Road bitumen's based on the vacuum residue of heavy oil and natural asphaltite: Part I – chemical composition

This work is devoted to studying the possibility of producing bitumen for road construction by using vacuum residue >420°C of heavy oil of the Ashal'chinskoe field in and natural asphaltite Spiridonovskoe field from Permian deposits in Tatarstan. The effect of natural asphaltite as a solid disperse phase element on the structural and group composition of the residual heavy oil product and its malacometrical qualities (penetration, extensibility, softening point, resistance to aging and adhesion) is revealed. The production of samples of compounded bitumen production was carried out by introducing the required amount of the shredded asphaltite to deasphaltizat vacuum residue of heavy oil and heating their mixture to 220°С with vigorous stirring. Changes in the composition and physical and chemical properties of deasphalting the residual heavy oil product, associated with the amount of injected asphaltite, showed the possibility of production of modified bitumen with better adhesion properties that correspond to road bitumen.     

Investigation of the synergistic effect of alumina nanofluids and surfactant on oil recovery – Interfacial tension,emulsion stability and viscosity reduction of heavy oil

In order to understand the synergistic effect of surfactants and nanofluids on enhancing recovery, hydrophilic and hydrophobic alumina nanomaterials were prepared for alumina nanofluids with surfactants. Oil-water interfacial tension and emulsion stability were investigated. The experimental results showed that nanofluids cooperated with surfactants could reduce oil-water interfacial tension in the proper concentration range, Nanoparticles decreased the average size of droplets, and restrained creaming and coalescence, therefore stabilizing the emulsion. The effect of nanofluids on the viscosity of heavy oil was also tested. The results indicated that the viscosity of heavy oil with surfactants was reduced by 42.8% when nanofluids were added at the shear rate of 10 s^?1.     

Aquathermolysis of heavy oil in reservoir conditions with the use of oil-soluble catalysts: part II – changes in composition of aromatic hydrocarbons

Abstract

This paper discusses aquathermolysis process of heavy crude oil from Boca de Jaruco reservoir, which is developed by CSS method. The catalysts based on cobalt, nickel, iron and cupper are used to intensify the in-situ conversion processes. The active form of catalysts generates after steam injection. In second part of work the conversion of aromatic hydrocarbons depending on thermo-catalytic conditions and composition of catalysts are investigated. The thermo-catalytic treatment destructs resin and asphaltene molecules. The destruction products transform into aromatic fractions. The correlation between the C4-phenanthrene/naphtabenzothiophen ratio and the yields of aromatics and resins are revealed. The increase in high-molecular aromatic hydrocarbon, particularly tetramethyl-phenanthrene content is observed. However, the content of heteroatom compounds such as naphtabenzothiophen is constant. Based on IR-spectroscopy, the changes in composition of aromatic fraction are revealed. The lowest value of aromaticity index is detected for experiments with only hydrogen donor (without catalysts) and for experiments with Ni-, Cu-based catalysts.     

Dissociation of polar oil components in low salinity water and its impact on crude oil–brine interfacial interactions and physical properties

Despite many efforts into the study of fluids interaction in low salinity water flooding, they are not probing the basics of transport phenomena between the involved phases. This work is aimed to bring new understanding of fluid–fluid interaction during low salinity water flooding through a series of organized experiments in which a crude oil sample with known properties was kept in contact with different brine solutions of various ionic strengths. Measuring brine pH, conductivity and crude oil viscosity and density for a period of 45 days illustrates the strong effect of the contact time and ionic strength on the dissociation of polar components and physical properties of the crude oil and brine. Besides, the interfacial tension (IFT) measurements show that the interfacial interactions are affected by several competitive interfacial processes. By decreasing the ionic strength of the brine, the solubility of naphthenic acids in the aqueous solution increases, and hence, the conductivity and the pH of the aqueous phase decrease. To verify this important finding, UV–Vis spectroscopy and 1H NMR analysis were also performed on aged brine samples. Notably, there is an ionic strength of brine in which the lowest IFT is observed, while the other physical properties are remained relatively unchanged.     

Aquathermolysis of heavy oil in reservoir conditions with the use of oil-soluble catalysts: part III – changes in composition resins and asphaltenes

Abstract

This paper discusses aquathermolysis process of heavy crude oil from Boca de Jaruco reservoir, which is developed by CSS method. The catalysts based on cobalt, nickel, iron and cupper are used to intensify the in-situ conversion processes. The active form of catalysts generates after steam injection. The third part of paper discusses conversion of resins and asphaltenes. The influence of thermo-catalytic conditions and composition of catalysts are also studied. The destruction of resins and asphaltenes are observed after thermocatalytic treatments. The changes in composition of resins and asphaltenes are revealed by IR-spectroscopy data.     

Thermal degradation of synthetic lubricating oils: Part II – Rheological study

The characterization of thermal degradation process of synthetic lubricating oils, in relation to its rheological properties, was evaluated in this work. Analyses of the dependence of synthetic lubricant viscosity on temperature have been carried out. Synthetic lubricants were degraded at different temperatures and times, in air atmosphere. After thermal degradation, synthetic lubricant oils were characterized by rheological measurements. In general, the increase in degradation temperature led to an increase of the lubricants viscosity for some lubricant samples.     

The use of a tartaric–Co(II) complex in the catalytic aquathermolysis of heavy oil

A tartaric–Co(II) complex was synthesized and then used in aquathermolysis of heavy oil as a catalyst at relatively low temperature, 180°C. The effects of water amount and catalyst concentration on aquathermolysis were investigated in this work. The crude oil before and after aquathermolysis was fully characterized, and the mechanism of viscosity reduction was discussed at last. The results show that heavy oil can undergo aquathermolysis in the present of water and the tartaric–Co(II) complex at low temperature. Besides, the catalytic aquathermolysis could not only decrease the viscosity of heavy oil, but also remove some heteroatoms, finally making the flow properties better and the quality upgraded.     

Aquathermolysis of heavy oil in reservoir conditions with the use of oil-soluble catalysts: part I – changes in composition of saturated hydrocarbons

Abstract

This paper is devoted to the study of aquathermolysis processes of heavy oil produced by CSS technology on Boca de Jaruco oil field. Various catalysts based on cobalt, nickel, iron and copper were used for intensification of in-situ upgrading processes of heavy oil. The first paper in series is presented results of transformation of crude oil and its saturate fraction after thermal treatment with and without catalysts by SARA analysis, MALDI mass-spectrometry, FTIR-spectroscopy and gas chromatography. It is revealed, that catalysts provide more deep conversion of asphaltenes and resins into lighter hydrocarbons. Particularly, for the given heavy oil, catalysts based on iron and nickel organic salts are more effective to reduce the content of high molecular weight components (asphaltenes). Saturates fraction after thermal treatment in presence of the catalysts is enriched with lighter alkanes in comparison to the crude oil treated without catalysts. Obtained results show that crude oil recovered by catalytic aquathermolysis processes will be better quality than the original oil in the place.     

Experimental investigation of the effects of various parameters on viscosity reduction of heavy crude by oil–water emulsion

The effects of water content, shear rate, temperature, and solid particle concentration on viscosity reduction(VR) caused by forming stable emulsions were investigated using Omani heavy crude oil. The viscosity of the crude oil was initially measured with respect to shear rates at different temperatures from 20 to 70 C. The crude oil exhibited a shear thinning behavior at all the temperatures. The strongest shear thinning was observed at 20 C. A non-ionic water soluble surfactant(Triton X-100) was used to form and stabilize crude oil emulsions. The emulsification process has significantly reduced the crude oil viscosity. The degree of VR was found to increase with an increase in water content and reach its maximum value at 50 % water content.The phase inversion from oil-in-water emulsion to water-inoil emulsion occurred at 30 % water content. The results indicated that the VR was inversely proportional to temperature and concentration of silica nanoparticles. For water-in-oil emulsions, VR increased with shear rate and eventually reached a plateau at a shear rate of around350 s-1. This was attributed to the thinning behavior of the continuous phase. The VR of oil-in-water emulsions remained almost constant as the shear rate increased due to the Newtonian behavior of water, the continuous phase.     

Effects of Different Heavy Crude Oil Fractions on the Stability of Oil-in-water Emulsions—the film properties of heavy crude functional components and water system

Dissolve the insoluble polar organic matter inorganic solvents, and drip one drop of this mixturedown to clear water surface. With the organic solventsevaporating, the polar organic matter can spread at thewater surface and form a monolayer film whoseprop…     

Effects of Different Heavy Crude Oil Fractions on the Stability of Oil-in-water Emulsions — the film properties of heavy crude functional components and water system

A series of π-A isotherms are drawn to study the film properties of the components with Langmuir-Blodgett technique. The effects of the aromaticity of spread solvents and pH value on the air/water film formed by the components are investigated. Acid fraction and asphaltene can form stable two-dimensional insoluble films on an air/water surface.The surface film pressure of acid fraction and asphaltene is higher and more stable than that of the other fractions. The surface film pressure of the fraction increases evidently under the basic condition (pH=12). The results show that the interfaciai activity of acid fraction and asphaltene is superior to that of the other fractions and the basic condition is favorable to the stability of the O/W emulsion.     

Effects of Different Heavy Crude Oil Fractions on the Stability of Oil-in-Water Emulsion —Ⅲ. Effects of pH on the interfacial properties of heavy crude functional fractions and water system

In this paper, effects of pH on the interfacial properties of heavy crude functional fractions and water system are investigated. The influence of pH on π-A isotherms of acid fraction, basic fraction, amphoteric fraction and asphaltene is great. The interfacial pressure of fractions increases in strongly basic conditions. The ζ (-80mv) of acid fraction is the largest under basic conditions (pH=11-12), with the result to show that the interfacial activity of the acid fraction is superior to that of other fractions. The results of model emulsions show that strongly basic conolition (pH≥11) is beneficial to oil-in-water emulsion stability. The interfacial activity of acid fraction and asphaltene is superior to that of other crude fractions.     

Effects of Different Heavy Crude Oil Fractions on the Stability of Oil-in-Water Emulsion——Ⅲ. Effects of pH on the interfacial properties of heavy crude functional fractions and water system

1. Introduction Researchers have studied the stability ofwater-in-crude-oil emulsions. They separated the polarfractions from crude oil and studied the interfacialproperties of asphaltene and resin, etc. (Joseph et al.,1997; Strassner, 1968; Singh, 1994).…     

Investigating the synergistic effect between oil soluble surfactants and styrene–maleic anhydride copolymers to enhance the flow properties of waxy crude oil

Styrene–maleic anhydride (SMA) copolymer is prepared and then reacted with octadecyl alcohol SMASA, hexadecylamine SMACA, benzyl alcohol SMABA, and aniline SMAAn to obtain four copolymers. Three oil soluble surfactants are prepared by esterification of mono-, di-, and triethanolamine with oleic acid MEAO, DEAO, and TEAO. The structure of the prepared copolymers is characterized using spectroscopic techniques such as infra-red (FTIR), ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The prepared copolymers are evaluated individually as flow improvers then mixed with surfactants. From the results, it is found that the copolymer with aliphatic side chain SMACA exhibited the maximum pour point depression (ΔPP = 21°C at 1,500 ppm), whereas the rest copolymers SMASA, SMABA, and SMAAn exhibited the same pour point depression ΔPP = 18°C at 1,500 ppm. Moreover, the blend (B4) between SMACA and TEAO exhibited the maximum pour point depression ΔPP = 27°C.     

Simulation of the effect of rock type on recovery plan of a mature carbonate oilfield in the Middle East – Part 2: EOR plan

Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technology has gained a lot of attention during last decades. Declining oil production from brown fields is a major concern for oil companies. One of these mature fields is the X field, a carbonate oilfield in the Middle East, discovered in 1908. In this study, in addition to considering an EOR plan for the X field, it is aimed to investigate the effect of rock wettability on recovery process by means of two reported wettability data sets of the X field. Results of EORgui software show a sensitive dependence of oil recovery on initial rock wettability. Results of a laboratory chemical coreflooding experiment on the field core samples have been also included in the study.     

Simulation of the effect of rock type on recovery plan of a mature carbonate oilfield in the Middle East – Part 1: Waterflooding recovery plan

The X field is a mature carbonate oilfield in the Middle East, discovered in 1908. Several uncertainties exist in relative permeability data of the old X field, due to rock type diversity of the field. In this study, the effect of rock wettability on waterflooding process of this field is investigated by means of two reported wettability data sets of the field. Results show that initial rock wettability plays an important role in improving oil recovery, affecting production rate, recovery factor, breakthrough time, water cut, residual oil saturation, project life, etc.     

Thermal degradation of synthetic lubricating oils: Part III – TG and DSC studies

The characterization of thermal degradation process of synthetic lubricating oils, in relation to its thermal and analytical properties, was evaluated in this work. Synthetic lubricants were degraded at different temperatures and times, in air atmosphere. After thermal degradation, lubricant oils were characterized by thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). TG curves indicated a decrease in the temperature of decomposition stability, after degradation. DSC curves indicated a decrease in the peak related to hydrocarbon combustion after degradation. In general, the increase in degradation temperature led to an increase of the lubricants viscosity for some samples.     

HACCP system – hazard analysis and assessment,based on ISO 22000:2005 methodology

Food Safety is a fundamental public health concern, and achieving a safe supply poses major challenges for organisations involved in the food chain. A vide number of food borne hazards, both familiar and new, pose risks to health and obstructions to international trade in foods. These hazards must be properly analysed, assessed and managed to meet growing and increasingly complex sets of global food chain. Proper implementation of food hygiene principles across the food chain in conjunction with Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point System will ensure food safety. To achieve this, a procedure for hazard analysis and assessment based on ISO 22000:2005 methodology has been developed. The hazard assessment, selection and assessment of control measures, Operational prerequisite programme Plan and HACCP Plan have been summarized in comprehensive tables.     

Synthesis and characterization of polymeric additives based on α-Olefin as pour point depressant for Egyptian waxy crude oil

Several strategies have been utilized to minimize the problems that causes losses of billions of dollars per year to the petroleum industry. Octadecene (OD) copolymerizes with styrene (S) at variable ratios of 1:1, 1:2, and its copolymers were obtained from alkylation by Friedel-Craft followed by esterification and amidation. Infrared spectra (IR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy were performed to characterize the end products. Waxy crude oil (Blank PPT = 27°C) from NQ7 well, Qarun Petroleum Company, Western Desert, Egypt, was studied, and the results indicate that crude oil treated with the prepared copolymers at dosage 2,000 ppm depresses PPT to 6°C and enhances the paraffin inhibition (PI) to 80% compared with blank. Good results are obtained by using the highest molecular weight copolymer compared with others.     

Public and private standards for dried culinary herbs and spices—Part I: Standards defining the physical and chemical product quality and safety

Dried spices and culinary herbs are vulnerable products, which are used for their aroma (and colour). They are important ingredients in many processed foods, e.g. meat products, dairy products, and bakery products, and in most of our dishes. Food processors and consumers have high expectations regarding the organoleptic quality of culinary herbs and spices. Moreover, although used at relatively low amounts, herbs and spices can represent a health threat to the consumer, e.g. when contaminated with mycotoxins or adulterated with harmful colourants. The current review provides an overview from a European perspective on product standards covering (i) general physical and chemical specifications important for product quality and (ii) chemical characteristics concerning the safety of culinary herbs and spices. Focus is given to standards addressing dried culinary herbs and spices on global and European Union (EU) level. At some points, additional information on fresh herbs and on some national standards of non-EU member states is provided.General specifications for individual herbs and spices based on international agreements are developed by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and are currently under development by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. Besides global standards, the review outlines product specifications for dried culinary herbs and spices that are defined by national bodies and industry associations. To reduce potential chemical hazards, specific maximum and action levels are laid down for culinary herbs and spices. In EU law, these address besides residues of pesticides certain mycotoxins, heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants, and additives as described in the following.