Kinetic Study of Controlled Asphaltene Inhibitor Release from Nanoemulsions

Abstract

The asphaltene aggregation and subsequent precipitation in nonpolar media may have a profound effect on plugging wellbores and production equipment. Continuing our work on controlled release of asphaltene inhibitor by using nanoemulsions (NEs), this work provides new evidence from optical measurement and reveals the release mechanisms kinetically. Multiple light scattering (Turbiscan) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) have been used to study "in situ" the effectiveness and performance of controlled release by three cases on asphaltene aggregation/precipitation: i) strong organic acids (dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid, DBSA), ii) nanoemulsions (blank NEs), and iii) nanoemulsions loaded with DBSA (DBSA NEs). The results suggested that the new approach reduced the amount of asphaltene inhibitor by ~ 20 times and achieved high asphaltene inhibition efficiency ~84 % with prolonged release time. A mechanistic understanding of the controlled release effect was proposed based the effect of DBSA NEs on the asphaltene particle morphology variation, which was related to the

Nanoemulsions for Oil and Gas Applications

“…Figure 4 illustrates the likely mechanism of NE adsorption on the asphaltene sheets, followed by the subsequent release of DBSA and its impact on asphaltene [47]. The efficiency of asphaltene cracking controlled release was evaluated by Alhareez et al where the findings demonstrate that the controlled release system effectively reduced asphaltene content, achieving an inhibition rate of approximately 84%, while also exhibiting an elongated release profile [48]. The data suggest that the destabilization of asphaltene particles is primarily caused by the release kinetics of dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (DBSA) from NEs.…”

“…Finally, DBSA gradually releases from the NEs, resulting in the fragmentation of larger asphaltene clusters into smaller nanosized particles. As a result, this process yields a welldispersed solution [48]. To advance in this field, it is essential to dedicate research efforts toward formulating strategies that facilitate the expansion and execution of operations in oil and gas fields.…”

Formulation Techniques, Characterization of Nanoemulsion and their Pharmaceutical Applications: A Comprehensive Technical Review

“…This analytical tool studies compounds in liquid or solid states, providing molecular structure information, stereochemistry, and repeating distances up to 150nm. It's nondestructive, requires minimal sample preparation, and offers complementary techniques [24,37].…”

Simultaneous Control of Formation and Growth of Asphaltene Solids and Wax Crystals Using Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes: an Experimental Study under Real Oilfield Conditions

“…Asphaltene and wax inhibitors may function by different mechanisms to control the precipitation and growth of asphaltene particles and wax crystals in oil streams. Mechanisms of different types of asphaltene and wax inhibitors/dispersants have been discussed in detail in the open literature. ,− …”