Light Crude Research Articles

Multiple-Integrated Biomarker Indexes to Assess the Responses of the Flatfish Achirus lineatus during Exposure to Light Crude Oil Water Accommodated Fraction.

In the present study, we evaluated the biological response of Achirus lineatus to water accommodated fraction (WAF) of light crude oil (American Petroleum Institute gravity 35°) during a sub-chronic bioassay (14 and 28 days) at two different concentrations: 5% v/v (1.20µg∙L- 1 expressed as total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [∑25 PAH]) and 10% v/v (6.61µg∙L- 1 [∑25 PAH]). The responses were evaluated through the biomarker response index (BRI), the integrated biomarker response (IBRv2) and the bioconcentration factor (BCF). The results showed an increase in biological response in relation to WAF concentration and exposure time, which resulted in a slight and moderate disturbance in the basal condition and bioconcentration level of metals (Pb > Ni > V > Cd) in fish tissue. Results in the present study denote that flatfish such as A. lineatus may be negatively influenced by spilled light crude oil.

Ameliorative Effects of N-Acetyl Cysteine and Zinc Sulfate on Reproductive Dysfunction Induced by Short-Term Crude Oil Exposure in Male Wistar Rats

Background: Crude oil contamination by accidental or voluntary ingestion is prevalent in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. One of the possible impacts of crude oil contamination is reproductive toxicity leading to infertility. The present study evaluated the potential protective effects of N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) and Zinc Sulfate (ZnSO4) in mitigating reproductive dysfunction caused by short-term Bonny Light Crude oil (BLCO) exposure in male Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: Fifty (50) male Wistar (180 – 200g) were used for the study. They were divided into ten (10) groups of five (5) animals each. Groups I and II served as the control and negative control and received distilled water and BLCO (600mg/kg) respectively while groups III to X served as the experimental groups and received NAC (100 and 200mg/kg) and ZnSO4 (0.5mg/kg and 1mg/kg) orally for three (3) weeks. Animals were euthanized, and blood and semen were collected for biochemical and seminal analysis. Results: The results of this current study show that BLCO exposure caused a disruption in reproductive functions in rats by decreasing reproductive hormones and semen quality parameters in Wistar rats. NAC and ZnSO4 administration significantly improved semen quality parameters by improving sperm count, sperm motility and morphology in experimental rats. Conclusion: Evidence from the present study suggests that NAC and ZnSO4 protected the testes, preventing reproductive alterations linked to BLCO exposure.

Glycerol Carbonate as an Emulsifier for Light Crude Oil: Synthesis, Characterization, and Stability Analysis

This study focuses on the synthesis and application of glycerol carbonate (GC) as an emulsifier for light crude oil. GC was synthesized from glycerol and dimethyl carbonate via transesterification, achieving a 90% yield. Characterization through 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and FT-IR confirmed its structure. The emulsification properties of GC were tested by mixing it with light crude oil and water, demonstrating effective emulsification and forming stable emulsions. Stability tests with GC concentrations of 60/40, 70/30, and 80/20 revealed that emulsions remained stable for over 24 h. A particle size analysis indicated that higher GC concentrations produced smaller droplet sizes, enhancing the emulsification efficiency. This study highlights the potential applications of GC in oil spill remediation and enhanced oil recovery, emphasizing its biodegradability and low toxicity as environmental benefits. Overall, GC is presented as an effective and eco-friendly emulsifier for light crude oil, offering stable emulsions and promising industrial applications.

Removal Potentials of Heavy Metals by Cassava Peels, Parts of Pawpaw Plant, Coconut Husk, Guinea Corn Chaff, and Pineapple Peels from Bonny Light Crude Oil Polluted Soil

Removal of environmental contamination such as heavy metals in soil, water and environment is of great importance for human welfare. Hence, the objective of this paper is to comparatively evaluate the removal potentials of heavy metals by cassava peels, parts of pawpaw plant, coconut husk, guinea corn chaff, and pineapple peels from bonny light crude oil polluted soil using appropriate standard methods. Results obtained indicated significantly high levels of heavy metals in the untreated crude oil contaminated soil at weeks 1, 8 and 12. There was a significant (P<0.05) decreasing trend in heavy metal levels in the contaminated soil after treatment with the various agro-residues after the 12-week period. The highest reduction of the heavy metals was observed in the test Group treated with a combination of the agro-residues under study; Ni (46.8%), Pb (61%), Cr (46.3%), Cd (34.1%) and As (49.8%) reduction. The results showed that the agro-residues under study can effectively enhance microbial removal of heavy metals in crude oil polluted soil.

Improvement of Flow Properties of Highly Waxy Crude Oil with the application of SiO2 and Graphene Oxide nanoparticles aided by Light Crude Oil

The rheological behaviour of crude oil mixtures comprising both heavy and light components along with chemical additives is of significant interest due to its relevance in the petroleum industry. Understanding the flow properties of these mixtures is crucial for efficient transportation, processing, and refining operations. This study investigates the effectiveness of incorporating light crude oil and nanoparticles as additives to mitigate wax-related flow issues. The test involves six different waxy/heavy and light crude oil mixture concentrations along with Graphene Oxide and Silicon Dioxide nanoparticles. Rheological tests were conducted to evaluate the impact of these additives on the flow behaviour of waxy crude oil. The rheological characterization involved measuring the viscosity, yield stress, and shear rate dependencies of waxy crude oil samples with varying concentrations of light crude oil and nanoparticles. Nano-materials have emerged as promising candidates for mitigating wax deposition issues and enhancing the fluidity of crude oil. Nevertheless, the intricate nature of crude oil has made it challenging to elucidate the underlying mechanisms governing wax resolution, crystal modification, and flow improvement. The results revealed notable improvements in the rheological properties of the treated crude oil, including reduced viscosity and enhanced flowability, even at low temperatures. The incorporation of light crude oil and nanoparticles proved to be a promising strategy for modifying the rheological behaviour of waxy crude oil, ensuring improved flow assurance. This study contributes to understanding innovative approaches to address flow challenges in waxy crude oil systems, thereby offering potential solutions for the oil and gas industry.

Application of Intercriteria and Regression Analyses and Artificial Neural Network to Investigate the Relation of Crude Oil Assay Data to Oil Compatibility

The compatibility of constituents making up a petroleum fluid has been recognized as an important factor for trouble-free operations in the petroleum industry. The fouling of equipment and desalting efficiency deteriorations are the results of dealing with incompatible oils. A great number of studies dedicated to oil compatibility have appeared over the years to address this important issue. The full analysis of examined petroleum fluids has not been juxtaposed yet with the compatibility characteristics in published research that could provide an insight into the reasons for the different values of colloidal stability indices. That was the reason for us investigating 48 crude oil samples pertaining to extra light, light, medium, heavy, and extra heavy petroleum crudes, which were examined for their colloidal stability by measuring solvent power and critical solvent power utilizing the n-heptane dilution test performed by using centrifuge. The solubility power of the investigated crude oils varied between 12.5 and 74.7, while the critical solubility power fluctuated between 3.3 and 37.3. True boiling point (TBP) analysis, high-temperature simulation distillation, SARA analysis, viscosity, density and sulfur distribution of narrow petroleum fractions, and vacuum residue characterization (SARA, density, Conradson carbon, asphaltene density) of the investigated oils were performed. All the experimentally determined data in this research were evaluated by intercriteria and regression analyses. Regression and artificial neural network models were developed predicting the critical solubility power with correlation coefficients R of 0.80 and 0.799, respectively.

Experimental Study on Water-in-Heavy-Oil Droplets Stability and Viscosity Variations in the Dilution Process of Water-in-Heavy-Oil Emulsions by Light Crude Oil

The main objective of this study is to put forward effective schemes for alleviating reservoir choke caused by emulsification or Jamin’s effect using the dilution method by light crude oil, as well as sharply increased viscosity. In this study, water-in-heavy-oil (W/O) emulsions with varying water fractions were prepared with heavy oil from Bohai Bay, China. Mixtures of W/O emulsions and light crude oil samples (light oil and light heavy oil) with varied dilution ratio (1:9, 2:8, 3:7) are tested, respectively by the electron microscope and by the rheometer. W/O droplets’ distribution and viscosity variations are obtained to evaluate the emulsion stability and viscosity reduction effects by dilution. Results show that W/O droplets, size distribution range increases with the increase of water fractions. W/O droplets with larger size tend to be broken first in the dilution process. Light oil could reduce emulsions’ viscosity more effectively than light heavy oil. Viscosity reduction mechanisms by dilution could be concluded as the synergistic effects of dissolving heavy components and weakening oil–water film stability. Therefore, light oil is suggested as the optimal one for solving formation plugging. The poor performance of Richardson model is related to the re-emulsification between free water and crude oil favored by light heavy oil, and demulsification favored by light oil. The modified model shows a significant improvement in prediction accuracy, especially for W/O emulsions with large water fractions. This study demonstrates a promising and practical strategy of solving heavy oil well shutdown problems and viscosity increasing by injecting light crude oil in the thermal stimulation.

Development and Application of Certified Reference Materials of Light Crude Oil for Water Content.

The water content of the crude oil needs to be measured accurately. The analytical methods that are used, including distillation and Karl Fischer coulometric titration (KFCT), require verification using certified reference materials (CRMs) of crude oil for the water content. In the present study, five CRMs of light crude oil with large volumes and various certified water contents (1-10 mg/g) were developed using the gravimetric method. Each candidate CRM was prepared individually, including the addition of pure water to the dried blank crude oil and weighing the masses of the added water and the blank crude oil. The water content of the blank crude oil was measured using azeotropic distillation-KFCT (AD-KFCT). The certified water content for the CRM was calculated by using the water content of the blank crude oil, the masses of the added pure water, and the blank crude oil. The certified water content and the expanded uncertainty (U, k = 2) of the five CRMs were 1.12 (0.04), 2.14 (0.06), 3.14 (0.10), 5.14 (0.15), and 10.05 (0.27) mg/g. These CRMs were used to verify the accuracy of analytical methods, including distillation, KFCT, and AD-KFCT methods.

Emulsion Formation in Palm Oil Methyl Ester Sulfonate Surfactant to Light Crude Oil

The Enhanced Oil Recovery method is a method that can be attempted to increase the recovery of petroleum. One of the materials that can be used is Methyl Ester Sulfonate surfactant from palm oil, as a vegetable surfactant whose raw materials are widely available in Indonesia. In this study, the compatibility test of Methyl Ester Sulfonate surfactant was carried out on light crude oil type T samples. The study was carried out with various surfactant concentrations, starting from 0.25%, 0.3%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2%. In the aqueous stability test, the results obtained for all clear conditions for the surfactant concentration were measured for 3 days in an oven with a temperature of 60oC. Whereas in the phase behavior test, good results of the upper phase emulsion were obtained at concentrations of 0.3%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2%. The volume of the top phase emulsion ranges from 25% to 37.5%. (Normal). From the results of this study, it can be concluded that for the crude oil sample T, palm oil MES surfactant is stable for use as a surfactant injection fluid, with a surfactant concentration composition that produces a fairly large upper phase emulsion of around 25% - 37.5% at a surfactant concentration of 0.5% - 2%.

Oil Price-Exchange Rate Interdependence: Relevance of Theory of Exchange Rate Overshooting in Nigeria

This article investigated the interdependence between crude oil variability and foreign exchange rate changes in Nigeria. Oil price variability is decomposed into fluctuation on Brent Oil, West Texas Intermediate, OPEC Basket Reference Crude Oils and Bonny Light Crude Oil Price Variability. All the data that used in this research come from secondary sources. Annual time series data for Nigeria are used from 1993 to 2022. The research design for the study is ex post facto research analysis of annual multivariate time series data. The study examined the historical data in order to understand the current state of foreign exchange rate in Nigeria and causal connections crude oil price variability using ARDL Bound test, Johansen approach and Error-Correction Mechanism (ECM) models. In the long run, the coefficient of oil price volatility shows a positive and significant relation with the f o r e i g n e x c h a n g e r a t e at 10 percent level of significance. This implies that a 10 percent, increase in oil price volatility induces foreign exchange rate by 0.61 percent. The positive coefficient of oil price volatility tends to reveal that Dornbusch (1976) Overshooting hypothesis of foreign exchange rate holds for Nigeria. This finding is in conformity with previous studies like (Driskill & McCafferty, 1982); Turnovsky & Bhandari, 1982; Driskill & McCafferty, 1982). Furthermore, the coefficient of BOP and OPEC show a negative and insignificant relationship with the foreign exchange rate in the long run. This implies that BOP and OPEC hav e no impact on foreign exchange rate. This is in contrast with economic theory particularly Dutch diseases proposition and in conformity with foreign exchange rate overshooting theory. The negative nexus can be blamed on the inability of government to manage the foreign exchange supply and demand effectively in the country. Diversifying away from oil to other non-oil activities that would generate foreign exchange sh

Microwave Heating Remediation of Light and Heavy Crude Oil-Contaminated Soil

Microwave Heating Remediation of Light and Heavy Crude Oil-Contaminated Soil

Effect of Cnidoscolus Aconitifolius on Some Biochemical Parameters in Wistar Rats Orally Exposed to Bonny Light Crude Oil

Purpose: Crude oil is used in folklore medicine to treat various forms of diseases and in most cases in combination with medicinal plants. Studies have reported that Cnidoscolus aconitifolius possess medicinal properties. The present study investigated the effect of different concentration of Bonny light crude oil and Cnidoscolus aconitifolius on some biochemical parameters of Wistar rats. The rats were orally exposed to different concentrations of Bonny light crude oil and Cnidoscolus aconitifolius leaf extract individually and in combination.
 Methodology: After an exposure period of 21days, the results revealed that Bonny light crude oil and the leaf extract at concentrations of 250 and 500mgkg-1b.wt can induce damage to the liver and kidney within 21days of consecutive administration. This is shown in results of histological analysis gotten from the liver and kidney tissues.
 Findings: This study revealed that the induction of the leaf extract of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius and Bonny light crude oil at concentrations of 250 and 500mgkg-1b.wt for 21days may affect the liver and kidney.
 Contributions to theory, policy and practice:Therefore, it is recommended that the use of this leaf extract and Bonny light crude oil at concentrations similar to the ones used in this study should be discontinued.

Screening and Investigation on Inhibition of Sediment Formation in a Kuwait Light Crude Oil by Commercial Additives with Some Guidelines for Field Applications

The precipitation of asphaltene and waxes occurs when crude oil characteristics change as a consequence of pressure, temperature variations, and/or chemical modifications, etc. The costs associated with the cleaning of deposition on the production equipment and the loss of profit opportunities can go beyond hundreds of millions of USD. Thus, there is a strong incentive to search for ways to mitigate deposit formation during the crude production process. A light crude bottom hole fluid sample from a deep well with an asphaltene deposition problem was analyzed in the laboratory. Basic data on density, viscosity, bubble point, GOR, and asphaltene onset pressure were measured at a PVT laboratory. Asphaltene characterization, as a prescreening for appropriate inhibitors, has been conducted using asphaltene phase diagrams (APD). The APD generated from two developed software programs in both Matlab and Excel codes were favorably compared with the phase behavior of other oil samples available in the literature and has shown to be an excellent match. Various test methods were used to demonstrate the asphaltene instability of the oil samples. Eleven chemical inhibitors from five global companies were screened for testing to inhibit the precipitation. The optimum concentration and the amount of reduction in precipitation were determined for all of these chemicals to identify the most suitable chemicals. Finally, some recommendations are given for the field application of chemicals.

Impact of Paraffin Composition on the Interactions between Waxes, Asphaltenes, and Paraffin Inhibitors in a Light Crude Oil

The effect of wax molecular weight distribution on the efficacy of two alpha olefin-maleic anhydride paraffin inhibitors (PIs) having different densities of alkyl side-chains were examined in light West Texas crude in the absence and presence of asphaltenes. Interpretation of the data was aided by cross-polarization microscopy. Primary differences in wax crystal morphology appear to be driven by the composition of the wax, with secondary differences being associated with the choice of PI. In the absence of asphaltenes, the effect of wax composition on PI performance (i.e., reducing oil viscosity and wax appearance temperature) is greater for the PI having the higher chain density, with the one having the lower chain density being generally more effective regardless of the wax composition. These differences are diminished in the presence of asphaltenes such that the PI having the higher chain density is somewhat more effective. Trends in both morphology and viscosity suggest a steric effect associated with wax composition that is lessened on interaction of the PIs with asphaltenes.

Api gravities and geochemical evaluation of crude oils from sapele, niger – delta, nigeria

The investigation is to provide information on source organic matter input, depositional conditions and the correlation between crude oils recovered from Sapele oilfield in the Niger Delta. A suite of twenty-five crude oils from the Agbada reservoirs (synsedimentary) of the Tertiary Niger Delta (Southern Nigeria) were analysed based on API gravities and geochemically compared with extracts from source rock of the Akata and Agbada Formations. The Sapele shallow reservoirs occur between the depths of 4000ft and 6000ft, containing heavy crudes with API gravities 20 – 22 degrees. The deep reservoirs lie within 7000ft and 12000ft accumulating the light crudes with API gravities of 24.70-35.60 degrees, and viscocity of 1.64cP. The investigated biomarkers indicated that the Sapele oils were derived from mixed marine and terrigenous organic matter and deposited under suboxic conditions. This has been achieved from normal alkane and acyclic isoprenoids distributions, terpane and sterane biomarkers. These oils were also generated from source rock with a wide range of thermal maturity and ranging from early-mature to peak oil window. Based on molecular indicators of organic source input and depositional environment diagnostic biomarkers, one petroleum system operates in the Niger Delta Region; as observed on the source rocks from the Agbada organic – rich shale sediments. Therefore, the hydrocarbon exploration processes should be concentrating on the Akata and Agbada area of the Tertiary strata for determining the source kitchen.

Kinetics of Arab Light Crude Oil Degradation by Pseudomonas and Bacillus Strains

The biodegradation of crude oil is a consequence of the presence of a specific enzymatic system in the microorganisms selected: the alkane hydroxylase (AlkH). The enzymatic biodegradation has been described since 1994, when the enzyme was first isolated from P. putida (formerly P. oleovorans), but the kinetics of microbial degradation has been weakly considered. We studied and described in this work the kinetics of Arab Light biodegradation, a light crude oil used for gasoline production (46.4% C7–C12 n-alkanes), using two oleophilic strains (Bacillus licheniformis and Pseudomonas putida). Alkanes were extracted from aqueous solutions in the bioreactors by dichloromethane, with a high ratio aqueous:organic volumes (1:0.2 mL) for the amplification of the GC n-alkane signals, and GC spectra were monitored in time over 40 days. Petroleum emulsions were visualized using optical microscopy as a result of biosurfactant segregation, which is necessary for the enzymatic biodegradation of oil by microorganisms. Kinetic analysis in biodegradation of Arab Light (total petroleum hydrocarbons, TPH) exhibits first-order kinetics with 0.098 d−1 and 0.082 d−1 as kinetic coefficients for 8.6 g/L initial crude oil concentration (30 °C), which results in degradation rates of 843 mg/Ld and 705 mg/Ld in B. licheniformis and P. putida, respectively. These results can be applied for oil spill bioremediation, using these microorganisms with the objective of removing contamination by petroleum alkanes.

Transcriptomic and Histological Analysis of the Greentail Prawn (Metapenaeus bennettae) Following Light Crude Oil Exposure.

Oil spills pose a significant threat to marine biodiversity. Crude oil can partition into sediments where it may be persistent, placing benthic species such as decapods at particular risk of exposure. Transcriptomic and histological tools are often used to investigate the effects of hydrocarbon exposure on marine organisms following oil spill events, allowing for the identification of metabolic pathways impacted by oil exposure. However, there is limited information available for decapod crustaceans, many of which carry significant economic value. In the present study, we assess the sublethal impacts of crude oil exposure in the commercially important Australian greentail prawn (Metapenaeus bennettae) using transcriptomic and histological analyses. Prawns exposed to light, unweathered crude oil “spiked” sediments for 90 h were transferred to clean sediments for a further 72 h to assess recovery. Chemical analyses indicated that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons increased by approximately 65% and 91% in prawn muscle following 24 and 90 h of exposure, respectively, and significantly decreased during 24‐ and 72‐h recovery periods. Transcriptomic responses followed an exposure and recovery pattern with innate immunity and nutrient metabolism transcripts significantly lowered in abundance after 24 h of exposure and were higher in abundance after 72 h of recovery. In addition, transcription/translation, cellular responses, and DNA repair pathways were significantly impacted after 24 h of exposure and recovered after 72 h of recovery. However, histological alterations such as tubule atrophy indicated an increase in severity after 24 and 72 h of recovery. The present study provides new insights into the sublethal impacts of crude oil exposure in greentail prawns and identifies molecular pathways altered by exposure. We expect these findings to inform future management associated with oil extraction activity and spills. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:2162–2180. © 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.

Effects of Structure and Asphaltenes on Paraffin Inhibitor Efficacy in a Light Crude Oil Model

Effects of Structure and Asphaltenes on Paraffin Inhibitor Efficacy in a Light Crude Oil Model

In Situ Combustion of Heavy, Medium, and Light Crude Oils: Low-Temperature Oxidation in Terms of a Chain Reaction Approach

In Situ Combustion of Heavy, Medium, and Light Crude Oils: Low-Temperature Oxidation in Terms of a Chain Reaction Approach

Biochemical Investigation of Wistar Albino Rats Orally Exposed to Bonny Light Crude Oil and Andrographis paniculata Leaf Extract

Biochemical Investigation of Wistar Albino Rats Orally Exposed to Bonny Light Crude Oil and Andrographis paniculata Leaf Extract