Multifunctional Wax Dispersant Composition for Subterranean Oil Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional non-emulsifying surfactants used in oil and gas recovery do not effectively reduce wax deposition in subterranean formations, limiting oil and gas recovery due to the lack of wax active components in their chemical compositions, and existing multifunctional surfactant compositions are often complex and costly.
Innovation Solution
A wax dispersant composition comprising a nonionic alcohol ethoxylate, an alkylbenzene sulfonate, and a bifunctional quaternary ammonium chloride salt, which forms a complex that enhances oil recovery by dispersing waxy crude oil in the aqueous phase, reducing surfactant adsorption on reservoir rocks, and inhibiting emulsions, while being cost-efficient.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If conventional non-emulsifying surfactants are used, then emulsion breaking is achieved, but wax deposition is not effectively reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple surfactant types (anionic sulfonate, cationic quaternary ammonium, and nonionic alcohol ethoxylate) into a single composition that simultaneously provides emulsion breaking and wax deposition prevention, eliminating the need to choose between single-function surfactants
Solution Approach 2:
The surfactant composition is designed to perform multiple functions: breaking emulsions, preventing wax deposition, and maintaining fluid flow, making a single formulation suitable for complex subterranean formation treatment where both emulsion control and wax management are needed
2Object-generated harmful factors
If multifunctional surfactant compositions are formulated, then wax dispersal is improved, but formulation complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies precise concentration ranges for each surfactant component (anionic: 0.1-10% w/w, cationic: 0.01-1% w/w, nonionic: 0.1-5% w/w) to optimize wax dispersal performance while maintaining formulation simplicity and cost-effectiveness through defined parameter boundaries
3Productivity
If conventional surfactants are used, then interfacial tension is reduced, but oil mobility is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite surfactant system combining three different surfactant chemistries that work synergistically to achieve both significant interfacial tension reduction and enhanced oil mobility, with the composite formulation providing properties superior to individual surfactant components
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 wax dispersant composition significantly reduces interfacial tension between oil and water, increases oil mobility, and enhances oil recovery by maintaining waxy crude oil in a dispersed state, allowing better displacement by injected fluids, thus improving oil and gas extraction efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a nonionic alcohol ethoxylate, an alkylbenzene sulfonate, and a bifunctional quaternary ammonium chloride salt, which forms a complex that enhances oil recovery by dispersing waxy crude oil in the aqueous phase, reducing surfactant adsorption on reservoir rocks
Implementation Method 2
The wax dispersant composition significantly reduces interfacial tension between oil and water, increases oil mobility
Implementation Method 3
dispersing waxy compounds in the crude oil into the aqueous phase... dispersing waxy crude oil in the aqueous phase... maintaining waxy crude oil in a dispersed state
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a composition for use as a multifunctional wax dispersant to treat subterranean formations for the recovery of oil and gas from oil and gas wells, as well as to the process of preparation thereof. The invention also relates to a method for treating a crude oil with a wax dispersant composition according to the present invention to reduce interfacial tension between the crude oil and the treatment fluids in the recovery of oil and gas from crude oil and gas wells.