REVERSIBILITY AND INHIBITION OF ASPHALTENE PRECIPITATION IN BRAZILIAN CRUDE OILS

REVERSIBILITY AND INHIBITION OF ASPHALTENE PRECIPITATION IN BRAZILIAN CRUDE OILS

A fundamental understanding of the aggregation and precipitation of asphaltenes in petroleum crudes is important for the development of preventive and curative measures for the potential problem of asphaltene deposition occurring during production, transport and refining operations. The question of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Petroleum science and technology Vol. 17; no. 7-8; pp. 877 - 896
Main Authors: Mohamed, Rahoma S., Loh, Watson, Ramos, Antonio C. S., Delgado, Claudio C., Almeida, Valdeci R.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Colchester Taylor & Francis Group 01-08-1999
Taylor & Francis
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Constitution and properties of crude oils, shale oils, natural gas and bitumens. Analysis and characteristics
Crude oil, natural gas and petroleum products
Energy
Exact sciences and technology
Fuels
Aggregation
Asphaltene
Precipitation
Crude oil
Cationic surfactant
Reversibility
Inhibitor
Copolymer
Experimental study
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Summary:A fundamental understanding of the aggregation and precipitation of asphaltenes in petroleum crudes is important for the development of preventive and curative measures for the potential problem of asphaltene deposition occurring during production, transport and refining operations. The question of reversibility of asphaltene precipitation, yet a controversial issue, is crucial for a clear and unequivocal understanding of the precipitation phenomenon, development of mathematical models that describe the behavior of asphaltenes in petroleum fluids, and the design of inhibitors. In this work, the behavior of precipitated asphaltenes in Brazilian crude tank oil samples following flocculant removal and gradual addition of fresh oil was investigated. The results obtained revealed a re-dissolution of precipitated asphaltene particles following flocculant removal and oil addition. On the inhibition of asphaltene precipitation, the capacity of a number of surfactants and block copolymers to inhibit asphaltene precipitation and deposition was also examined. Ethoxylated Nonylphenols and Hexadecyl Trimethyl Ammonium Bromide displayed highest capacity in the inhibition of asphaltene deposition.
ISSN:1091-6466
1532-2459
DOI:10.1080/10916469908949754