Crude Oil Emulsion Properties and Their Application to Heavy Oil Transportation

Langévin, D.; Poteau, Sandrine; Hénaut, I.; Argillier, Jean-François

doi:10.2516/ogst:2004036

Cited by 311 publications

(225 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…They are subjected to several breakdown processes like flocculation, coalescence, Ostwald ripening and creaming (Langevin et al 2004). In order to make these emulsions kinetically stable, a suitable surfactant (or mixture of surfactants) is always added, which adsorbs at the oil/water interface and forms a strong interfacial film (Jiang et al 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Emulsification of Indian heavy crude oil using a novel surfactant for pipeline transportation

Kumar

Mahto

2017

Pet. Sci.

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The most economical way to overcome flow assurance problems associated with transportation of heavy crude oil through offshore pipelines is by emulsifying it with water in the presence of a suitable surfactant. In this research, a novel surfactant, tri-triethanolamine monosunflower ester, was synthesized in the laboratory by extracting fatty acids present in sunflower (Helianthus annuus) oil. Synthesized surfactant was used to prepare oil-in-water emulsions of a heavy crude oil from the western oil field of India. After emulsification, a dramatic decrease in pour point as well as viscosity was observed. All the prepared emulsions were found to be flowing even at 1°C. The emulsion developed with 60% oil content and 2wt% surfactant showed a decrease in viscosity of 96%. The stability of the emulsion was investigated at different temperatures, and it was found to be highly stable. The effectiveness of surfactant in emulsifying the heavy oil in water was investigated by measuring the equilibrium interfacial tension (IFT) between the crude oil (diluted) and the aqueous phase along with zeta potential of emulsions. 2wt% surfactant decreased IFT by almost nine times that of no surfactant. These results suggested that the synthesized surfactant may be used to prepare a stable oil-in-water emulsion for its transportation through offshore pipelines efficiently.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Emulsification of Indian heavy crude oil using a novel surfactant for pipeline transportation

Kumar

Mahto

2017

Pet. Sci.

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“…Since the sensitivity of the device is greatest at the region near the channel walls, the device would be especially sensitive for such preferentially adsorbed compounds. In fact, the behavior of oil-water mixtures in the presence of silica surfaces has been widely investigated with respect to the effect of sand grains in such mixtures [35]. Treating the surface with polydimethylsiloxanes (for example) could also make the channel surface hydrophobic and thereby more sensitive to the reverse situation: detection of hydrocarbons in groundwater.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Refractometric Sensing of Heavy Oils in Fluorescent Core Microcapillaries

Zamora

Zhang

Meldrum

2013

Oil Gas Sci. Technol. – Rev. IFP Energies nouvelles

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Re´sume´-La de´tection re´fractome´trique des huiles lourdes dans les microcapillaires a`coeur fluorescents -La de´tection par re´fractome´trie d'huiles lourdes calibre´es (densite´> 1 000 kg/m 3 ) a e´te´de´montre´e à l'aide de micro-capillaires a`coeurs fluorescents. La surface interne d'un capillaire de 25 microns a d'abord e´te´reveˆtue d'une couche de silicium fluorescent a`haut indice de re´fraction (fluorescent silicon Quantum Dots, QD). Ce film de QD permet le de´veloppement de re´sonances cylindriques en mode galerie (Whispering Gallery Mode, WGM) à l'inte´rieur du capillaire. Les huiles lourdes recouvrant une gamme e´tendue de l'indice de re´fraction ont e´teí njecte´es dans le canal du capillaire, provoquant de grands changements pour les longueurs d'onde de re´sonance WGM. La sensibilite´des huiles lourdes aux indices de re´fraction les plus e´leve´s, est d'environ 250 nm par Unite´d'Indice de Re´fraction (nm/UIR), ce qui est la sensibilite´la plus e´leve´e observe´e jusqu'à pre´sent pour un capteur re´fractome´trique fonctionnant en mode fluorescent. Cela est une indication que les microcapillaires a`coeurs fluorescents pourraient eˆtre une alternative viable par microfluidique pour la de´tection chimique ou par re´fractome´trie lors des divers stades de la transformation, du controˆle et de l'utilisation du pe´trole et du gaz.Abstract -Refractometric Sensing of Heavy Oils in Fluorescent Core Microcapillaries -The refractometric sensing of calibrated heavy oils (density > 1 000 kg/m 3 ) is demonstrated using fluorescent-core microcapillaries. A 25-micron capillary channel was first coated with a high-index layer of fluorescent silicon Quantum Dots (QD). This QD film supports the development of cylindrical Whispering Gallery Mode (WGM) resonances inside the capillary. Heavy oils spanning a wide range of refractive index were pumped into the capillary channel, causing large shifts in the fluorescence WGM resonant wavelengths. The sensitivity for heavy oils approached 250 nm per Refractive Index Unit (nm/RIU) at the higher oil indices, which is the highest sensitivity so far observed for a refractometric sensor operating in the fluorescence mode. This suggests that fluorescent core microcapillaries may be a viable microfluidic alternative for refractometric or chemical sensing in various stages of oil and gas processing, monitoring and usage.

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“…They found that it is cheaper to transport it as oil-in-water emulsion with an optimum oil content of around 70 %. Langevin et al (2004) have reported that oil-in-water emulsions reduce the viscosity of heavy crude oils and bitumens and may provide an alternative to the use of diluents or heat. Also, hydrocarbon diluents or lighter crudes may not be available or limited, while water is readily available for emulsification.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental investigation of the effects of various parameters on viscosity reduction of heavy crude by oil–water emulsion

Al-Wahaibi

Al-Hashmi

et al. 2015

Pet. Sci.

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The effects of water content, shear rate, temperature, and solid particle concentration on viscosity reduction (VR) caused by forming stable emulsions were investigated using Omani heavy crude oil. The viscosity of the crude oil was initially measured with respect to shear rates at different temperatures from 20 to 70°C. The crude oil exhibited a shear thinning behavior at all the temperatures. The strongest shear thinning was observed at 20°C. A non-ionic water soluble surfactant (Triton X-100) was used to form and stabilize crude oil emulsions. The emulsification process has significantly reduced the crude oil viscosity. The degree of VR was found to increase with an increase in water content and reach its maximum value at 50 % water content. The phase inversion from oil-in-water emulsion to water-inoil emulsion occurred at 30 % water content. The results indicated that the VR was inversely proportional to temperature and concentration of silica nanoparticles. For water-in-oil emulsions, VR increased with shear rate and eventually reached a plateau at a shear rate of around 350 s -1 . This was attributed to the thinning behavior of the continuous phase. The VR of oil-in-water emulsions remained almost constant as the shear rate increased due to the Newtonian behavior of water, the continuous phase.

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Crude Oil Emulsion Properties and Their Application to Heavy Oil Transportation

Cited by 311 publications

References 36 publications

Emulsification of Indian heavy crude oil using a novel surfactant for pipeline transportation

Emulsification of Indian heavy crude oil using a novel surfactant for pipeline transportation

Refractometric Sensing of Heavy Oils in Fluorescent Core Microcapillaries

Experimental investigation of the effects of various parameters on viscosity reduction of heavy crude by oil–water emulsion

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