Citrate Polyester Additives for Crude Oil Wax Deposition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wax crystal formation in crude oils during well operation leads to equipment coating, pressure drops, and reduced production rates, necessitating the use of paraffin inhibitors and pour point depressants, which are often ineffective due to the unique composition of each crude oil.
Innovation Solution
The use of citrate polyester additives, specifically citrate crosspolymers, to inhibit wax crystal formation and improve flowability by altering crystal morphology and reducing deposition, applied during production or at other operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional paraffin inhibitors and pour point depressants are applied to crude oil, then wax crystal formation is inhibited and flowability is improved, but effectiveness is reduced due to the unique and complex composition of each crude oil
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the additive by using citrate polyester with specific molecular weight ranges (5,000-50,000 g/mol) and specific structural characteristics (ester groups from citric acid). These parameter changes enable the additive to effectively interact with the complex and variable composition of different crude oils, resolving the contradiction between reliability and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite approach by combining citric acid-derived polyester structures with specific molecular weight characteristics. This composite material design allows the additive to simultaneously address multiple aspects of wax inhibition across different crude oil compositions, improving both reliability and adaptability.
2Productivity
If citrate polyester additives are added to crude oil, then wax deposition is reduced and flowability is enhanced, but the complexity of the crude oil mixture increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by introducing citrate polyester additives with specific localized molecular characteristics (ester groups, molecular weight range) that target wax crystal formation sites without fundamentally altering the entire crude oil mixture. This localized intervention enhances flowability while minimizing overall mixture complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The citrate polyester additive acts as an intermediary substance that mediates between the crude oil components and wax crystals. It interferes with wax crystal growth and deposition through its specific molecular structure, improving flowability without requiring fundamental changes to the crude oil composition, thus limiting the increase in mixture complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The citrate polyester additives effectively reduce wax deposition, lower pour point temperature, and enhance crude oil flowability, making the crude oil more manageable during storage and transport.
Implementation Method 1
Molecular structures of the PI and/or the PPD are typically designed to co-crystallize or adsorb to wax during crystallization and alter the crystal morphology
Implementation Method 2
Molecular structures of the PI and/or the PPD are typically designed to co-crystallize or adsorb to wax during crystallization
Data Source
AI summary
Citrate polyester additives for crude oils, mixtures of the citrate polyester additives and crude oils, and methods for producing or forming the mixtures are provided. The mixtures and methods comprise at least one citrate polyester additive introduce or applied to crude oil, wherein the at least one citrate polyester additive comprises one or more citrate crosspolymers.