Polymer science applied to petroleum production

Abstract

The science of polymers, more specifically, synthesis, characterization, and physicochemical properties in solutions, has wide application in the petroleum industry, which uses polymers as components of fluids or additives to correct problems that affect oil production and/or increase production costs. Polymers are utilized during all phases, from drilling to treatment of oil and water. Research on the synthesis of polymers and their respective characterization aims to develop new molecules, with controlled structures, for various applications, having one or more objectives, namely: (1) to enhance operating efficiency; (2) to reduce costs; and (3) to elucidate mechanisms of action that can help in the development of new technologies. The evaluation of the physicochemical properties of a polymer in solution in many cases permits establishing useful correlations between its properties and performance in a specific application, besides providing insight into the mechanisms inherent in the production system, as is the case of stabilization of asphaltenes. Our research group has applied the knowledge of polymer science to the petroleum industry, focusing on the following functions: viscosification, inhibition of clay swelling, formation of filter cake, drag reduction, divergence, modification of wax crystals, stabilization of asphaltenes, emulsification, demulsification, and cleaning of solids systems contaminated with petroleum, among others.

Optimization of Demulsifier Formulation for Separation of Water From Crude Oil Emulsions

“…According to Lucas et al (2009) and Pacheco et al (2011) these substances include block copolymers based on ethylene oxide and propylene oxide (PEO-b-PPO). In the present study, the focus was on the selection of chemicals which possess this appropriate functionality.…”

Separation and characterization of asphaltenic subfractions

“…This distillation residue is called asphaltic residue. [2][3][4][5] Asphaltenes can be separated from resins by the addition of a non-polar solvent (paraffinic) such as n-pentane or n-heptane, forming precipitates that dissolve in aromatic compounds such as toluene. 6 The asphaltenes isolated are named C5I and C7I when using n-pentane and n-heptane as flocculant, respectively.…”

The influence of asphaltenes subfractions on the stability of crude oil model emulsions

“…These additives cause thinning of the interfacial film, allowing the droplets to coalesce more easily, thus allowing the phases to separate. 5,16,17 These chemical compounds have nonionic character, with relatively high molar mass (normally above 3,000 Da) and have one part that is hydrophilic and another hydrophobic. 18 The hydrophilic part includes the oxyethylene, hydroxyl, carboxyl or amine groups, while the hydrophobic parts are composed of alkyl, alkylphenol or oxypropylene groups.…”