CRUDE OIL-IN-WATER EMULSIFICATION USING SOLID PARTICLE FOR PIPELINE TRANSPORTATION

Authors

  • GABRIEL OLIVEIRA PENA Federal University of Espirito Santo
  • CÉSAR AUGUSTO SODRÉ SILVA Petrobrás
  • REJANE DE CASTRO SANTANA Petrobrás Federal University of Viçosa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18540/jcecvl4iss1pp0059-0064

Keywords:

emulsion inversion, crude oil, soidum bentonite, rheology, stability

Abstract

Crude oil can show high viscosity due to the presence of W/O (water-in-oil) emulsion structure and/or the presence of a high concentration of asphaltenes (as in heavy oil), causing difficulties during pipeline transport. The production of O/W emulsion by solid particles is an alternative to decrease oil viscosity. Thus, the objective of this study is to obtain low viscous O/W (oil-in-water) emulsions by the addition of an aqueous phase containing sodium bentonite. Emulsions were characterized in conductivity, rheology, kinetic stability and droplet size analyses. W/O to O/W emulsions transition occurred between 30 and 40% (m/m) of aqueous solution, according to the conductivity and rheology analyzes. The increment of water content from 30 to 50 % (w/w) increased mean droplet size and phase separation, and decreased emulsion viscosity. Solid particles addition affects emulsions properties, producing systems with smaller droplet size and lower viscosity than crude oil. In this way, it can be concluded that sodium bentonite was efficient to induce emulsion inversion and produce O/W emulsion with low viscosity, making easier oil pumping and pipeline transportation.

Óleo cru pode apresentar elevada viscosidade devido à presença de uma estrutura do tipo emulsão A/O (água-em-óleo) e/ou à presença de altas concentrações de asfalteno (com em presentes em óleo pesado), levando a dificuldades durante o seu escoamento em oleodutos. A produção de emulsões O/A (óleo-em-água) a partir de partículas sólidas é uma alternativa para alcançar a redução da viscosidade do óleo de petróleo. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo é obter emulsões O/A através da adição de solução aquosa contendo partícula de bentonita. As emulsões foram caracterizadas em análises de condutividade, reologia, estabilidade cinética e tamanho de gotas. A transição de emulsões A/O para O/A ocorreu entre 30 e 40 % (m/m) de solução aquosa, segundo as análises de condutividade e reologia. O incremento de solução aquosa de 30 para 40 % (m/m) aumentou o tamanho médio de gotas e a separação de fases, e diminui a viscosidade das emulsões. A adição de partículas sólidas afetou as propriedades das emulsões, produzindo sistemas de menor tamanho de gota e menor viscosidade que o óleo cru. Neste sentido, pode-se concluir que a bentonita sódica foi eficiente na inversão da emulsão e na produção de emulsões O/A de baixa viscosidade, facilitado o bombeamento e transporte do petróleo em dutos.


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Published

2018-01-19

How to Cite

PENA, G. O., SILVA, C. A. S., & SANTANA, R. D. C. (2018). CRUDE OIL-IN-WATER EMULSIFICATION USING SOLID PARTICLE FOR PIPELINE TRANSPORTATION. The Journal of Engineering and Exact Sciences, 4(1), 0059–0064. https://doi.org/10.18540/jcecvl4iss1pp0059-0064

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