Petroleum Science >2018, Issue 3: 634-643 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12182-018-0247-9
Investigation of factors affecting on viscosity reduction of sludge from Iranian crude oil storage tanks Open Access
文章信息
作者：Masoumeh Hassanzadeh, Leila Tayebi and Hedieh Dezfouli
作者单位：
Chemical Process Design Research Group, ACECR, Faculty of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran,Chemical Process Design Research Group, ACECR, Faculty of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran and Chemical Process Design Research Group, ACECR, Faculty of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
投稿时间：2017-05-27
引用方式：Hassanzadeh, M., Tayebi, L. & Dezfouli, H. Pet. Sci. (2018) 15: 634. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12182-018-0247-9
文章摘要
Crude oil is a kind of water/oil emulsion, which the oil phase consists of organic molecules with different molecular weights such as alkanes, paraffin, asphaltene, and resins. Due to the change in physicochemical conditions during the production, transportation, storage, and refining, heavier molecules can precipitate from crude oil. Thus, viscous sludge formed at the bottom of storage tanks can cause many problems including reduction of storage capacity of tank, oil contamination, corrosion, repair costs, environmental pollution, etc. The reduction of sludge viscosity can be achieved by reduction of its interfacial tension. In this study, different chemical and physical factors, influencing prepared emulsions (made of sludge, water and surfactant), such as surfactants, solvents, temperature, pressure, and mixing conditions were investigated. Results showed that non-ionic surfactants (like bitumen emulsifier), and solvents (such as mixed xylene, AW- 400, and AW-402), injection of additives, applying pressure, and mixing operations had a positive effect on reduction of emulsion viscosity. All experiments were carried out with sludge obtained from crude oil storage tanks at Kharg Island, Iran.
关键词
-
Surfactant, Emulsion, Sludge, Storage tank, Crude oil