Resin-CO2 Demulsification Preventing Asphaltene Precipitation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The petroleum industry faces challenges in demulsifying emulsified petroleum sources, particularly asphaltene-rich heavy crude oils, as existing methods often result in asphaltene agglomeration or precipitation, leading to equipment fouling and clogging.
Innovation Solution
The method involves adding a resin supplement to the emulsified petroleum source to achieve a resin-to-asphaltene ratio above a critical value, adjusting the acidic-to-basic functional group ratio, and contacting the mixture with subcritical or supercritical carbon dioxide to stabilize the emulsion and prevent asphaltene precipitation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If carbon dioxide is used to demulsify emulsified petroleum, then phase separation efficiency is improved, but asphaltene precipitation and equipment fouling occur
Solution Approach 1:
A resin supplement acts as an intermediary substance between carbon dioxide and asphaltenes. The resin preferentially interacts with carbon dioxide, forming resin-CO2 complexes that prevent CO2 from directly causing asphaltene precipitation. This mediator protects asphaltenes from the harmful effect of CO2 while still allowing phase separation to occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The resin supplement is added before carbon dioxide injection to preemptively counteract the potential harmful effects. The resin creates a protective environment for asphaltenes in advance, preventing the formation of asphaltene-CO2 complexes that would lead to precipitation and fouling before they can occur.
2Stability of the object's composition
If resin supplement is added to increase resin-to-asphaltene ratio, then asphaltene suspension is maintained, but process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameter of the emulsion by adding resin supplement, specifically adjusting the resin-to-asphaltene ratio to exceed a critical value. This parameter change stabilizes asphaltene suspension and prevents precipitation during CO2 demulsification, while the simplicity of the addition process minimizes operational 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
This approach effectively maintains asphaltene suspension and prevents agglomeration and precipitation during demulsification, reducing equipment fouling and enabling efficient phase separation of oil and water phases.
Implementation Method 1
contacting the resin-supplemented emulsion with carbon dioxide to form an initial mixture... the carbon dioxide is chosen from subcritical liquid carbon dioxide or supercritical carbon dioxide
Implementation Method 2
The initial mixture is stabilized to facilitate rupture of the resin-supplemented emulsion. From the initial mixture, a phase-separated mixture is be formed and contains a separated aqueous phase and a separated oil phase
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
Methods for demulsifying an emulsified petroleum source having a predetermined resin-to-asphaltene ratio without substantial aggregation or precipitation of asphaltenes may include adding a resin supplement to the emulsified petroleum source to form a resin-supplemented emulsion having a resin-to-asphaltene ratio above a predetermined critical value. An acidic-to-basic ratio of acidic functional groups to basic functional groups in the supplemented emulsion may be adjusted to be from about 0.25 to about 4.0. The resin-supplemented emulsion may be contacted with carbon dioxide to form an initial mixture having an emulsified oil phase and an emulsified aqueous phase. The initial mixture may be stabilized to facilitate rupture of the resin-supplemented emulsion, to cause phase separation, and to allow removal of a separated oil phase. The resin-to-asphaltene ratio being above the predetermined critical value in the supplemented emulsion maintains asphaltene suspension during demulsification, such that asphaltene agglomeration and precipitation are avoided.