Crude Oil Flow Research Articles

Experimental investigation on the synergetic effect of low salinity water and ultrasonic wave on crude oil flow in porous media

In this study, the synergetic effect of ultrasonic waves and low-salinity water (LSW) on the oil flow in porous media was investigated. In this regard, a series of experiments including oil viscosity measurement, microscopic imaging, interfacial tension (IFT) measurement, and thermal gravimetric (TG) carried out on the crude oil before and after the ultrasonic treatment using a probe-type generator (20 kHz and 100 W). According to the results, ultrasonic waves increased the oil flow rate in porous media by decreasing the oil viscosity and increasing the temperature. Irradiated oil viscosity was reduced by 45% at the optimum time. Ultrasonic wave irradiation caused a 31% reduction in IFT between crude oil and water due to the cracking of large components. Also, the IFT between the LSW and irradiated oil was 51% less than the high-salinity water. The simultaneous use of ultrasonic waves and LSW decreases IFT between the oil and water due to the change in the electric charge and as a result, increases the creation of water-in-oil emulsions. The simultaneous use of ultrasonic waves and LSW is important from environmental and economic points of view including decreasing oil contamination in porous media and increasing oil recovery from rock.

FOAM ASSISTED GAS LIFT (FAGL) TECHNIQUE: LABORATORY TESTS, FIELD APPLICATION, AND EVENTUAL EFFECTS ON CRUDE OIL PROCESSING

Even though the foam assisted gas-lift (FAGL) technology is not exactly a technical innovation, curiously, it has attracted the attention of the crude oil industry in recent years. Broadly speaking, the FAGL consists in either boosting the well’s crude oil flow rate while maintaining the same gas injection rate, or, conversely, it refers to maintaining the well´s crude oil production at a reduced gas injection rate. The application of the FAGL technology to a crude oil well is simple, just demanding the dosage of a tailored crude oil foamer surfactant (“crude oil foamer”) to the Gas Lift (GL) stream. Preliminary lab tests and the data recovered from the specialized literature together with the ones derived from the still sparse FAGL field applications have shown promising results. The FAGL´s underlying philosophy, its eventual interference on the topside crude oil processing, and some other pivotal FAGL-related questions are also addressed in this technical contribution.

Three-dimensional finite element analysis of turbulent crude oil flow and solid particle deposition patterns in circular curved pipelines

This study presents a numerical investigation of turbulent crude oil flows in circular curved pipelines, with a focus on the deposition patterns of solid particles within the fluid. Simulations were conducted using the Reynolds–Averaged Navier–Stokes equations coupled with the k–ε turbulence model to examine the influence of structural characteristics, such as bend curvature angle and bend curvature radius, on flow dynamics and particle deposition. The results reveal that the complex flow patterns generated by these geometric features significantly affect pressure gradients and particle trajectories. Specifically, the study shows that turbulent flows within bends exhibit intricate behaviors, with deposition patterns being strongly influenced by the pipeline’s geometric parameters. Sand particles, commonly present in petroleum flows, are found to be more effectively transported in pipes with larger curvature angles, while they exhibit a higher propensity to settle at smaller curvature angles and larger bend curvature radii. Furthermore, the simulations indicate that the majority of deposited particles accumulate on the inner wall immediately downstream of the elbow entrance.

Experimental study on microscopic production characteristics and influencing factors during dynamic imbibition of shale reservoir with online NMR and fractal theory

Dynamic imbibition and displacement between the matrix and fractures in shale reservoirs can significantly enhance oil recovery (EOR) following initial depletion. However, the microscopic production characteristics and seepage mechanisms at different pore scales during the dynamic imbibition process remain incompletely understood. In this study, we established an online physical simulation experiment method that combines dynamic displacement and imbibition based on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and fractal theory, and a series of online NMR water flooding dynamic imbibition experiments were conducted. Through real-time dynamic monitoring of multiphase flow and migration behavior of crude oil in each stage of dynamic imbibition, the microscopic production characteristics and influencing factors were quantitatively studied from the recovery and residual oil saturation field distribution of different scale pores. Additionally, we developed a novel two-dimensional (2-D) NMR interpretation model to investigate the dynamic development characteristics of shale oil injection-imbibition-soaking-production integration, and the multiphase and multi-scale dynamic imbibition crude oil migration models were discussed. The results show that shale oil occurrence pores can be categorized into two types based on the corresponding production mode (imbibition + displacement). The water flooding dynamic imbibition process in shale reservoirs unfolds in three stages: strong displacement and weak imbibition stage characterized by the rapid production of large pores and fractures under displacement action; weak displacement and strong imbibition stage involving the slow production of small pores under reverse imbibition; and dynamic equilibrium stage characterized by weak displacement and weak imbibition. When viewing the entire water flooding dynamic imbibition process as an organism, it becomes imperative to maximize the recovery of large pores while ensuring the recovery degree of small pores. High permeability contributes to better pore throat connectivity and a greater imbibition and displacement production degree. The contribution of the.two production modes to the recovery of small and large pores increased by 4.67 % and 3.17 %, respectively. A negative correlation was observed between high displacement pressure and imbibition recovery, yet it is conducive to the contribution of displacement to total recovery. Notably, fractures can effectively reduce oil-water seepage resistance, and increase the contribution of displacement to recovery by 21.65 %. Finally.a positive correlation was noted between increased imbibition amount and free oil recovery, while residual oil gradually shifted towards adsorbed and organic matter-dominated forms, leading to decreased recoverability. Effectively utilizing the bridge flow conductivity of fractures, fluid imbibition displacement, and carrying effect is crucial for achieving optimal EOR. The findings provide theoretical support for clarifying the interaction between matrix-fracture imbibition and displacement and for the efficient development of shale oil.

Calculation of Some Crude Oil Flow Parameters in A Cylindrical Tube and Their Modelization in Small and Great Variable Radius

In this work, we establish the kinematic of flowing of crude oil inside a cylindrical tube which is rare in the literature. From velocity expression, we find kinematic. Pressure, temperature and heat distribution of crude oil flowing are also find from equations in the literature. Silmilation of these expressions shows that Kinematic of crude oil is similar to a flow of a fluide with a small viscosity what is true in the reality. Velocity of crude oil is not similar in any points during the flowing but increasing and decreasing according to the position point and seams like to be more fast in the border than in the center with a small radius and more fast in the center than in the border with a great radius. Temperature of the crude oil is not similar in any points during the flowing. It is more elevated in the the border than in the center. Pressure in small radius is more important in the center than in the border contrarily in great radius. results are more conformable in the reality in small than in great radius. Results of the heat is more conformable in the reality in small than in great radius.

Pemodelan Bawah Permukaan Berdasarkan Nilai Kecepatan Gelombang Kompresi (vp) di Kawasan Rembesan Hidrokarbon Sangubanyu, Jawa Tengah

Sangubanyu is located in Central Java, Indonesia, besides having some hot springs it also has crude oil seepages that have been known since 1971, to understand the cause of these seepages subsurface structure analysis is needed by recording microtremor data at 63 points. The HVSR Method is used to process micrometer data to find subsurface conditions by wave velocity, Compressional wave velocity (vp) is part of this method. vp data could be used to interpret the layer types of subsurface conditions. The southern of the study area has about 112 to 1182 m/s of vp, and the northern has about 506 to 2944 m/s, the differential of these values could be interpreted as a fault with the southern relatively moving down from the northern, there is a little distance between this fault and the crude oil seepages, it is possible that the fracture that occurs by faults was creating secondary porosity in volcanic rock and becomes a migration route for the crude oil flows to the surface.

Analysis of the Effects of Partially Hydrolyzed Polyamide on Oil Reservoir Rocks

The exploitation of heavy oil fields has recently gained momentum due to increased investment in new oil and gas fields and especially due to environmental legislative constraints. That is why in this article I have described the possibility of using partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide in the exploitation of heavy crude oil deposits, by injecting it into reservoir rocks followed by injection of reservoir water. The role of this polymer is to provide lubrication of the crude oil and water flow channels and especially to block (by reverse osmosis) the large pore communication channels in order to limit pressure leaks in uncontrollable areas. In the study we created two polymers that were used in order to increase the flow rate and decrease the viscosity and the freezing point (additives that are easy to procure and especially with spectacular results in the treatment of stills and without affecting the stability and quality of the final products refinery). We also studied the flow of the polymer through carbonate reservoir rocks, managing to obtain a numerical model that provides data on the rock resistance factor to the flow of partially fluidized polyacrylamide. The adsorption on the surface of the rocks determined the reduction of the mobility of the polymer but also the modification of the gel structure by the modification (crossing) of the polymer (of the polymer chains) which led to clogging (blocking of the pores) and increasing the possibility of fluid flow. In the laboratory we determined the adsorption of silicon for a solution of polyacrylamide of 0.05% partially hydrolyzed concentration in water, it increases from the value of 0.01 mg/m2 to 0.05 mg/m2 when the concentration in NaCl increases from 0 .5% to 10% in are we showed that adsorption increases for pH values ​​lower than 7, and it is stated that for a porous sand medium with a permeability of 140 mD, replacing saline water with 20 g/l NaCl, a presence of the polymer with a concentration of 400 ppm was observed in the effluent, and this value being approximately stabilized after 5 injected pore volumes.

Utilizing combusted PET plastic waste and biogenic oils as efficient pour point depressants for crude oil

The deposition of paraffin on pipelines during crude oil transit and low-temperature restart processes poses a significant challenge for the oil industry. Addressing this issue necessitates the exploration of innovative materials and methods. Pour point depressants (PPDs) emerge as crucial processing aids to modify paraffin crystallization and enhance crude oil flow. This study focuses on the combustion of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste, a prevalent plastic, in two distinct oils (castor and jatropha). The resulting black waxy substances (PET/Castor and PET/Jatropha) were introduced in varying weights (1000, 2000, and 3000 ppm) to crude oil. The PET/castor oil combination demonstrated a remarkable reduction in pour point from 18 to −21 °C at 3000 ppm concentration, significantly more effective than PET/jatropha blends. Substantial decreases in viscosity (up to 75%) and shear stress (up to 72%) were also observed for both blends, most prominently at lower temperatures near the pour point. The synergistic effect of PET and oils as nucleating agents that alter crystallization patterns and restrict crystal growth contributes to this enhanced low-temperature flow. This highlights the potential of PET plastic waste as an economical, abundant, and eco-friendly additive to develop high-performance PPDs for crude oil.

Surface-Functionalized Nano-Montmorillonite and Its Application as Crude Oil Flow Improver

In view of the problem of poor flowability in the production and transportation of high-wax crude oil and high-viscosity crude oil, crude oil flow improvers are commonly used to reduce their viscosity and pour point. Although polymer-based crude oil flow improvers are highly effective in improving crude oil flowability, there are still problems such as high cost and the need for a large amount of solvent dilution when used. In this work, highly dispersed organic modified nano-montmorillonite was prepared by using Na-based montmorillonite and quaternary ammonium salts, and the influencing factors on the viscosity of the crude oil were investigated. The most effective modified nano-montmorillonite (B@MMT) can reduce the viscosity by 96.7% (21 °C) and depress the pour point by 15 °C. Furthermore, it has shown a high improvement in flowability in the other four different sources of crude oil, with viscosity reduction rates of 52.2, 93.4, 79.1 and 67.4%, respectively. B@MMT was characterized by FTIR, SEM, zeta potential and contact angle. Based on DSC and wax crystal structure analysis, the mechanism of the influence of B@MMT on crude oil viscosity and pour point was explored. Finally, the cost of B@MMT was estimated, and the result shows that, compared with the crude oil flow improver in use, B@MMT has considerable commercial competitive advantages.

Synthesis of Modified Nano-Hydrotalcite Clay by Micellar Method and Its Application as Gel-like Crude Oil Flow Improver.

The network formed by wax precipitation at low temperature and colloid asphaltene at high temperature leads to poor fluidity of heavy oil, and the gelling characteristics of crude oil lead to pipeline blockage, which affects the exploitation, transportation and refining of crude oil. This work prepares a series of cationic surfactant-modified nano hydrotalcite (CSNH) to weaken the network structure and enhance the fluidity of the crude oil by the interaction of organic and inorganic functional groups on the CSNH surface and the components of the crude oil. The results show that CSNHs can all reduce the viscosity of crude oil from different oilfields, among which BTNH can reduce the viscosity of Yanglou (YL) crude oil by 98.8% (31 °C) and depress the pour point by 16.0 °C at most. In the investigation of the universality of crude oil, the modified hydrotalcite was applied to the mixed crude oil (CQH) of Changqing Oilfield, the crude oil (J76) of Jidong Oilfield, the high pour point oil (GN) of Huabei Oilfield, and the crude oil (HQ) of Tuha Oilfield. The viscosity reduction rates were 53.2%, 86.2%, 42.7%, and 63.8%, respectively. The characterization of this nano material confirms the modification of quaternary ammonium cationic surfactant on the surface, resulting in a smaller particle size, and the nano particles are stable under conventional conditions. The mechanism of viscosity and pour point reduction in crude oil by BTNH was discussed by DSC and optical microscopy analysis. The OH- and long-chain alkyl groups on the BTNH surface may interact with the resins, asphaltene and wax through hydrogen bonding and co-crystal, weakening or dispersing their aggregates, thereby improving the fluidity of crude oil. Finally, a cost evaluation was conducted on BTNH, providing useful support for subsequent promotion and application.

Numerical Modeling of Reservoir Rock Treatment Processes with Polyacrylamide

Increasing the quantities of crude oil extracted from depleted deposits can be achieved using tertiary exploitation methods, namely water injection and polyacrylamide plugs. The adsorption on the surface of the rocks determined the reduction of the mobility of the polymer but also the modification of the gel structure by the modification (crossing) of the polymer (of the polymer chains), which led to clogging (blocking of the pores) and increasing the possibility of fluid flow. Polyacrylamide as a polymer to improve the final recovery factor aims to achieve a good flow of crude oil. In this article, the equations of polymer flow through sands and limestones have been established.

Influence of vinyl acetate content on the performance of alkyl fumarate copolymers as crude oil flow improvers

Paraffin deposition during waxy crude oil transportation may obstruct the effective flow and pose serious flow assurance issues. Therefore, copolymers are used as flow improvers (FIs) and pour point depressants (PPDs) during chemical treatment programs. The performance of the copolymers is affected by their structure, particularly by the proportion of polar and non-polar segments. Fumarate copolymers are promising PPDs and FIs for waxy crude oils. However, research on the impact of different molar ratios of polar to non-polar units is limited. In this study, dialkyl fumarate–vinyl acetate copolymers with similar molar weights but different comonomer ratios were synthesized. Rheological tests of Akshabulak crude oil doped with the prepared additives and pour point measurements revealed that the efficiency of the synthesized FIs depended on the vinyl acetate content. The most effective performance was achieved from the copolymer with 58–59% (mol) of vinyl acetate. Thus, the efficiency of crude-oil FIs based on alkyl fumarate copolymers can be improved by changing the monomer ratio.

Porous media flow of polymeric nanofluids in multilayered formations: a simulation study

ABSTRACT The injection of viscoelastic fluids into the oil-bearing formations to push the bypassed and entrapped oil toward the producers is a widely accepted technique known for creating a stable displacement front and piston-like displacement, leading to Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR). However, the sweep efficiency of such complex fluids in stratified formations is still a topic of debate in the literature and is problematic, particularly in harsh reservoir conditions. This research concerns how the inclusion of nanoparticles into the polymer solution could affect the porous media flow of polymeric fluids in multilayered reservoirs. Accordingly, validated core-scale numerical models for polymer flood and polymer nanohybrid flood were upscaled to develop a reservoir-scale model. Through numerical simulations using a compositional reservoir simulator, the simultaneous flow of crude oil and polymer nanohybrids in both low and high-permeable layers of the reservoir were scrutinized. The numerical outputs showed that, compared with polymer flood, the flow dynamics of the polymer nanohybrids in different layers of the reservoir are more favorable, which resulted in improved oil recovery of over 20% of Residual Oil In Place (ROIP). Additionally, our numerical findings indicated that the polymer nanohybrids could exhibit lower polymer adsorption and acceptable salt tolerance in porous media.

Inhibition of wax crystallization and asphaltene agglomeration by core-shell polymer@SiO2 hybride nano-particles

The gelation of crude oil with high wax and asphaltene content at low temperatures often results in the block of transportation pipeline in Africa. In recent years, it was reported that surface hydrophobic-modified nanoparticles have important applications in crude oil flow modification. In this work, four kinds of core-shell hybride nanoparticles by grafting poly (octadecyl, docosyl acrylate) and poly (acrylate-α-olefin) onto the surface of nano-sized SiO2 were synthesized by grafting polymerization method. The chemical structure of nanoparticles was analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The rheological behaviors of crude oil and precipitation of asphaltenes in the presence of nanoparticles were studied by measuring the viscose-temperature relationship curve, the cumulative wax precipitation amount, and morphology of waxes and asphaltenes. The results indicate that the docosyl polyacrylate@SiO2 nanoparticle (PDA@SiO2) can reduce the cumulative wax precipitation amount of crude oil by 72.8%, decline the viscosity of crude oil by 85.6% at 20 °C, reduce the average size of wax crystals by 89.7%, and inhibit the agglomeration of asphaltene by 74.8%. Therefore, the nanoparticles not only adjust the crystalline behaviors of waxes, but also inhibit the agglomeration of asphaltenes. Apparently, core-shell hybride nanoparticles provides more heterogeneous nucleation sites for the crystallization of wax molecules, thus inhibiting the formation of three-dimensional network structure. The core-shell polymer@SiO2 hybride nanoparticles are one of promising additives for inhibiting crystallization of waxes and agglomeration of asphaltenes in crude oil.

Eco-friendly, stimuli-responsive sponge with magneto-photothermal effect for efficient and continuous cleanup of viscous crude oils

Oil spills pose significant global environmental and resource wastage issues due to the slow flow of high-viscosity crude oil. Current cleanup methods, such as chemical dispersion, in situ burning, microbial degradation, and mechanical oil skimmers, have limitations such as low recovery rates, secondary pollution, and time consumption. To address these challenges, we developed an eco-friendly magneto-photothermal sponge combining magnetic and photothermal heating. This innovation enables safe, efficient, and continuous cleanup without direct contact. The magneto-photothermal sponge, fabricated through a simple dip-coating and template method, consists of nontoxic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) sponge with a biocompatible SiO2/Fe3O4/polydopamine layer. It exhibited rapid adsorption, high capacity (131–344 % for various oils), sustained superhydrophobicity, and reusability. Owing to its magnetothermal and photothermal properties, it was rapidly heated to 178 °C in 3 min under an alternating magnetic field and to 63.5 °C in 5 min under solar irradiation. The sponge efficiently absorbed viscous crude oils, with a recovery rate of 93.33 g h−1 cm−2, which surpasses that reported in previous studies. Combining solar and magnetic heating enhanced recovery, being 13 and 1.2 times more effective than individual solar and magnetic heating, respectively. This low-cost, high flame retardant, durable, dual-heating approach offers an efficient, safe, and eco-friendly solution for cleaning viscous heavy oil spills.

Enhancing Crude Oil Flow Behaviour in pipelines of North-East India using Bacteria derived from Fish Waste and Sugarcane Bagasse

Enhancing Crude Oil Flow Behaviour in pipelines of North-East India using Bacteria derived from Fish Waste and Sugarcane Bagasse

Modification of discarded polypropylene mask and its utilization as crude oil flow improver

AbstractA method was investigated for the treatment and utilization of large quantities of polypropylene (PP)‐based wastes, such as discarded masks, generated by the COVID‐19 pandemic. A novel crude oil flow improver (named as MPP) was synthesized by modifying waste PP masks with maleic anhydride. The structure and properties of PP and MPP were characterized using Fourier transform infrared and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The optimal reaction ratio was determined to be npolypropylene:nmaleic anhydride = 1:2 and nBPO = 0.2%. When the concentration of MPP is 500 ppm, the viscosity of the YL crude oil samples is reduced by 92.48%, and the pour point is reduced by 4.2°C. In addition, MPP2 can significantly reduce the viscosity of CQ oil sample by 87.62%. The mechanism of MPP was investigated by DSC and polarized light microscopy (PLM) analysis of YL oil samples before and after the addition of MPP2. Finally, the total cost of this new crude oil flow improver is estimated and its market feasibility is analyzed. The study not only realizes resource utilization but also achieves the cycle of returning oil from oil to oil, which contributes to the implementation of resource circular economy and is of positive significance in promoting the petrochemical industry.

Effect of mechanical stirring on heat transfer and flow of crude oil in storage tanks under different heating methods

Mechanical stirring can promote uniform distribution of crude oil temperature and increase the heating rate, but the effect is different for different heating methods in crude oil storage tank. In this paper, jet heating and tubular heating are used as the heating methods in the tank, the physical and mathematical models under the synergy of two heating methods and mechanical stirring are established, FVM and SIMPLE algorithm are used to numerical calculate. The results show that mechanical stirring can enhance the flow of crude oil in the tank, affect greatly the temperature and velocity fields of crude oil and improve uniformity of the temperature field. Mechanical stirring has more significant effect on tubular heating for the 1000 m3 actual oil storage tank. For tubular heating, mechanical stirring can increase the crude oil average velocity 13.8 times, heating rate by 0.123 °C/h, heating efficiency by 8.37 % and reduce the temperature variance by 92.03 % during 2h of heating. At the same time, the indicators of economic benefits for different heating methods are put forward, and the order of energy consumption per unit temperature rise is obtained: Tubular heating > Jet heating > Jet heating and stirring > Tubular heating and stirring.

Gamma radiation-induced grafting of poly(butyl acrylate) onto ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer for improved crude oil flowability

Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers are widely employed as pour point depressants to enhance the flow properties of crude oil. However, EVA copolymers have limitations that necessitate their development. This work investigated the modification of EVA via gamma radiation-induced grafting of butyl acrylate (BuA) monomers and the evaluation of grafted EVA as a pour point depressant for crude oil. The successful grafting of poly(butyl acrylate) p(BuA) onto EVA was verified through grafting parameters, FTIR spectroscopy, and 1H NMR spectroscopy. Treating crude oil with 3000 ppm of (EVA)0kGy, (EVA)50kGy, and (1EVA:3BuA)50kGy yielded substantial reductions in pour point of 24, 21, and 21 °C, respectively. Also, rheological characterization demonstrated improving evidenced by a viscosity reduction of 76.20%, 67.70%, and 71.94% at 25 °C, and 83.16%, 74.98%, and 81.53% at 12 °C. At low dosages of 1000 ppm, the EVA-g-p(BuA) exhibited superior pour point reductions compared to unmodified EVA, highlighting the benefit of incorporating p(BuA) side chains. The grafted EVA copolymers with p(BuA) side chains showed excellent potential as crude oil flow improvers by promoting more effective adsorption and co-crystallization with paraffin wax molecules.

Determination of Wax Deposition Rate Model of Blended Oils with Different Blending Ratios

Blending with light oil is a commonly used and reliable method of crude oil transportation, and the blending ratio is a crucial operating parameter in determining the safe and efficient operation of the pipeline. In this paper, in-house flow and deposition experiments are used to evaluate the flow and deposition characteristics of crude oils with varying blending ratios. The results show that (1) blending with light oil basically does not affect the shape of the DSC curve of crude oil; (2) blending with light oil will not eliminate the thermal treatment effect, and the mixed oil flowability still remains highly dependent on the thermal treatment temperature; (3) blending with light oil can greatly decrease the abnormal point and oil viscosity, in which the low-temperature viscosity decreases more significantly; and (4) a wax deposition model of mixed oil is obtained through the fitting of Huang’s model, where the blending ratio is a crucial factor in the determination of the model parameters k, m, and n.