are suitable for pre-treatment of stabilized leachate. The objective of this paper is to highlight various types of integrated leachate treatments as it has been difficult to get optimum efficiency from single approached treatment.

The Applications of Natural Zeolites for Cadmium Removal from Sample Water: Models on Laboratory Scale

2011 ◽  
Vol 347-353 ◽  
pp. 1930-1933 ◽  
Author(s):  
Usa Onthong ◽  
Pornpan Pungpo ◽  
Wikanda Thongnueakhaeng
Keyword(s):  
Removal Efficiency ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
Laboratory Scale ◽  
Natural Zeolites ◽  
Cadmium Removal ◽  
Adsorption Parameters ◽  
Effective Removal ◽  
Sample Water ◽  
Preliminary Study

The removal of the cadmium ion from aqueous solution was studied in batch experiments using five natural zeolites were obtained from South of Thailnd, Clinoptiolite, Mordenite, Willhensonite, Offretite and Ferrierite, on the basis of experimental models on laboratory scale. Clinoptiolite was used for preliminary study of the adsorption parameters. An hour contact time and 40 g/L of the ratio of zeolite per water sample are optimum adsorption parameters with an average cadmium removal efficiency of 91.68 %. The optimum adsorption conditions were then used for other four natural zeolites. The results show that the effective removal sequence can be listed as Offretite  Clinoptiolite > Willhensonite > Mordenite > Ferrierite. Clinoptiolite, Offretite and Willhensonite are successfully used to reduce significantly cadmium from sample water with removal efficiency ranging from of 87-92%, respectively. Accordingly, the natural zeolites are recommendable adsorbents for highly cadmium removal of industrial wastewater with low cost of wastewater treatments and environmentally friendly chemical processes.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document