Synthesis and Evaluation of Novel Naphthenate Inhibitor Demulsifier from Fatty Hydrazide Derivatives

N Borhan,I K Salleh,A Ramli

doi:10.14419/ijet.v7i4.14.27527

Abstract

The production of crude oil contained Alkaline-Surfactant-Polymer (ASP)-chemical enhance oil recovery (CEOR) has a significant detrimental effect on flow assurance mainly for formation of microemulsion which is thermally stable and difficult to break and separated into clean crude oil and water phase. Quality of clean crude oil for saleability is important through achievement of crude oil dehydration in terms of basic sediment and water (BS&W) specification less than 0.5%. This paper outlines a case-study where stable microemulsions were formed following mixing of crude oil and ASP brine, requiring operationally intensive remediation. Finally, novel palm oil-derived fatty hydrazide Naphthenate Inhibitor (NI)-Demulsifier were synthesized, formulated and tested using dynamic laboratory tests using a multifunctional mini flow loop (MMFL). Under dynamic laboratory test, crude oil, prepared produced water and ASP were mixed under high shear at separator temperature and pressure. The NI-demulsifiers chemical injection was carried out after microemulsions were formed before the separator, representing a wellhead injection point and for a sufficient time to allow the microemulsion system to reach equilibrium. This work demonstrates the importance of considering the impact of ASP-EOR fluids on existing emulsion and using an appropriate laboratory technique to evaluate potential mitigating treatments for oil-water separation technology. The effects of temperature and water cut on microemulsion stability are shown and the NI-demulsifier demonstrated excellence in demulsifying and dehydration at minimal dosage.

Highlights

The phase behavior of produced crude oil fluid contained ASP coming from reservoir to central processing platform contained water in oil (W/O) microemulsion and oil in water (O/W) microemulsion
The dissociation of the naphthenic acids (NAs) with NAs with 150-230 molecular weight (Mw) dissociated at pH 6.2 while most of NAs with Mw between 230-530 will dissociate at pH 7.2
Dissociation of the NAs and its phase behavior is their ability to self-organize through formation of aggregates as the RCOO- moieties become reactive towards metal cations and form complex with calcium ion (Ca2+) and sodium ion (Na+) forming (RCOO)2Ca and RCOONa as dimers, micelles and higher order structures

Summary

Introduction

The phase behavior of produced crude oil fluid contained ASP coming from reservoir to central processing platform contained water in oil (W/O) microemulsion and oil in water (O/W) microemulsion. Dissociation of the NAs and its phase behavior is their ability to self-organize through formation of aggregates as the RCOO- moieties become reactive towards metal cations and form complex with calcium ion (Ca2+) and sodium ion (Na+) forming (RCOO)2Ca and RCOONa as dimers, micelles and higher order structures. These aggregation properties resulted from the amphiphilic nature (presence of both hydrophobic and hydrophilic parts) of the NAs itself. NIs inhibits the surface active properties which congregate at oil-water interface and form a layer that prevents the interactions between protonated NAs and cations (i.e. Na+ and Ca2+) in the water phase. We report the novel chemical compound of palm oil derivatives as hybrid NI-demulsifier for mitigation approach for W/O and O/W microemulsion from ASP-EOR

Methods

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion