Project Synopsis: FLOW ENHANCEMENT OF HEAVY CRUDE OIL USING

NATURALLY DERIVED SURFACTANT

As crude oil fields around the world begin to mature, and the days of easily available crude
are getting to an end. Unconventional fossil fuels like heavy crude, tar sands, oil shale, shale
gas, tight gas, coal bed methane are looked forward to provide to meet the growing demand
for crude. Heavy oil, ultra-heavy oil and bitumen, are becoming an increasingly important
resource. Heavy oil and oil sands are found substantially in countries like Canada and
Venezuela.
Heavy crude transportation is primarily done through pipeline, but transporting heavy crude
via pipeline face many problems. Heavy crude does not flow at normal operating conditions
due to its high viscosity. This problem is intensified in cold weather conditions, as the
viscosity is highly dependent on temperature. The high viscosity also demands high pressure
for pumping through pipelines, and difficulty in recovery. Also, it adds to the inflating
pumping costs. Heavy oils contain high amounts of high molecular weight components like
asphaltenes and resins. Rise in high molecular weight asphaltene and resin content in the
heavy crude results in elevated viscosity. Such paraffins and asphaltenes may also precipitate
out of the crude, when pressure falls below its precipitation onset pressure when pumping the
crude along the pipeline .These paraffins and asphaltene precipitates may clog the pipeline
hence blocking the pipe and may reduce the effective path for flow of the crude in the
pipeline, resulting in high pressure drops.
In the industry various methods are employed to achieve economical transport of heavy crude
through pipe line like heating the pipeline, blending with light hydro carbons, partial
upgrading, core-annular flow and emulsification of heavy crude oil in water. These methods
focus on reducing the viscosity of the crude as well as the pressure loss in the pipeline while
enhancing flowability of the crude in the pipeline. The effect of temperature, shear rate and
other factors like addition of diluents were found to improve rheological properties of the
crude.
Use of surfactants has been as a good option in improving the flowability of crude. In
literature, studies have been done to analyse the performance of surfactants, in emulsification
of crude oil in pumping through pipeline, as drag reducing agents, improve wax deposition
behaviour and as pour point depressants.
Objective: To study Natural surfactants that are cost effective which can improve the flow by
reducing drag, improve the rheology of the heavy crude and will improve the wax deposition
behaviour favourably while inhibiting the tendency of wax components to deposit and clog
the pipeline.