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A diversity of solution has been used and utilized to minimize cold flow properties problems caused by paraffins crystallization during production and/or transportation of waxy crude oils. Herein, a novel series of nanohybrids of poly­(methyl methacrylate)-graphene oxide (PMMA-GO) as pour point depressants was prepared successfully by dispersing the inorganic nanosheets of GO on the organic, PMMA, matrix via in situ free radical polymerization. The prepared PMMA-GO nanohybrids were characterized by FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy, XRD, HRTEM, SEM, and GPC chromatography. The thermal stability of PMMA-GO nanohybrids was also studied by both TGA and DSC. The results showed that the pour point and the apparent viscosity of waxy crude oil were reduced significantly upon addition of PMMA-GO nanohybrid, and the long-term stability of the PMMA-GO nanohybrid was superior to that of a conventional PMMA material. The significant effect of this PMMA-GO nanohybrid as pour point depressant and flow improver on waxy crude oil problem is carrying new technology to minimization of the permeability during the charge and transportation process. The effect of oil soluble PMMA-GO nanohybrid on the pour point/rheological properties is discussed, and a beneficiation mechanism is suggested.

In this paper, a novel series of nanohybrid of poly(octadecylacrylate derivatives) montmorillonite (ODA/MMT) was prepared by successfully dispersing the inorganic nanolayers of MMT-clay on the organic polymer matrix via in situ free-radical polymerization by different ratios. The prepared nanohybrid polymers were characterized by FTIR and Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), HRTEM, GPC, DSC, and TGA instruments. The XRD confirmed the presence of an exfoliated/interacted clay structure in the prepared polymer. Moreover, the molecular weight of the prepared polymer nanohybrids is higher than the corresponding polymer. The results of applying the polymer as pour point depressants showed a considerable reduction from 27 C (initial pour point) to −3 C, facilitating the process of oil flow at lower temperatures than earlier. The apparent viscosity of waxy crude oil was also decreased significantly by the addition of the (ODA/MMT) polymers, and the long-term stability of the prepared nanohybrid polymers was superior to that of a conventional polymer. The efficiency of polymers nanohybrid in reducing the pour point of crude oil associated with improved oil flow is one of the most important processes of charge and transportation process. The mechanism of enhancement of the flow properties by the polymers nanohybrid is predicted.

This study presents a novel and dynamic strategy to enhance rhamnolipid and sophorolipid production using isolated Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Starmerella bombicola, respectively, from an Egyptian oil field. The optimum productivity of rhamnolipid and sophorolipid was observed when 1% of crude oil was used as a carbon source at pH 6 and 3 and temperatures of 30 and 40 °C, respectively. The developed fed-batch cultivation strategy enhanced rhamnolipid and sophorolipid production by 1.4-and 1.96-fold, respectively. A robust complex consisting of the produced biosurfactants separately binding with t-octylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol was examined for enhancing oil recovery. The interfacial tension was reduced from ∼11.83 to ∼0.13 mN/m, and the wettability was modified from the common water-wet state [θ = ∼75−80°] to an excellent water-wet state [θ = ∼14.03−21.71°]. The core-flooding tests showed that the oil recovery process was enhanced for rhamnolipid and sophorolipid complexes by 66.07 and 55.63%, respectively.

A new nanohybrid polymer as flow improver in crude oil, where chemical modification of natural clay in which ionic surfactants containing ionic liquid moieties are grafted onto the clay layer and compared with other ammonium salt containing vinyl groups.