Viscosity reduction of extra-heavy oil using toluene in water emulsions

Chen, Qianqian1; Zhu, Yachao1; Wang, Maoxin1; Ren, Gaihuan1; Liu, Qian2; Xu, Zhenghe3; Sun, Dejun1

2019-01-05

10.1016/j.colsurfa.2018.10.025

COLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS   影响因子和分区

0927-7757

1873-4359

Surfactants are widely used to reduce the viscosity of heavy oil by emulsification, but emulsification of an extra-heavy oil is difficult and does not even occur in some cases. A diluent is effective in reducing the viscosity of extra-heavy oil, but substantial volumes are required. In this work, we combined the advantages of a surfactant solution and a diluent in the form of emulsions to emulsify extra-heavy oil. The toluene/water (T/W) emulsion was prepared with mixed (AES-DOA) surfactants formed from an anionic surfactant (AES, alkyl polyoxyethylene ether sodium sulfate) and a gemini-like surfactant (DOA, prepared by mixing oleic acid and Jeffamine D 230). Compared with using toluene or AES-DOA surfactant solution alone to achieve the desired extra-heavy oil viscosity (30 +/- 10 mPa.s), the T/W emulsion decreased toluene and surfactant dosage from 56 to 3 wt% and from 12 to 2 mmol/L, respectively. The effect of toluene and AES-DOA mixed surfactant on emulsification was analyzed by measuring the viscosity of the resultant extra-heavy oil emulsions. The results suggest that the addition of toluene reduced the viscosity of extra-heavy oil (dispersed phase) and accordingly contributed to emulsify extra-heavy oil. The synergistic effect of the AES-DOA mixed surfactants was evaluated by measuring the interfacial tension and calculating interaction parameters (beta(m)) of the mixed surfactants formed at different AES mole fractions. When the mole fraction of AES was 0.6 in the mixture, the mixed surfactant possessed the highest interfacial activity and the largest negative beta(m), confirming the strongest synergistic effect. As a result, the best emulsification efficiency was achieved at this mole fraction. Increasing toluene content and AES-DOA mixed surfactant concentration was found to increase the emulsion stability against coalescence. The results from this study demonstrate that T/W emulsions prepared using the AES-DOA mixed surfactants can overcome the difficulties in emulsifying the highly viscous extra-heavy oil.

Interfacial property Mixed surfactant Extra-heavy oil Viscosity reduction Toluene in water emulsion

SCI ; EI

英语

其他

National Science and Technology Major Project of China[2016ZX05040-005]

Chemistry

Chemistry, Physical

WOS:000451048400032

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

20184205956310

Anionic surfactants ; Crude oil ; Emulsification ; Emulsions ; Polyethylene oxides ; Sodium sulfate ; Sulfur compounds ; Toluene ; Viscosity

Oil Field Production Operations:511.1 ; Petroleum Deposits:512.1 ; Fluid Flow, General:631.1 ; Chemical Operations:802.3 ; Chemical Agents and Basic Industrial Chemicals:803 ; Chemical Products Generally:804 ; Organic Polymers:815.1.1

CHEMISTRY

Web of Science

1.Shandong Univ, Key Lab Colloid & Interface Chem, Minist Educ, Jinan 250100, Shandong, Peoples R China
2.China Univ Min & Technol, Sch Chem & Environm Engn, Beijing 100083, Peoples R China
3.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Dept Mat Sci & Engn, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, Peoples R China

Chen, Qianqian,Zhu, Yachao,Wang, Maoxin,et al. Viscosity reduction of extra-heavy oil using toluene in water emulsions[J]. COLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS,2019,560:252-259.

Chen, Qianqian.,Zhu, Yachao.,Wang, Maoxin.,Ren, Gaihuan.,Liu, Qian.,...&Sun, Dejun.(2019).Viscosity reduction of extra-heavy oil using toluene in water emulsions.COLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS,560,252-259.

Chen, Qianqian,et al."Viscosity reduction of extra-heavy oil using toluene in water emulsions".COLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS 560(2019):252-259.