Polyether Demulsifier Complexes for Efficient Demulsification of Water-in-Heavy Oil Emulsions.

Area of Science:

• Petroleum Engineering
• Materials Science
• Physical Chemistry

Background:

• Water-in-heavy oil (W/HO) emulsions pose significant challenges in oil production, leading to equipment corrosion, increased costs, reduced oil quality, and environmental pollution.
• Efficient demulsification is crucial for mitigating these negative impacts in the heavy oil industry.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate novel polyether demulsifier complexes (PDC) for effective demulsification of W/HO emulsions.
• To investigate the demulsification performance of PDC under varying temperature conditions and compare it with individual components.

Main Methods:

• Polyether demulsifier complexes (PDC) were synthesized by physically blending fatty alcohol nonionic polyether (FAP) with perfluoropolyether (PFPEA).
• Demulsification efficiency was tested on W/HO emulsions at different temperatures (60 °C and 40 °C) and dosages (400 ppm).
• The demulsification mechanism was studied to understand the synergistic effects of FAP and PFPEA.

Main Results:

• PDC achieved 100% dehydration of W/HO emulsions within 2 minutes at 60 °C and 400 ppm dosage, significantly outperforming FAP and PFPEA.
• Effective demulsification was maintained at lower temperatures, with complete phase separation achieved within 6 minutes at 40 °C.
• The synergistic action of FAP and PFPEA in PDC was found to disrupt non-covalent bonds of interfacially active asphaltenes.

Conclusions:

• PDC demonstrate superior and rapid demulsification capabilities for W/HO emulsions, particularly under challenging low-temperature conditions.
• The developed composite demulsifier shows significant potential for practical applications in heavy crude oil treatment.
• This research provides valuable insights for the design of new composite demulsifiers in the petroleum industry.