Petroleum Crude Oil Research Articles

Preparation and Characterization of NiMo/Al2O3Catalyst for Hydrocracking Processing

Hydrocracking is a chemical process used in petroleum refineries for converting high boiling hydrocarbons in petroleum crude oils to more valuable lower boiling products such as gasoline, kerosene, and diesel oil that operate at high temperature and pressure. Catalyst was used in hydrocracking to reduce temperature and pressure. Hydrocracking catalyst are composed of active components and support. Alumina is widely used in hydrocracking process as catalyst support due to its high surface area, high thermal stability, and low prices. The objective of this research was preparated NiMo/Al2O3 catalyst that used as hydrocracking catalyst. Catalyst was synthesized by wetness impregnation method and simple heating method with various kind of Al2O3. The physicochemical properties of catalyst were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) to determine type of crystal and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to determine morphology of the catalyst. The NiMo/Al2O3 catalyst prepared by aluminium potassium sulfate dodecahydrate exhibited the highest crystallinity of 90.23% and it is clear that MoO3 and NiO crystallites are highly dispersed on the NiMo/Al2O3 catalyst which indicates as the best catalyst. The catalytic activity in hydrocracking process was successfully examined to convert fatty acid into hydrocarbon.

Distinguishing Petroleum (Crude Oil and Fuel) From Smoke Exposure within Populations Based on the Relative Blood Levels of Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylenes (BTEX), Styrene and 2,5-Dimethylfuran by Pattern Recognition Using Artificial Neural Networks.

Studies of exposure to petroleum (crude oil/fuel) often involve monitoring benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes (BTEX), and styrene (BTEXS) because of their toxicity and gas-phase prevalence, where exposure is typically by inhalation. However, BTEXS levels in the general U.S. population are primarily from exposure to tobacco smoke, where smokers have blood levels on average up to eight times higher than nonsmokers. This work describes a method using partition theory and artificial neural network (ANN) pattern recognition to classify exposure source based on relative BTEXS and 2,5-dimethylfuran blood levels. A method using surrogate signatures to train the ANN was validated by comparing blood levels among cigarette smokers from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) with BTEXS and 2,5-dimethylfuran signatures derived from the smoke of machine-smoked cigarettes. Classification agreement for an ANN model trained with relative VOC levels was up to 99.8% for nonsmokers and 100.0% for smokers. As such, because there is limited blood level data on individuals exposed to crude oil/fuel, only surrogate signatures derived from crude oil and fuel were used for training the ANN. For the 2007-2008 NHANES data, the ANN model assigned 7 out of 1998 specimens (0.35%) and for the 2013-2014 NHANES data 12 out of 2906 specimens (0.41%) to the crude oil/fuel signature category.

Synthesis and application of new surface active poly (ionic liquids) based on 1,3-dialkylimidazolium as demulsifiers for heavy petroleum crude oil emulsions

Application of ionic liquids (ILs) and their polymers (PILs) as green chemicals in the petroleum industry is an original area of the research study. This work aims to synthesize new amphiphilic ILs based on dialkyl substituted imidazolium cations as a head groups combine with acetate and 4-(trifluoromethoxy) phenyl borate anions. Their surface activity and aggregation behaviors, in toluene and aqueous medium, have been investigated by surface tension, particle size distribution and zeta potentials measurements. The sizes of aggregates in water and toluene solvents have been investigated from the dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements. The demulsification mechanism for the heavy crude oil/water emulsions at low water contents has been estimated from the fluorescent optical microscope in the presence of the prepared ILs and PILs. The demulsification performance of ILs and PILs demulsifiers was found to be considerably improved with incorporation of oxyethylene units into hydrophobic imidazolium cations, and increment the content of 4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl borate anions. The results confirmed that the PIL has stronger adsorption for asphaltene molecules facilitated the distortion of the asphaltene protective film that stabilized the water-in-oil emulsion and thus promoting the water droplets coalescence to realize the separation of water from oil.

ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF BIOSURFACTANT-PRODUCING BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM PETROLEUM CONTAMINATED SITES WITH THE POTENTIAL TO BE USED IN BIOREMEDIATION

Surfactants have been widely used to facilitate biodegradation of petroleum pollutant; particularly those are being produced by microorganisms which are also known as biosurfactant. Six bacterial isolates from petroleum contaminated sites were found to be potential hydrocarbon degrader candidates based on their ability to grow on minimal media supplemented with petroleum crude oil as sole carbon source. In addition, they also found to be having potential in producing extracellular biosurfactant based on the results of screening for biosurfactant activity. These isolates were further identified and characterized. Morphological and biochemical characteristics of these isolates have been examined and molecular identification was done by amplifying 16S rRNA gene. Three isolates were identified as the member of the genus Pseudomonas; another two isolates were the member of genus Comamonas and one isolate from the genus Stenotrophomonas. Several qualitative screening methods (microplate assay, oil displacement test, emulsification assay and drop-collapse test) showed variation of results; suggesting the need to support these findings with quantitative screening based on measurement of surface activity. BSP 6 which was found to be closely related to Comamonas aquatica was the most promising biosurfactant producer found in this study based on two positive results out of four qualitative screening methods performed.

Analysis of multiple tank car releases in train accidents

There are annually over two million carloads of hazardous materials transported by rail in the United States. The American railroads use large blocks of tank cars to transport petroleum crude oil and other flammable liquids from production to consumption sites. Being different from roadway transport of hazardous materials, a train accident can potentially result in the derailment and release of multiple tank cars, which may result in significant consequences. The prior literature predominantly assumes that the occurrence of multiple tank car releases in a train accident is a series of independent Bernoulli processes, and thus uses the binomial distribution to estimate the total number of tank car releases given the number of tank cars derailing or damaged. This paper shows that the traditional binomial model can incorrectly estimate multiple tank car release probability by magnitudes in certain circumstances, thereby significantly affecting railroad safety and risk analysis. To bridge this knowledge gap, this paper proposes a novel, alternative Correlated Binomial (CB) model that accounts for the possible correlations of multiple tank car releases in the same train. We test three distinct correlation structures in the CB model, and find that they all outperform the conventional binomial model based on empirical tank car accident data. The analysis shows that considering tank car release correlations would result in a significantly improved fit of the empirical data than otherwise. Consequently, it is prudent to consider alternative modeling techniques when analyzing the probability of multiple tank car releases in railroad accidents.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons removal from produced water by electrochemical process optimization

Abstract Produced water is actually the wastewater separated from petroleum crude oil. Electrochemical-oxidation experiments was conducted for degradation of 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using DSA type Ti/IrO2 anode. Laboratory scale batch reactor was used for degradation studies. To get the maximum PAHs removal electrochemical process optimized on three independent variable current density, pH and electrolysis time. The response surface modelling (RSM) based on a Box-Behnken design was applied to get appropriate experimental design. X 1, X 2 and X 3 are the coded factors of independent variables such as the current density, pH and electrolysis time, respectively. Maximum removal was 95.29% at optimized conditions such as current density of 9 mA/cm2, pH 3 and electrolysis time 3.7 h. Quadratic model was suggested best fit model. The results of the Analysis of Variances (ANOVA) for PAHs demonstrated that the model was highly significant.

CFD investigation of the erosion severity in 3D flow elbow during crude Oil contaminated sand transportation

During upstream petroleum production operations, crude oil and sand eroded from formation zones are often transported as a mixture through pipes up to the well heads and between well heads and flow stations. The sand particles are carried by the flow momentum in streamlines that impinge the pipe walls, in particular at the elbows, resulting in seriously erosive damages. This can lead to a disastrous and costly failure in the system. Therefore, computing of erosion rate during the system operation is indispensable for predicting any potential failure in advance, and hence avoid it. Among all the fittings employed in piping systems, elbows are the most likely subjected to erosion resulting from sand particles carried with oil, where those particles deviate from the mainstream and impact the walls while passing through the bended section of elbows. To reduce the erosive damage produced by the solid particles, a numerical simulation based erosion prediction model has been employed to compute the relative erosion severity. In this study ,the potentials required to simulate the current problem comprehensively, various physical aspects have been combined together including flow turbulence, particle tracking, and erosion simulation. In addition to the comprehensive insights offered by the computational simulation of crude oil flow, high costs along with tedious efforts required for traditional experimentations can be avoided. The current analysis offers priceless physical insight towards serve this model as an alternative sand management tool, and can be used to quantify oil recovery. Furthermore, it can identify limiting steps and components; form a computer-aided tool for designing and optimizing the future pipe systems in order to enhance their lifetime through improving their erosion resistance, which is definitely will save considerable amount of time and cost.

Enhanced sedimentation and coalescence of petroleum crude oil emulsions by the new generation of environmentally friendly yellow chemicals

ABSTRACTThis study compares by means of new and advanced destabilization protocols the efficiency of new chemistry environmentally friendly (yellow) demulsifiers with already commercially available red demulsifiers in destabilizing two types of water-in-oil (w/o) emulsions: petroleum crude oil emulsions and model dense packed layers (DPLs). Oil–water separation profiles were measured by low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), which allows monitoring the water content as well as the mean droplet size in the emulsion as function of the sample height and the time. Separation profiles measured by NMR depicted an increase of the free water release kinetics as the concentration of demulsifier as well as the sedimentation rate increased. The water resolution was not substantially improved by increasing the concentration further while the water quality was worse, most likely due to adsolubilization. There was no observation of DPL formation in these crude oil emulsions. Four different demulsifiers were tested on a model DPL and compared with normal crude oil emulsions. One chemical showed higher efficiency in destabilizing DPL than destabilizing crude oil emulsion. The interfacial rheological properties for one of the systems showed a slight increase in the elastic modulus (E′), as the concentration of demulsifier increased. The increment of the elastic modulus is not totally understood. The most central parameters were represented by principal component analysis (PCA). PCA did not contribute in a better characterization of the chemicals. The new-generation yellow demulsifiers did not reproduce the efficiency of commercially available, less environmentally friendly, (red) demulsifiers.

Liquefaction biocrudes and their petroleum crude blends for processing in conventional distillation units

Various biocrudes were characterised by their distillation curves using simulated distillation. Biocrude and petroleum crude blends were generated and analysed to assess their compatibility for processing in conventional petroleum refineries. Distillation curves of biocrudes varied widely but were comparable to petroleum crude oil in shape and distillation range. Blending biocrude with petroleum crudes in the laboratory presented some challenges in miscibility; however, blending at higher than ambient temperatures, which more closely represents industrial practice, improved miscibility as shown in the FTIR spectra of blends, and close matching of the warmer blends to models. The distillation curve of the biocrude-petroleum crude blends followed the modelled blends in ASPEN Plus. Petroleum analysis and modelling methods were also demonstrated as reliable tools to analyse biocrudes and their blends with petroleum crude. The study verifies ASPEN's utility in modelling biocrude distillation for processing in refinery distillation columns either as a blend or separately.

Removal and tribological behaviors of waxy deposition layer in cleaning process

PurposeThe wax deposition in oil wells and pipelines is very viciously negative to the petroleum extraction and crude oil transportation, and it even causes severe blockage accident. This study aims to describe cleaning experiments performed on wax deposition of different deposition layer and experimental conditions to investigate the removal and tribological properties and chip formation.Design/methodology/approachAn optical arrangement was used to visually record the cleaning process, whereas the friction forces were measured by a custom-built tribometer. Various measurements were performed with tool rake angles of 45° and −30° and cleaning depths from 1 to 5 mm.FindingsResults from experiments and modeling suggest that the transition of chip was dependent on rake angle, wax performance and cleaning depth. While the cleaning depth increased, the friction and cleaning resistant force also increased. With the increase of cleaning depth, the wax layer cleaning quantity increased and the chip strengthened; hence, the curvature radius of chip was enhanced to form platy chip. The chip of wax–oil mixture was discontinuous units, and it was easy to adhere on the rake face with the increasing depth of cut. With an increase in cleaning depth, the friction and cleaning-resistant force also increased.Originality/valueIt is concluded that for effectively cleaning and stabilizing of pipeline cleaning machine, different cleaning parameters should be applied to accommodate wax layer or wax–oil mixture.

Hydrothermal Liquefaction Biocrude Compositions Compared to Petroleum Crude and Shale Oil

We provide a direct and detailed comparison of the chemical composition of petroleum crude oil (from the Gulf of Mexico), shale oil, and three biocrudes (i.e., clean pine, microalgae Chlorella sp., and sewage sludge feedstocks) generated by hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL). Ultrahigh resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) reveals that HTL biocrudes are compositionally more similar to shale oil than petroleum crude oil and that only a few heteroatom classes (e.g., N1, N2, N1O1, and O1) are common to organic sediment- and biomass-derived oils. All HTL biocrudes contain a diverse range of oxygen-containing compounds when compared to either petroleum crude or shale oil. Overall, petroleum crude and shale oil are compositionally dissimilar to HTL oils, and >85% of the elemental compositions identified within the positive-ion electrospray (ESI) mass spectra of the HTL biocrudes were not present in either the petroleum crude or shale oil (>43% for negative-ion ESI). Dir...

Simultaneous Determination of Boiling Range Distribution of Hydrocarbon, Sulfur, and Nitrogen in Petroleum Crude Oil by Gas Chromatography with Flame Ionization and Chemiluminescence Detections

We present a quick and efficient gas chromatographic method to simultaneously determine the boiling range distribution of hydrocarbon (C), sulfur (S), and nitrogen (N) in crude oils by a high temperature–CNS simulated distillation (HT-CNS SimDis) analyzer. The analyzer is a gas chromatograph equipped with flame ionization (FID) and sulfur and nitrogen chemiluminescence (SCD and NCD) detectors with simulated distillation features. The hydrocarbon yield profile of crude oil obtained by FID response was applied to calculate S and N content in various isolated fractions such as naphtha, kerosene, diesel, and vacuum gas oil. This method was used to analyze 10 different crude oils of variable composition. A fraction of crude oil that boils above the atmospheric equivalent temperature (AET) of 700 °C does not elute fully and forms a coke inside the chromatographic column. As a result, it is not possible to quantify total sulfur and total nitrogen content in the high-boiling vacuum residue (VR) fraction (565 °C and above) of crude oil by this method. However, we have addressed this issue by calculating sulfur in the VR fraction as a difference between total sulfur in crude oil (using X-ray fluorescence or combustion methods) and sulfur in the rest of the fractions (using HT-CNS SimDis). A similar technique was employed to determine nitrogen in the VR fraction of crude oil. The gas oil reference standard with known boiling range distribution was used to check the system suitability and generate the response factor for the calculation of hydrocarbon yield, and VGO NS Reference (internal nitrogen/sulfur QC standard) was used as a calibration standard for sulfur and nitrogen quantification. Currently, there is no single method available for the simultaneous determination of C, S, and N present in crude oil. This method produces detailed temperature distribution of S and N in a crude oil sample that cannot be obtained by either total sulfur and total nitrogen analysis or analysis of sulfur and nitrogen in discrete distillation cuts. As a result, this technique is extremely valuable to the refining industry for the valuation of crude oil, plant troubleshooting, and optimization of refinery processes.

Pointing fingers across the tracks: an examination of strategic messages in the Lac-Mégantic rail disaster

The oil industry transports crude oil via rail due to increasing demand. Though convenient, this can be dangerous, as many railways travel through populated regions, placing individuals in close range at risk of danger and death during a train derailment. In 2013, the deadliest rail disaster to happen in Canada in 140 years occurred when a Montreal, Maine & Atlantic (MMA) train carrying 7.7 ml of petroleum crude oil broke loose in Nantes, Quebec, and traveled towards Lac-Mégantic, Quebec. The train derailed and exploded in the city’s center, instantly killed 47 people, destroyed downtown, and forced the evacuation of over 2000 residents. The disaster prompted safety and criminal investigations, and litigation for personal, economic, and ecological reparations. This study uses dialectical tensions of strategic communication decision-making to examine the crisis and post-crisis stages of the event to determine how the tensions of organizational responsibility and emotional connection intersected during the crisis. Further, the impact of the crisis at an industry level and the resulting industry-wide lessons learned are revealed. Results were twofold: The tensions intersected with one another; and in socially stigmatized industries, organizational learning can occur on an industry-wide level. Tensions intersected when insensitive communication and messages disowning responsibility for the event initially occurred, and also later, when sensitive communication and taking ownership of the event were communicated. Learning occurred via observation, and actions were implemented in similar organizations in direct response of the event. In addition, regulations were created in direct response and implemented in both Canada and the United States. The study offers implications, discusses the complexity of transnational crises, and calls for future study of interacting tensions of strategic communication decision-making in order to understand how inherent tensions in a crisis situation prompt certain organizational responses to crises.

Biochemical, Molecular, and Transcriptional Highlights of the Biosynthesis of an Effective Biosurfactant Produced by Bacillus safensis PHA3, a Petroleum-Dwelling Bacteria

Petroleum crude oil (PCO)-dwelling microorganisms have exceptional biological capabilities to tolerate the toxicity of petroleum contaminants and are therefore promising emulsifier and/or degraders of PCO. This study describes a set of PCO-inhabiting bacterial species, one of which, identified as Bacillus safensis PHA3, produces an efficient biosurfactant which was characterized as a glycolipid. Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, nuclear magnetic resonance, Thin layer chromatography, HPLC, and GC-MS analysis of the purified biosurfactant revealed that the extracted molecule under investigation is likely a mannolipid molecule with a hydrophilic part as mannose and a hydrophobic part as hexadecanoic acid (C16:0). The data reveal that: (i) PHA3 is a potential producer of biosurfactant (9.8 ± 0.5 mg mL-1); (ii) pre-adding 0.15% of the purified glycolipid enhanced the degradation of PCO by approximately 2.5-fold; (iii) the highest emulsifying activity of biosurfactant was found against the PCO and the lowest was against the naphthalene; (iv) the optimal PCO-emulsifying activity was found at 30–60°C, pH 8 and a high salinity. An orthologous gene encodes a putative β-diglucosyldiacylglycerol synthase (β-DGS) was identified in PHA3 and its transcripts were significantly up-regulated by exogenous PAHs, i.e., pyrene and benzo(e)pyrene but much less by mid-chain n-alkanes (ALKs) and fatty acids. Subsequently, the accumulation of β-DGS transcripts coincided with an optimal growth of bacteria and a maximal accumulation of the biosurfactant. Of particular interest, we found that PHA3 actively catalyzed the degradation of PAHs notably the pyrene and benzo(e)pyrene but was much less effective in the mono-terminal oxidation of ALKs. Such characteristics make Bacillus safensis PHA3 a promising model for enhanced microbial oil recovery and environmental remediation.

Mycodegradation of Crude Petroleum Oil by Locally Marine Candida tropicalis

Mycodegradation of Crude Petroleum Oil by Locally Marine Candida tropicalis

Volatile Organic Compounds in Crude Coconut and Petroleum Oils in Nigeria

Analysis of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in crude coconut and petroleum oils from Nigeria is reported. Using head-space gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector and mass spectrometer, 8 VOCs were found in crude coconut oil and 29 VOCs were identified in crude petroleum oil. Crude coconut oil contained two aromatic, two nitrogenated, and four oxygenated compounds. Alkane, alkene, alkyne, halogenated, and sulfur compounds were absent in crude coconut oil but not in crude petroleum oil. The same observation held true for naphthalene. Conversely, benzofuran was absent in crude petroleum oil but was present in crude coconut oil at a concentration of 1.38 part-per-billion (ppb). The most concentrated VOC in crude coconut oil was dodecanoic acid at 9.98 ppb and that of crude petroleum oil was toluene at 12.61 ppb. Total VOC concentrations in crude coconut and petroleum oils are 20.49 and 87.46 ppb, respectively. These results are helpful in characterizing the chemical signature of Nigerian crude coconut oil for potential forensics use or in biofuel research.

Waste Cooking Oil-Revolution in Biodiesel Production

High disparity in global cost of petroleum crude oil has an ominous impact on national economy of raw petroleum dependent nations like India. According to the study, petroleum crude oil utilization in India was 3.182 million barrels per day in 2010, in 2002 utilization rate incremented by 3.28% while in 2010, it incremented by 6.77%. In this manner, searching for the ecofriendly way to create trade for the petroleum based fuel like diesel is the current undertaking for green technologists. Remembering these issues, Biodiesel, a clean sustainable power source has drawn attention to the world owing to its non-toxicity, biodegradability, and superior efficiency. However, several feedstock have been proven impractical or infeasible because of their extremely high cost due to their usage. India, with a population of over 1.27 billion people generates millions of gallons of used cooking oil and organic waste every day which is disposed of without use and is a potent bane to the environment. This paper reviews the possibility of the generation of biodiesel from waste cooking oil trying to help decrease the price of biodiesel.

In Situ Bioremediation of Crude Petroleum Oil Polluted Soil Using Mathematical Experimentation

Mathematical modelling of in situ (on site) bioremediation of crude petroleum polluted soil was investigated. An unsteady state mathematical model based on bulk flow of oil through the soil and molecular diffusion through the pores of the soil was developed. The parabolic partial differential equation developed was resolved into a system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) by orthogonal collocation method and the necessary boundary condition was used. The resultant system of ODE was solved using fourth-order Runge-Kutta method. The simulated data gave a good agreement with experimental data.

Biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons by oleophilic strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa NCIM 5514

The aim of this work was to study the potential of an indigenous strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa NCIM 5514, isolated from petroleum-polluted soil, for the biodegradation of crude petroleum oil. The isolate completely decolorized 2,6-dichlorophenol indophenol in 120h when grown at (37±1°C), indicating its hydrocarbon utilizing nature. Ex situ biodegradation study was performed to find out quantitative utilization and biodegradation of paraffin(s) present in crude oil. When the culture was grown in Bushnell-Hass medium containing crude oil (3%,v/v) at 37°C, 180rpm for 60days, the viscosity of the oil was reduced from 1883cp to 1002cp. Gravimetric and gas chromatographic analysis showed 61.03% and 60.63% of biodegradation of C8–C36+ hydrocarbons, respectively. These results indicated that the isolate has potential to be used for ex-situ and in-situ bioremediation of hydrocarbon pollutants and could have promising applications in petrochemical industry.

Determination of Naphthenic Acid Number in Petroleum Crude Oils and Their Fractions by Mid-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

Naphthenic acid is a generic name used for all the organic acids present in crude oils. The quantitative determination of naphthenic acid number (NAN) is an essential parameter for petroleum refineries to evaluate corrosive properties of crude oils prior to their processing. Currently, most of the refineries are using total acid number (TAN) as a measure of corrosivity of crudes during their selection, valuation, and processing. Some of the organic molecules are being used as corrosion inhibitors to reduce corrosion in refinery process units, and the dosage of the same depends on the total acid number as it has been understood from the studies that acid inhibitors form a protective layer on the surface of the pipes and thus reduces the corrosion due to acids present in crude oil. TAN measurement by titration overestimates the acid number as each and every molecule like thiols and phenols etc. that are titratable by alkali are also included in the calculation and that causes the improper estimation of the addition of corrosion inhibitors. To get a better refinery margin in the present economic scenario, optimization of the addition of corrosion inhibitors is very much essential and thus accurate measurement of NAN is a primary concern. Hence, we present a quick and efficient mid-Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic method for the determination of NAN using a variable path length liquid cell with calcium fluoride windows. Two distinct photon absorption bands in the region of 1680 to 1800 cm–1 were observed during the spectral measurement and are due to the formation of monomeric and dimeric forms of carbonyl (C═O) group of carboxylic acids, and hence both are considered for the quantification. The method is applicable even to highly volatile crude oils that are not measurable by the normal attenuated total reflectance (ATR)-FTIR technique. This article also presents the effect of solvents, hydrogen bonding, formation of monomer and dimer, etc. Currently, this method is being applied for the determination of NAN for crude oils and straight run vacuum gas oil (VGO) samples as they contain either negligible or no carbonyl compounds other than carboxylic acids that interfere in the region of interest.