Methcyclohexyl methacrylate-methacrylate copolymers：An effective cold flow improver for the biodiesel blends

The poor cold flow property is one of the main obstacle factors in affecting the utilization of high-proportional biodiesel blends in engines. In this study, methcyclohexyl methacrylate-methacrylate copolymers (MCHMA-R1MC, R1 = C12, C14, C16, C18) were synthesized at various molar ratios by radical polymerization and characterized by FTIR, GPC, and 1H NMR. Their structures and properties areanalyzed and characterized by FTIR, GPC, and 1H NMR. The resulting copolymers were tested as the cold flow improver in terms of cold filter plugging point (CFPP) and solid point (SP) measurement for treated and untreated B20 biodiesel blends (20 vol.% biodiesel + 80 vol.% diesel). Results showed that the CFPP and SP of B20 decreased to a varied extent after MCHMA-R1MC treatment. When the monomer ratio of is 1:7, MCHMA-C14MC (1:7) proved the greatest depression in CFPP and SP of B20 by 18 and 25℃ at 2000 ppm dosage. The effects of MCHMA-R1MC copolymers on crystal behavior was studied through polarizing optical microscope(POM), differential scanning calorimetry(DSC) and viscosity-temperature curves. The results indicated that MCHMA-C14MC could effectively delay the aggregation of wax crystals and change their crystalline behavior by changing the shape of the crystals and inhibiting the formation of large wax crystals, and then lower the low-temperature viscosity of biodiesel blends and make it exhibiting better cold flow properties.

Viscous Crude Oil Production Facilitated by Flow Improver Technology: A Holistic Chemical Approach with Successful Field Application

This paper describes the approach taken to evaluate and successfully treat flow assurance challenges associated to high viscosity produced fluids in an oil producing field, offshore Gulf of Mexico. The first section of the paper outlines primary evaluation criteria: discussing base line modeling of crude oil characteristics at various points of the production system, laboratory analyses, detailed explanation of the chemistries considered for reducing the viscosity, and the strategy to remediate multiple flow assurance challenges with subsequent performance testing. The second section presents field trial data from the application of the selected flow improver and its longer-term performance. Initial evaluation of high viscosity was required due to deposition of asphaltene, high levels of emulsion, increased pressure and resultant decrease in production All of these production issues caused increased spending on fluids treatment in a field that is mature and becoming more marginal to produce. Initial analysis of the produced fluid did not result in an immediate, clear approach to address the concern, without considering the multiple factors that can contribute to flow assurance challenges. Organic deposition, such as waxes and asphaltenes, were found to increase fluid viscosity and worsen highly stabilized emulsions. Crude oil/water emulsions also cause increased viscosity and needed to be addressed as part of any holistic solution. Each issue was studied and experimented on its own and in combination to ensure there was no reductive effect in a final chemical application that needed to treat them all. Successful field application of the selected flow improver technology exceeded the performance at laboratory scale achieving over 30% reduction in total fluid viscosity over long-term field deployment with associated benefits to the offshore operator which will be elaborated further in this paper. As an outcome of this field trial, this paper also presents a proposed generic approach in devising chemical solutions for treatment of high viscosity fluids.

Acetylation Modification of Waste Polystyrene and Its Use as a Crude Oil Flow Improver

Polystyrene is used in a wide range of applications in our lives, from machine housings to plastic cups and miniature electronic devices. When polystyrene is used, a large amount of waste is produced, which can cause pollution to the environment and even harm biological and human health. Due to its low bulk density (especially the foamed type) and low residual value, polystyrene cannot be easily recycled. Often waste polystyrene is difficult to recycle. In this paper, waste polystyrene has been modified by using acetic anhydride which caused a crude oil flow improver. The results showed that modified polystyrene improves the flow properties of the crude oil, reducing the viscosity and the pour point of the crude oil by up to 84.6% and 8.8 °C, respectively. Based on the study of the paraffin crystal morphology, the mechanism of improving the flow capacity of crude oil by modified polystyrene was proposed and analyzed.

A study on cashew nut shell liquid as a bio-based flow improver for heavy crude oil

Transportation of heavy crude oil through pipelines poses a great challenge in oil and gas industry. Crude oil chokes the pipelines when the temperature drops below the pour-point temperature. In the present study, a bio-based additive, i.e., Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL) has been tested as a flow improver for heavy crude. CNSL was obtained from waste cashew nut shell by means of mechanical extraction, and it was completely characterized. Similarly, the crude oil used in the study was characterized for its physio-chemical properties. Also, the crude oil was subjected to Saturates, Aromatics, Resins and Asphaltene analysis and Fourier Transform Infra-Red analysis. The raw and additive-treated crude oil with different CNSL dosages were subjected to pour-point and rheology measurements and optical micro-imaging analysis which indicated a remarkable improvement in flow whereby an optimum dose of 2000 ppm was observed. Furthermore, the effects of different parameters like shear rate, concentration of the flow improver and the effect of temperature on the crude oil flowability were studied. The process variables were optimized by means of Taguchi method, and the percentage contribution of each parameter was identified with the help of ANOVA table. The results indicate that a remarkable improvement in flow was observed at an optimum dose of 2000 ppm. The contribution of the concentration was found to be around 53%, whereas the contributions of the shear rate and the temperature were only 18.08 and 28.91%, respectively. Therefore, it has been observed that CNSL flow improvers extracted from cheap reasonable resources are more effective as they are cost-effective and eco-friendly when compared to conventional additives.