Stabilization of Produced Crude Oil Emulsion in the Presence of ASP

Ullah

et al. 2021

Energies

The present study investigates the effect of TiO2 nanoparticles on the stability of Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR)-produced stable emulsion. The chemical precipitation method is used to synthesize TiO2 nanoparticles, and their properties were determined using various analytical characterization techniques such as X-ray Diffraction (XRD), High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM). The effect of TiO2 nanoparticles is evaluated by measuring oil/water (o/w) separation, rag layer formation, oil droplet size, and zeta potential of the residual EOR produced emulsion. The laser scattering technique is used to determine the o/w separation. The results showed that spherical-shaped anatase phase TiO2 nanoparticles were produced with an average particle size of 122 nm. The TiO2 nanoparticles had a positive effect on o/w separation and the clarity of the separated water. The separated aqueous phases’ clarity is 75% and 45% with and without TiO2 nanoparticles, respectively. Laser scattering analysis revealed enhanced light transmission in the presence of TiO2 nanoparticles, suggesting higher o/w separation of the ASP-produced emulsion. The overall increase in the o/w separation was recorded to be 19% in the presence of TiO2 nanoparticles, indicating a decrease in the stability of ASP-produced emulsion. This decrease in the stability can be attributed to the improved coalescence’ action between the adjacent oil droplets and improved behavior of o/w interfacial film. An observable difference was found between the oil droplet size before and after the addition of TiO2 nanoparticles, where the oil droplet size increased from 3 µm to 35 µm. A similar trend of zeta potential is also noticed in the presence of TiO2 nanoparticles. Zeta potential was −13 mV to −7 mV, which is in the unstable emulsion range. Overall, the o/w separation is enhanced by introducing TiO2 nanoparticles into ASP-produced stable emulsion.

Section: Asp Emulsion Stability With and Without Tio 2 Nanoparticlesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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De-Emulsification and Gravity Separation of Micro-Emulsion Produced with Enhanced Oil Recovery Chemicals Flooding

Ullah

et al. 2021

Energies

“…However, there have been reports from previous projects that implicate riskproduced water treatment. A study by Khan et al (2015) focused on water in oil (W/O) emulsions imposed by ASP flooding for an EOR field in Malaysia to understand the stability of the emulsion layer under typical process conditions. Another group of researchers (Kalra et al 2012) have attempted to present the rheology of the problematic water in oil emulsion produced at the facility site.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental study on the performance of emulsions produced during ASP flooding

Laben¹,

Alameen

J Petrol Explor Prod Technol

et al. 2021

ASP (Alkaline/Surfactant/Polymer) flooding is one of the most promising techniques that has proven to have successful application in several laboratory and pilot tests. However, the formation of persistent and stable emulsions is one of the associated problems with ASP flooding. The present work investigated the effect of sodium carbonate alkaline, Alpha Olefin Sulfonate (AOS) surfactant, and GLP100 polymer on produced crude oil emulsion. The study was conducted by measuring the emulsion stability in terms of water separation and rag layer volume using a TurbiScan analyzer, the dispersed droplet size using cross-polarization microscopy, the interfacial tension using spinning drop tensiometer, and rheological properties using rheometer. The experimental results have shown that AOS presence increased the emulsion stability only when its concentration is above 100 ppm. Meanwhile, below 100 ppm, the presence of AOS promoted water separation and reduced the rag layer volume. In a less significant manner, a high concentration of sodium carbonate alkali increased the stability of the emulsion. The use of GLP100 Polymer has shown substantial ability in promoting water separation and reducing the rag layer volume to a minimal level. It is believed that the outcomes of this work will aid in developing a suitable destabilization process to enhance the oil–water separation and produced water treatment from ASP flooding in the oil production fields. Further investigations on AS, AP, SP as well as the ASP's combined effect on emulsion stability, droplet size, interfacial tension and rheological properties are highly recommended to support the decision-makers on the EOR implementations with chemical additives.

“…In the development of enhanced oil recovery in China, the polymer flooding method had been applied successfully . With the injection of chemical floods, breakthrough of the injected chemicals in the primary separator results in the formation of a stabilized water-in-oil emulsion . Emulsion formation and stability also increase when hydrocarbons and formation water are tremendously mixed under high shear from reservoir, tubing, and chokes …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of Alkali/Surfactant/Polymer Flooding on Separation and Stabilization of Water/Oil Emulsion by Statistical Modeling

Al-Kayiem

2017

Energy Fuels

Alkali/Surfactant/Polymer flooding is a chemical method for enhanced oil recovery. This study emphases the sensitivity of Alkali/Surfactant/Polymer flooding for the separation and stabilization of light oil emulsion in the primary gravity separator. A laser scattering technique by Turbiscan was used to determine the sedimentation of the water phase. A statistical modeling has been carried out to find the effectiveness of Alkali/Surfactant/Polymer on water in oil emulsion. The results show that the presence of alkali has a positive but insignificant effect on destabilization of emulsion in the concentration range from 500 to 1500 ppm. The addition of weak alkali, Na2CO3, is less problematic for separation. It was found that surfactant alone and surfactant–surfactant cross-interaction were the most significant additives causing reduction of water separation. However, the interaction effects between the alkali and surfactant, between the surfactant and polymer, and between polymer and polymer had significant influences on the water separation. An anionic hydrolyzed polyacrylamide polymer flooding has a positive effect on separation in the presence of low water cut and light crude oil emulsion. Polymer shows a positive effect on separation but the clarity (light transmission fraction) of the separated water is reduced. The clarity of the separated water is more than 83% and around 69% at 400 and 800 ppm polymer concentrations, respectively. Increase in alkali and surfactant has insignificant effect on the clarity of separated water. Based on the statistical model, empirical correlations were developed to predict the separation of water.