Effect of surfactants and their blend with silica nanoparticles on wax deposition in a Malaysian crude oil

Abstract

The present study investigated the wax deposition tendencies of a light Malaysian crude oil (42.4°API), and the wax inhibiting potential of some surfactants and their blends with nanoparticles. With the knowledge that the majority of the wax inhibition research revolved around polymeric wax inhibitors, which cause environmental issues, we highlighted the potential of surfactants and their blend with SiO 2 nanoparticles as wax deposition inhibitors. Different surfactants including oil-based, silane-based, Gemini and bio-surfactants were considered as primary surfactants. The primary surfactants and their respective blends at a concentration of 400 ppm were screened as wax inhibitor candidates using cold finger apparatus. The screening results showed a significant influence on the paraffin inhibition efficiency on wax deposition by using 400 ppm of silane-based surfactant, which decreased the wax deposition up to 53.9% as compared to that of the untreated crude oil. The inhibition efficiency among the silane-based surfactant (highest) and bio-surfactant (lowest) revealed an appreciable difference up to 36.5%. Furthermore, the wax from the treated sample was found to deposit in a thin gel-like form, which adhered inadequately to the surface of the cold finger. A further investigation by blending the 400 ppm silane-based surfactant with a 400 ppm SiO 2 nanoparticle suspension in a load ratio of 3:1 found that the wax inhibition decreased up to 81% as compared to the scenario when they were not added. However, we have shown that the synergy between the silane-based surfactant and the nanoparticles is influenced by the concentration and load ratio of surfactant and nanoparticles, residence time, differential temperature and rotation rate.

The influence of palm oil additives on the pour point and wax deposition tendencies of Chenor crude oil

“…This then prompts the higher carbon number molecules to diffuse into the wax layer while the lighter carbon number molecules to diffuse out. This causes the deposited wax to have an increase in solid fraction making it denser and stiff which then increases in hardness as the time increases (Lim et al 2018 ; Paso and Fogler, 2004 ; Quan et al 2015 ). Meanwhile, the effect of shear stripping causes the weaker and softer deposited wax to detach and suspend in the crude oil (Hao et al 2019 ; Leiroz & Azevedo 2005 ).…”

“…Among the flow assurance issues include hydrate formation, paraffin wax deposition, asphaltenes, erosion and corrosion (Arnold and Stewart 1999 ). However, in warm waters like Malaysia, the main flow assurance issue is the deposition of paraffin wax as compared to the other listed flow assurance issues (Anisuzzaman et al 2018 ; Lim et al 2018 ).…”

Effects of Crude Palm Oil and Crude Palm Kernel Oil Upon Wax Inhibition

“… 2 In tropical waters like Malaysia, the problem of paraffin wax deposition is the major nuisance compared to the listed flow assurance issues. 3 , 4 The average temperatures of the surface and the subsea are 34 and 25 °C, respectively, clearly leading to a temperature difference between the pipelines walls and the crude oil. Driven by molecular diffusion mechanism, paraffin wax deposition occurs during crude oil transportation via pipelines as well as during the production in the tubing string where the deposition of the unwanted substance causes an increase in the pressure drop (requiring higher pressure to transport the crude oil) in the pipeline.…”

Synergistic effect of magnetic field and nanocomposite pour point depressant on the yield stress of waxy model oil

“…Wax components in crude oil result in complex precipitation and crystallization behavior (Bai et al 2019;Guo et al 2004;Ganeeva et al 2016;Hassanzadeh et al 2018;Li et al 2018;Lim et al 2018;Wang et al 2019;Zhang et al 2013). In lowtemperature environment (e.g., deep water, polar region), the precipitated wax crystal forms three-dimensional network and may cause serious flow assurance problem such as coagulation, blockage and even rupture during pipeline transportation (Chevallier et al 2000;Pechook et al 2016;Visintin et al 2005).…”

“…In recent years, nanoparticle is selected to develop nanocomposite pour point depressant (NPPD) (AlSabagh et al 2016;Gao et al 2017;He et al 2016;Huang et al 2018Huang et al , 2019Norrman et al 2016;Song et al 2016;Tu et al 2018;Yang et al 2017;Yao et al 2018;Zhao et al 2018). Since the surface effect generated in nanometer dimension, nanoparticle possesses unique physical-chemical properties and has aroused tremendous attention in synthesizing various Edited by Xiu-Qiu Peng function materials (Guo et al 2004;Ganeeva et al 2016;Li et al 2018;Lim et al 2018;Zhang et al 2013). Research on NPPD's synthesis and application has been conducted in the modification of wax crystallization (AlSabagh et al 2016;He et al 2016;Huang et al 2019;Tu et al 2018).…”