Note that this event will be conducted as a SPE webinar only event. It is free for global SPE members via the webinar registration link below.
Webinar registration:
https://webevents.spe.org/products/oil-specific-pour-point-depressants-for-two-asian-crude-oils
Description
Abstract:
Crude oil with a pour point (PP) near to ambient temperatures, is at risk of production interruptions due to temperature fluctuations. This can be overcome or managed through the use of pour point depressants (PPD). PPDs can lower the PP, improve crude oil flowability, and reduce the production down time. Because crude oil is a complex mixture of chemistries, blending different types of PPD is a favorable approach to accommodate the polydispersity of oils.
Herein, we blended PPDs for two medium gravity Asian crudes, AC-1 and AC-2, and studied the effects when treated with PPD. We picked three single-component polymeric PPDs based on the following chemistries: (a) acrylate (PPD-1), (b) AOMAC (PPD-2), and (c) EVA (PPD-3). All PPDs showed at least minimal effect on the PPs of AC-1.
In another approach, PPDs were blended together and the effect on PP was assessed. In AC-1, synergistic effects were observed when using a combination of PPDs, suggesting individual PPDs targets different chemistries within in a crude oil. By contrast, blends of PPDs were screened in AC-2 but synergistic effects were not observed. In fact, some negative effects were spotted.
Because there are different chemical compositions present depending on which crude oil you use, a tailored blend of PPDs will need to be use for optimum performance. This work shows that PPD selection could be optimized via design of experiment (DOE). In both Asian crudes, PPD-2 showed the best performance and was selected as the main PPD component within the blend. PPD-2 was combined with others at different levels in order to achieve optimum performance.
It is obvious that there are differences between AC-1 and AC-2 and that in general, chemical compositions of crude oils vary. This project evaluates the full potential and limitations of existing PPD chemistries and results imply a “lock and key” model – optimum performance is only achieved when the correct combination of PPDs are used. In order to achieve more efficient PPD solutions, development of new molecules is still of fundamental interest.
Short Bio: Min Wang
Min Wang is currently the Applications Manager for Oil & Gas and Water Technology of Croda Inc. She received her M.S. in Chemical Engineer from University of New Mexico and M.S. in Polymer Chemistry from Nanjing University.
She worked previously as a researcher with a number of widely credited publications in the field of nano-sponge and superconductor at Los Alamos National Laboratory and SUNY, Stony Brook. She has since worked in the chemical industry for almost twenty years as a senior chemist and technical manager, which yields a number of patents and widely adopted new products.
Her current focus is the customary applications of polymeric surfactants in wax and asphaltene control, drilling, and friction reducer.