Abstract
The saturate, aromatics, resin and asphaltene components of paraffin-base (PB) and naphthenic-base (HB) crude oil are separated by chromatographic column. The acidic components of crude oil are extracted by compounded polar solvents and identified by methyl esterification of diazomethane. The acidic components before and after asphaltene removal are investigated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometer. The effect of four fractions in simulated oil on interfacial activity is discussed. The results show PB is rich in naphthalene series and tri-aromatic steroids, and HB has a high content of phenanthrene series, chrysene series and methylpyrene, besides higher content of naphthalene series. The long carbon chain acids in HB oil decrease significantly by asphaltenes removal, confirming the presence of heavy oil acids in asphaltene. A little amount of saturates and aromatics in simulated oil can reduce the interfacial tension (IFT). When the content of asphaltenes of simulated oil is increased, IFT is initially decreased and finally increased because of stability of asphaltenes. When resin is increased, IFT is initially increased and then decreased. Simulated oil containing the resin from naphthenic-base oil is more sensitive to alkali than that of paraffin-base resin, which can reduce the IFT between oil and water at a larger range.
Highlights
The continuing exploitation of petroleum resources has been reducing residual oil reserves
The results show paraffin-base crude oil (PB) is rich in naphthalene series and tri-aromatic steroids, and HB has a high content of phenanthrene series, chrysene series and methylpyrene, besides higher content of naphthalene series
The crude oil SARA and acidic fractions of paraffin-base oil PB and naphthenic-base oil HB are separated by column chromatography and solvent extraction method, respectively
Summary
The continuing exploitation of petroleum resources has been reducing residual oil reserves. Chemical flooding especially the surfactant flooding becomes an important process for enhancing oil recovery. Four fractions, such as saturate, aromatics, resin and asphaltene (SARA), have a considerable effect on crude oil exploitation respectively, especially for reducing O/W interfacial tension (IFT). Non-hydrocarbon compounds, including resin and asphaltene being important active components in crude oil, can affect the interfacial properties between oil and aqueous surfactants solutions by its aromaticity and content [16] [17] [18] [19] [20]. In 2006, Hemmingsen et al [21] found that acidic compounds from the crude oils could decrease the IFT between aqueous solution and crude oil, and increase the water-in-oil emulsion stability
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