Hydrocarbon Processing Research Articles

Regulation and impact of VOC and CO2 emissions on low‐carbon energy systems resilient to climate change: A case study on an environmental issue in the oil and gas industry

AbstractThe impact of emissions from the fuel and energy sectors adversely affects the environment on the economies of countries. One of these pollutants is volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which contribute to the formation of tropospheric ozone. Emissions of hydrocarbon formation in the form of VOCs occur in four stages of the fuel and energy industry sector: (1) production, (2) processing, (3) transportation, and (4) storage. The oil and gas industry ranks among the top polluting industries in terms of VOC emissions. Research on the negative impact of VOCs, as well as CO2 emissions from the consequences of the extraction, processing, transport, and storage of oil and gas on the ecosystem of the planet and the population, has begun to be studied by science recently. Typically, these studies were conducted using laboratory and field analyses, as well as using data on anthropogenic emissions in the development of regulatory documents and requirements governing the control of VOC and CO2 emissions in the oil and gas industry. This paper presents a critical analysis of the literature on research on the negative effects of VOC emissions on the ecosystem and human health because of such factors as production, processing, transportation, and storage of hydrocarbons. This analysis shows the global magnitude of VOC emissions. Data from human‐made emissions from the oil and gas industry and direct emissions from transportation and energy processing were used to figure out how VOCs affect the environment around the world and how far they spread. In conclusion, this study found patterns of VOC emissions that show how important it is to control VOCs during the production, processing, transportation, and storage of oil and gas, as well as how important it is to create a single research base on emissions for each industry sector and on sources of greenhouse gas absorption.

О взаимосвязи цифровых технологических платформ крупных химических и нефтеперерабатывающих производств с техническим обликом парка компрессорного оборудования

Issues related to possible problems in the implementation of digitalization programs for large enterprises for the processing of natural hydrocarbon and mineral raw materials, due to the discrepancy between the technical level of the existing fleet of compressor equipment of these enterprises, both with the requirements of modern production and modern achievements in the field of compressor engineering, are considered. It is noted that the discrepancy between virtual and physical technological objects leads to an overestimation of the costs of creating and maintaining IT products, as well as to a decrease in their efficiency. The ways of improving the element base of compressor equipment are proposed. A theoretical analysis of the functioning of an alternative design of a rotary vane compressor with water supply to its flow part is performed. Its example shows that there are obvious prerequisites for replacing the fleet of existing reciprocating process compressors with more advanced designs, the production of which can be completely based on domestic technologies and localized in the Russian Federation in the interests of the core industries of the processing industry.

Технико-экономическая оценка использования обогащенного кислородом потока воздуха для процесса горения в топочных нагревателях для снижения углеродного следа

. In the article, the authors solve the problem of non-urgent search for effective and affordable in the short and medium term technological solutions for oil and gas processing, petrochemical enterprises to reduce gross (total) emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and related combustion products that fall under the definition of greenhouse gases nitrogen oxides (NOx and N2O) from combustion. The subject of consideration in this article is the process of burning hydrocarbon fuel, and the object of consideration is a typical fire heater – a vertical cylindrical tubular furnace.

Тенденции в «зеленой энергетике»: использование сельскохозяйственного сырья при промышленной переработке традиционных углеводородов

The introduction of technologies and projects of «green energy» contributes to the socio-economic development of rural areas and improve the quality of life of the rural population. The article analyzes the structure and dynamics of the areas of the Russian Federation, shows that the land suitable for the effective functioning of the agro-industrial complex could be rationally used by agricultural organizations, including to increase production volumes for «green energy». The authors considered the directions of further increase in the production of oilseeds, studied and summarized the changes in the acreage of rapeseed, the production of biodiesel based on rapeseed oil for domestic consumption in the Republic of Bashkortostan. It is summarized that if the projected scenario is implemented, a multiplicative effect is expected, contributing to the sustainable functioning of the regional agro-industrial complex, the positive development of agricultural formations and rural agglomerations, a significant reduction in population migration, and an improvement in the quality of life in rural areas of Bashkortostan.

INCREASING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE COMPLEX HYDROGEN THERMOBARIC CHEMICAL EFFECT TECHNOLOGY FOR STIMULATION OF THE PRODUCTION OF HYDROCARBONS BY USING POLYMER PARACYANOGEN

The research is focused on increasing the manageability and effectiveness of the technology of complex hydrogen thermobaric chemical effect (CHTBCE) to increase the production of hydrocarbons from oil and gas wells. It is demonstrated that the basic chemical-technological process of this technology is ineffective because both the temperature level and the duration of its high-temperature stage are insufficient for generating hydrogen and effecting partial hydrocracking of heavy hydrocarbons. This limiting stage of the process can be overcome by using the physico-chemical activation technique. Experiments have demonstrated that these problems can be solved by adding polymer paracyanogen to the composition of basic process fluids as a combustion activator. The dispersing and the mechanochemical activation of paracyanogen into a particle size range of 1-5 μm, combined with simultaneous homogenization of the "activator-liquid suspension medium" system, were conducted using the hydrocavitation activation method. Experiments have shown that the optimal amount of 0.7% to 0.95% mass of paracyanogen as a combustion activator in process fluids can increase and sustain the temperature level during the high-temperature stage of the process. This can be sufficient for generating hydrogen from hydroreactive agents to effect the process of hydrocracking heavy hydrocarbons.

Special Issue “Heavy Oils Conversion Processes”

It is common knowledge that the world’s economic growth is mainly based on hydrocarbon exploitation and processing, regardless of the political efforts towards developing renewable energy [...]

Qualitative mineralogical analysis of Barracuda exploration well in the offshore Mannar Basin (the Indian Ocean) using FTIR and XRD techniques

The Mannar Basin plays a vital role in petroleum exploration in Sri Lanka, and its Barracuda exploration well was drilled up to 4206 m in depth. The objective of the current study is to identify mineralogy using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. The FTIR and XRD analyses confirm the presence of quartz, feldspar, clay minerals (e.g., kaolinite, montmorillonite), calcite, and hematite in all marlstone and mudstone samples. These sedimentary rocks can be identified as potential petroleum source rocks in the Mannar Basin. Quartz, carbonate, and hematite cementations are directly reduced porosity and permeability, and thus primary migration of hydrocarbons from potential source rocks. Clay minerals act as a seal for hydrocarbon migrations in the Mannar Basin. A variety of dominant clay mineral assemblages allows the reconstruction of several paleoclimatic chronozones in warm/wet and arid climates. In contrast, feldspar dissolution promotes the primary migration of hydrocarbon from potential petroleum source rocks. Consequently, this study concluded that common minerals such as quartz, carbonate, and hematite are associated with the trapping and binding processes of hydrocarbons.

PHYSICO-CHEMICAL FEATURES OF AROMATIZATION OF LOWER ALKANE С3 – С4 ON HIGH SILICA ZEOLITE CATALYSTS MODIFIED WITH Zn, LA AND P ADDITIVES

The physicochemical characteristics of zeolite-containing catalysts modified by the introduction of zinc, lanthanum and phosphorus, as well as their activity in the aromatization of propane-butane fractions, have been studied. The maximum amount of aromatic hydrocarbons (43.6%) in the processing of the propane-butane fraction is formed on the Zn-La-P-ZSM-Al2 O3 catalyst at 500 °C, while the selectivity for aromatic hydrocarbons is 80.0%. When processing the propane- propylene fraction in the temperature range of 400-600°C, the yield of aromatic hydrocarbons on the Zn-La-P-ZSM-Al2O3 catalyst is significantly higher compared to other studied catalysts. The activity of catalysts in the processing of light hydrocarbons mainly depends on the structure and state of active centers and the conditions of the process. The results of the study of catalysts by electron microscopy and thermal desorption of ammonia showed that acid sites coexist with metal sites on the surface of the developed catalysts. The composition of acid sites can include metals in various degrees of oxidation, fixed both inside the zeolite cavities and on their outer side. The most active, stable KTG-4 catalyst (Zn-La-P-ZSM-Al2 O3 ) is recommended for pilot testing at gas and oil refineries when processing propane-butane fraction and gases released during catalytic cracking into aromatic hydrocarbons.

Regulation of hydrocarbon production process based on dynamic tracer monitoring of horizontal well inflow profile

This paper presents the results of geological and production analysis of development and reserves of the pilot area using the results of dynamic marker monitoring of horizontal wellbores of production wells using high-precision indicators. As part of the research, the geological structure of the reservoir section was updated, which includes a lithological and facial analysis and geological and hydrodynamic simulation of the reservoir. The energy state of the reservoir was analyzed and the efficiency of the waterflood system was evaluated using dynamic data analysis and correlation analysis. The reasons for changes in the dynamics of inflow profiles over time have been analyzed. By the example of the pilot area the decision-making algorithm for adjusting the process of hydrocarbon reserves extraction, based on the analysis of the relevant geological and technical information, obtained during the long-term dynamic marker monitoring of the horizontal wells operation, has been implemented. A set of recommendations has been developed, which makes it possible to achieve stable dynamics of development indicators, to increase the coefficients of coverage by displacement in the area and the reservoir section, to involve previously undrained areas of oil reserves in the development. The results of the analysis of the efficiency of the implemented geological and technological measures are presented.

Превращение стабильного гидрогенизата на каталитических системах Pt/ЦВМ, Pr/ЦВМ

Catalytic reforming is the most used method for upgrading straight-run gasolines. The trends to modernize catalytic systems so that the reforming process can be used in the industrial setting are focused on the production of catalysts with a specific set of characteristics allowing to obtain a liquid commercial product with the required operational and ecological features, in addition to increase its yield at lower temperatures. This article investigates the efficiency of the catalytic systems Pt/CVM, Pr/CVM as transformation processes of raw hydrocarbons. A high molecular weight ZSM zeolite (ZSM-5) has been used as a carrier. The raw material that has been used is a stable hydrogenate obtained through hydrotreatment, which is the main raw material of the reforming process. The octane number of the hydrogenate is 63, which is not acceptable for automobile gasolines. The transformation of the crude material results in the production of liquid fuel made up of multiple components and carbon atoms in a chain ranging from 3 to 14 atoms, as well as gases containing hydrocarbons С1 – С5. In this work, the transformation of a stable hydrogenate on the catalysts under investigation has showed that temperature increase results in a higher octane number and aromatic content. It has been determined that temperature increase results in the reduction of the effects of the isomerization reaction, with a subsequent decrease in isoparaffinic content. With a transformation of a stable hydrogenate on the catalyst Pt/СVM at temperature of 400°С, the benzene content amounts to 0,8 wt. %, which corresponds to the EURO-5 automobile gasoline standard.

Fuzzy modeling system based on GA fuzzy rule extraction and hybrid of differential evolution and Tabu search approaches: Application in synthesis gas conversion to valuable hydrocarbons process

In the present study, a fuzzy approach is employed in order to develop a model for the conversion of synthesis gas to valuable hydrocarbon process. The fuzzy rules are extracted by clustering technique in this study. The numbers of fuzzy sets for input and output variables are optimized by genetic algorithm (GA) so that the number of data which follows the inconsistent rules, is minimized. Firstly, the center values of clusters are estimated by a proposed logarithmic distance method and the clusters and their centers are then calculated by k-means method. The prediction of CO conversion and olefin and paraffin selectivities is performed based on five input variables: H2/CO content, Time on Stream (TOS), temperature, Weight Hourly Space Velocity (WHSV) and phosphorous content by the proposed fuzzy model so that the parameters of which are optimized by combination of Differential Elevation and Tabu Search optimization approaches (DETS). The comparison of the performance of the designed approaches with two other models (i.e. fuzzy and GA fuzzy models) is executed and the results clearly demonstrate that the developed DETS- GA clustering fuzzy model can be defined as a powerful tool in modeling of the conversion of synthesis gas to hydrocarbons process with regression analysis (R2) of over 96%.

High-Field (3.4 T) Electron Paramagnetic Resonance, 1H Electron-Nuclear Double Resonance, ESEEM, HYSCORE, and Relaxation Studies of Asphaltene Solubility Fractions of Bitumen for Structural Characterization of Intrinsic Carbon-Centered Radicals

Petroleum asphaltenes are considered the most irritating components of various oil systems, complicating the extraction, transportation, and processing of hydrocarbons. Despite the fact that the paramagnetic properties of asphaltenes and their aggregates have been studied since the 1950s, there is still no clear understanding of the structure of stable paramagnetic centers in petroleum systems. The paper considers the possibilities of various electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) techniques to study petroleum asphaltenes and their solubility fractions using a carbon-centered stable free radical (FR) as an intrinsic probe. The dilution of asphaltenes with deuterated toluene made it possible to refine the change in the structure at the initial stage of asphaltene disaggregation. From the measurements of samples of bitumen, a planar circumcoronene-like model of FR structure and FR-centered asphaltenes is proposed. The results show that EPR-based approaches can serve as sensitive numerical tools to follow asphaltenes' structure and their disaggregation.

Cracking of Heavy Hydrocarbons on the Shankanai Zeolite of Modified HPA for the Synthesis of Long-Chain α-Olefins

The relevance of the subject of this scientific research is determined by the importance of the problem of using zeolites as catalysts of process of the heavy hydrocarbons’ cracking and studying the prospects for modifying heteropolyacids for the synthesis of long-chain α-olefins. The purpose of this scientific research is to study the prospects for the implementation of process of the heavy hydrocarbon cracking on Shankanai zeolite modified with heteropolyacids for the synthesis of long-chain olefins. The basis of the methodological approach in this research work is a combination of methods for system analysis of heavy hydrocarbon cracking processes using natural zeolites as catalysts for this process, with an analytical study of the prospects for implementing this process when modifying natural zeolites with heteropolyacids in order to synthesize α-olefins. In order to analyze the products of α-olefins, the method of gas-liquid chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry was used. The study is carried out under the condition of using the heavy hydrocarbon cracking process of natural zeolites of the Shankanai deposit as catalyst. The obtained results testify to the high efficiency of the practical application of the Shankanai deposit zeolites, upgraded with heteropolyacids when used as catalysts for the cracking of heavy hydrocarbons. The results obtained in the course of this scientific study, as well as conclusions formulated on their basis, are of significant practical importance for developers of chemical processes for oil cracking using natural zeolites modified with heteropolyacids as effective catalysts of this process, as well as for employees of oil refineries, whose professional duties include the quality control of the implementation of this process

Burkholderia vietnamiensis G4 as a biological agent in bioremediation processes of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sludge farms.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are one of the main pollutants generated by the refining and use of oil. To search bioremediation alternatives for these compounds, mainly in situ, considering the biotic and abiotic variables that affect the contaminated sites is determinant for the success of bioremediation techniques. In this study, bioremediation strategies were evaluated in situ, including biostimulation and bioaugmentation for 16 priority PAHs present in activated sludge farms. B. vietnamiensis G4 was used as a biodegradation agent for bioaugmentation tests. The analyses occurred for 12months, and temperature and humidity were measured to verify the effects of these factors on the biodegradation. We used the technique GC-MS to evaluate and quantify the degradation of PAHs over the time of the experiment. Of the four treatments applied, bioaugmentation with quarterly application proved to be the best strategy, showing the degradation of compounds of high (34.4% annual average) and low (21.9% annual average) molecular weight. A high degradation rate for high molecular weight compounds demonstrates that this technique can be successfully applied in bioremediation of areas with compounds considered toxic and stable in nature, contributing to the mitigation of impacts generated by PAHs.

Investigation of the effect of presulphidation on coke deposition on 25Cr‐35Ni alloy during ethane steam cracking

AbstractThe process of hydrocarbons cracking is carried out in the presence of heat‐resistant alloys Fe‐Ni‐Cr, which HP40 alloy (25Cr‐35Ni) has the most applications among olefin plants. Since these alloys naturally tend to form coke, the industry has always tried to reduce the coke formation by reducing the catalytic properties of the coils. In this research, the effect of dimethyl disulphide (DMDS) concentration (200–900 ppm) on the HP40 alloy of industrial coils at the presulphidation stage is evaluated. In the presulphidation stage, the alloy surface is in contact with sulphur in the absence of hydrocarbons, and this affects the amount of coke formation in the cracking process. Also, the surface composition and morphology of coke are identified using EDX and SEM analysis. These results showed that at the 500 ppm concentration of DMDS, coke deposition is minimized. Additionally, our findings indicated that coke morphology has not changed under different presulphidation conditions, and coke is still a filament type, but the size of the filaments has changed. Moreover, the study of HP40 composition in both preoxidized and presulphide stages shows that presulphidation reduces the amount of Fe and Ni in the coke layer significantly.

Distribution characteristics of a supercritical hydrocarbon fuel jet injected into a high-speed crossflow

The mixing process and distribution characteristics of a supercritical endothermic hydrocarbon fuel (EHF) jet injected into a high-speed crossflow are investigated experimentally by the acetone Planar Laser-induced Fluorescence (PLIF) technique. The instantaneous and averaged distribution of supercritical fuel in the central plane and the cross-sectional planes with various Mach numbers, injection pressure, and temperature are measured and analyzed. A three-species surrogate is employed to calculate the flow parameters of the EHF jet. The boundary and penetration depth of the jet plume are identified by the probability density method. The mixing process of the supercritical fuel is analyzed using the fluorescence concentration distribution. Results show that the momentum flux of the EHF jet increases with the increase of injection temperature when the injection pressure is close to the critical pressure, while it decreases firstly and then increases as the injection pressure is larger than the critical pressure. The penetration depth is dominated by the jet-to-air momentum flux ratio (q), and the EHF jet plume boundary is enlarged with the increase of the q. In particular, the penetration depth formula is given in: y/d=0.67q0.97x/d0.29 for supersonic crossflow and y/d=0.15q0.57x/d0.60 for subsonic crossflow, respectively. The EHF jet plume with lower q presents a semi-circle shape in the cross-sectional plane and mainly expands in the width direction. While it mainly expands in height direction downstream as a semi-Omega shape in the larger q condition. The results indicate that the increase in injection temperature and pressure can enlarge the EHF jet plume distribution and enhance the mixing effect. In comparison, increasing the injection pressure obtain more significant benefits, providing a reference for the fuel supply system and injector design.

Technology readiness level of gas hydrate technologies

AbstractGas or clathrate hydrates are non‐stoichiometric crystalline materials known primarily for the operational and safety problems they pose during hydrocarbon processing as well as a potential source of unconventional natural gas. Gas hydrates also have a variety of other applications, mostly representing opportunities for technology development such as gas separations and seawater desalination. This dual nature of gas hydrates is best represented by the two faces of a Janus particle. Although the research on the various gas hydrate‐based technologies has been reviewed, the focus has been on the phase equilibrium and kinetic data needed for process design. On the other hand, the status of the technologies in terms of their commercialization has not been methodically assessed. In this work, we employ the nine‐level technology readiness level (TRL) tool to classify the various technologies that are based on gas hydrate crystallization. A brief review of the current status of the technologies is presented first, followed by the status of each one on the TRL scale.

Biodegradation of hydrocarbons from contaminated soils by microbial consortia: A laboratory microcosm study

BackgroundCompounds derived from hydrocarbons are essential for industry and our daily life; however, accidents such as spills or leaks occur regularly, causing severe environmental impact. Therefore, bacteria isolated from an oil well were characterized to assess their potential in the degradation of hydrocarbons under individual and consortium treatments. Soil samples, from a well contaminated with hydrocarbons in Tabasco, Mexico, were collected. The biosurfactant, emulsifying capacity, hemolytic activity, ionic charge, and biofilm formation were analyzed. ResultsMost of the isolated strains belong to the genus Pseudomonas according to 16S rDNA sequencing. In general, emulsification percentages greater than 60% in the different substrates evaluated were observed. In addition, these strains can form biofilms, and those selected to integrate the microbial consortia present anionic surfactants. Three strains were selected to evaluate the degradation potential of soil contaminated with hydrocarbons from the same site where the bacteria were isolated in a microcosm. The microbial consortia degraded the contaminated soil more efficiently than the strains were evaluated alone, mainly the three bacteria consortia, with percentages greater than 80%. ConclusionsThis study shows that, despite belonging to the same species, bacterial strains’ metabolic capacity for the expression of surfactant compounds, emulsifiers, and the formation of biofilms are different. Furthermore, the more structured a community is, the greater the biodegradation process that occurs when bacteria act individually on the substrate. Therefore, this study demonstrates that strains of the same species integrated microbial consortia improve the bioremediation processes of hydrocarbons in contaminated soils.How to cite: Lázaro-Mass S, Gómez-Cornelio S, Castillo-Vidal M, et al. Biodegradation of hydrocarbons from contaminated soils by microbial consortia: A laboratory microcosm study. Electron J Biotechnol 2023;61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejbt.2022.10.002.

Experimental and Numerical Investigations on the Mixing Process of Supercritical Jet Injected into a Supersonic Crossflow

The mixing process and distribution characteristics of a supercritical endothermic hydrocarbon fuel (EHF) jet injected into a supersonic crossflow were investigated by experimental and numerical methods, respectively. The schlieren system and acetone planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) optical system were used to capture the flow-field structural characteristics and instantaneous plume. The mixture and real gas models were employed to calculate the interaction of a transverse jet and supersonic crossflow and reveal a good accuracy with the experimental results. The mixing efficiency and total pressure loss were analyzed based on the numerical results. The results indicate that the supercritical-state EHF directly changes to a gaseous state as it enters the supersonic crossflow from the injector. The EHF jet plume boundary increases with the increasing momentum flux ratio (q). As the streamwise and spanwise distance increases, the traverse heights and expand width increase, and the EHF jet plume presents a semicircle shape in the cross-sectional plane. With the increase in the traverse direction, the concentration distribution shows a fast and then slow power exponential decreasing law; the highest concentration point starts from the near-wall region and rises in the transverse direction with the flow distance increasing. For the same injection condition, the higher the inflow Mach number, the higher the mixing efficiency. For the same Ma, the mixing efficiency is better for the case with low injection pressure and high injection temperature. The total pressure loss is greater in the higher Ma, and high injection pressure conditions cause greater total pressure loss.

Synthesis of a Multiperiod C–H–O Symbiosis Network for the Potential Valorization of Glycerol to PHA Production

The synthesis of the carbon–hydrogen–oxygen symbiosis network (CHOSYN) provides a structured framework for dealing with multiscale integration of hydrocarbon processing industries to improve resource efficiency and reduce waste generation. However, the earlier CHOSYN design approaches presumed that the networks operate in a single mode throughout the year. This may not be the case in real-world situations where the production of certain plants such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) from bio-based glycerol may require multiple operational modes to accommodate the seasonal variability and availability of raw material. PHAs are biodegradable polymers produced by bacterial fermentation of carbon sources, which are the potential substitutions for petrochemical-based plastics. Hence, this work aims to propose a systematic approach to optimize multiperiod mass integration in the development of a CHOSYN. The central principle of the proposed approach is the incorporation of a storage and dispatch system into the conventional CHOSYN design for the supply of chemical species needed in the network throughout different operational periods. A case study considering glycerol valorization and other chemical plants using the devised CHOSYN model was conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed design against the conventional CHOSYN in terms of sustainability metrics. The results demonstrate the advantages of the CHOSYN model with a storage and dispatch system by exhibiting a better profitability outcome than the conventional multiperiod CHOSYN through operating cost savings.