Effect of Branched and Straight Chained Alcohols on Performance of Crude oil Demulsifiers

T Odisu,Lc Edomwonyi-Otu,En Bassey,Eo Ohimor

doi:10.4314/jasem.v23i1.10

Abstract

Unwanted crude oil emulsions occur in many stages of oil production, transportation, and processing. The huge cost resulting from corrosion of transport system and production facilities, because of the presence of water is a major challenge to the oil industry and the global economy. However, the addition of alcohols to demulsifiers has been reported to enhance their efficiency in removing water from emulsions. There is therefore the need to identify the best type of alcohols and optimize this process of addition. Consequently in this work, the effect of different straight and branched chain alcohols on the performance enhancement of demulsifiers was investigated using four different crude oil emulsion samples. The results showed that straight alcohols performed better when compared to branched chain alcohols under all conditions of temperature. This may be due to their slow mobility particularly in stable emulsions. Keywords : Crude Oil, Emulsion, Emulsifiers, Demulsifiers, Alcohols

Highlights

Today, crude oil is one of the most important constituents of the reservoir fluids because of its huge economic value
The energy input for the formation of crude oil emulsions during oil production is provided by vigorous agitation of oil-water mixture at points such as perforations, gas lift mandrels, wellbore valves/chokes, bends along flow line, separators and pumps (HTS Consultants, 2004)
The water is undesirable because it creates several problems in production, transportation, and processing processes. These problems may include: increased cost of pumping, significant flow line or tubing pressure resulting from high viscosity emulsions, and significant pressure drops created in flow lines. These problems translate into huge cost to the oil industry and to the global economy in terms of the risk of corrosion of export and subsea pipelines and refining equipment, possible catalyst poisoning, increased crude oil pumping costs and other associated problem (Odisu and Ebewele, 2008)

Summary

Introduction

Crude oil is one of the most important constituents of the reservoir fluids because of its huge economic value. There is urgent need to give more attention to the study of the process or processes that may lead to the formation of emulsion, the properties of emulsions and ways of destabilizing or separating emulsions This will enhance more efficient design and operational flexibility of production and separation systems. The settling tanks, cyclones, centrifugal separators and other kinds of mechanical separation tools in the destabilization of crude oil emulsions is considerably voluminous as well as expensive to install on offshore platforms and even on land operation stations (Petroleum extension service, 1974). It means great economic benefit whenever the installation can be kept at a minimum size and number. The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of branched and straight chained alcohols on the performance of demulsifiers

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion