Impact of Paraffin Composition on the Interactions between Waxes, Asphaltenes, and Paraffin Inhibitors in a Light Crude Oil

Colloids and Interfaces

article

Oualid M'barki¹  John Clements²  Luis Salazar²  James Machac, Jr.²  Quoc P. Nguyen¹ 

[1] Hildebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin;Indorama Ventures

关键词: paraffin composition;    wax appearance temperature (WAT);    asphaltenes-wax interactions;    alpha olefin-maleic anhydride polymers;   

DOI  :  10.3390/colloids7010013

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

The effect of wax molecular weight distribution on the efficacy of two alpha olefin-maleic anhydride paraffin inhibitors (PIs) having different densities of alkyl side-chains were examined in light West Texas crude in the absence and presence of asphaltenes. Interpretation of the data was aided by cross-polarization microscopy. Primary differences in wax crystal morphology appear to be driven by the composition of the wax, with secondary differences being associated with the choice of PI. In the absence of asphaltenes, the effect of wax composition on PI performance (i.e., reducing oil viscosity and wax appearance temperature) is greater for the PI having the higher chain density, with the one having the lower chain density being generally more effective regardless of the wax composition. These differences are diminished in the presence of asphaltenes such that the PI having the higher chain density is somewhat more effective. Trends in both morphology and viscosity suggest a steric effect associated with wax composition that is lessened on interaction of the PIs with asphaltenes.

【 授权许可】

CC BY