Nowadays, the implementation of chemical enhanced oil recovery (CEOR) techniques improves the oil recovery by injecting synthetic surfactants in reservoir. However, the recent use of this synthetic surfactant is quite expensive and possesses toxicity problems when exposed to the environment. This issue has forced the search for alternative, cheaper and natural synthetic surfactant to enhance oil recovery. Hence, this study aims to provide some insights into the effect of saponin as natural plant-based non-ionic surfactant on the surface of paraffin oil-wet sandstone. The effectiveness of saponin depends on the critical micelle concentration (CMC), interfacial tension (IFT) and wettability alteration. The surfactant concentration containing saponin was varying from 0.005wt% to 0.07wt% to determine CMC value using surface tension measurement, meanwhile for IFT measurement was conducted at 0.5wt% to 8wt% concentration using Krus Tensiometer K6. The experiments were conducted at standard condition with 25°C and 14.7psia. The findings showed that surface tension for CMC value of saponin is 0.05wt%. Approximately 27% reduction from initial IFT was achieved with 8wt% of saponin concentration. The saponin successfully alter the wetting state of oil-wet sandstone to intermediate-wet through quantitatively measurement of contact angle. Saponin with low CMC value is favourable to become a reference concentration as natural surfactant, effective to alter of reservoir rock properties, facilitate oil mobilization, increase oil recovery and suggested as an additive for mitigating wax deposition.
In empowering the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development
Goal,
the oil industry is inclined toward organic wax inhibitor applications
when combatting the wax deposition issue during crude oil production.
This is because synthetic chemical inhibitors are costly and have
the potential to create environmental problems when oil spillage or
seepage occurs during transportation or operation. This study evaluates
the impact of low-cost, natural plant-based inhibitors such as Jatropha
seed oil (JSO), crude palm oil, and crude palm kernel oil (CPKO) on
paraffin inhibition efficiency (PIE, %) and rheological properties
of Malaysian waxy crude oil. By using cold finger equipment and a
Fann viscometer, the amount of solid wax deposits, apparent viscosity,
plastic viscosity, yield value, and gel strength were determined.
Commercialized ethylene-
co
-vinyl acetate and triethanolamine
compounds were used for a comparative study. For the wax deposition
test, the results revealed that the highest average PIE obtained was
86.30% when 5% JSO was blended with Penara crude oil. Meanwhile, the
rheological test proved that 5% JSO and 1% CPKO were acting as highest
viscosity-reducing agents at 60 °C below the wax appearance temperature
(WAT). The discovery of palm-based and Jatropha-based inhibitors from
Malaysia’s palm oil plantation and Malaysian JSO as a wax inhibitor
was found to be beneficial for the application of wax deposition and
rheological studies in crude oil production with a less harmful environment
for sustainable energy production.
Wax deposition is the main flow assurance problem that affects the oil and gas industry at various points of oil transport, hence a solution is being sought. The aim of this paper is to establish a solution using Jatropha curcas seed oil (JSO) from Malaysia and its sustainability as a wax inhibitor component. Extraction of JSO was carried out using a Soxhlet extractor and n-Hexane solvent. Characterization of JSO by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was performed to identify the components of JSO and their functional groups. GC–MS analysis showed that oleic acid was the major component of JSO with 44.91%. FTIR analysis showed the presence of ester fatty acid groups at a peak of 1746.48 cm−1. The analysis revealed that the high content of oleic acid in JSO has great potential as a wax inhibitor to mitigate paraffin wax deposition and improve the flowability of crude oil. This research was extended by the discovery of the process of powdered Jatropha leaves, which have the potential as a wax inhibitor.
Produced water is a water that comes out with the crude oil during the production of the well. It contains non-soluble and soluble oil or organics, dissolved and suspended solids with different chemicals used during production process. Thus, it must be properly accounted as it affects the economical productivity of crude oil and separation efficiency as a result of stubborn emulsions between crude oil and water. Thus, a simulation study was conducted using PIPESIM to predict the flow pattern and pressure drop of waxy crude oil and water flow in horizontal and inclined pipelines (i.e., -15° from horizontal). In this simulation study, water cuts were ranging from 0% to 90% while the flow rates were ranging from 2.03 to 16.21 cm3/s. The study comprised fluid modelling, physical modelling and running the simulation with the most suitable multiphase flow correlation in PIPESIM. This simulation study used the waxy crude oil has 16.15% of wax content and simulation was performed at 30°C. The validity of the simulation results was accomplished by comparing the published findings. There were only two types of flow patterns that can be identified by PIPESIM; stratified wavy and dispersed flow. The investigations proved that pressure drop was greatly influenced by flow rates and flow patterns. By decreasing the inclination angle, the boundary between the stratified and dispersed flow regimes shifted to the upper left of the flow pattern map while showing a higher pressure drop than horizontal pipeline due to the combined effect of pressure difference and gravity. The simulation results can be used as a platform for better understanding on more complex cases of gas, oil and water concurrent flow in pipelines.
The Quran has been the main source of knowledge for all humankind throughout the ages. Engineering is one of the branches of knowledge that impacts technology development. There are verses in the Quran that explain this engineering science indirectly. The stories about engineering in the Quran can also provide valuable lessons for humans and serve as preparation for the afterlife. However, discussions about the Quranic verses concerning various branches in the engineering field and their influence on the lives of engineers still need to be completed in journals. Therefore, this study presents the verses and stories in the field of engineering as well as their effects on the divine values in the life of an engineer. Library research is used to achieve the objective by referring to the Quran and the book Tafsīr Fī Zilāl al-Qur’ān as primary references. Writings on general history, education, and engineering are also consulted to achieve the objective. This study finds that the Quranic verses significantly affect the divine values of individuals involved in this engineering field and positively impact the formation of morals as a Muslim. This effect is closely related to the appreciation of the Quranic verses and efforts to practice them daily. The Quran was revealed as a guide and provision for humans to worship Allah. This writing can also open the eyes of every Muslim to the expansive interpretation of the Quran and convince their hearts that the Quran is a miracle that does not contradict scientific theories.
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