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Abstract
This work studied the facilitation of the transportation of Sharqi Baghdad heavy
crude oil characterized with high viscosity 51.6 cSt at 40 °C, low API 18.8, and high
asphaltenes content 7.1 wt.%, by reducing its viscosity from break down asphaltene
agglomerates using different types of hydrocarbon and oxygenated polar solvents
such as toluene, methanol, mix xylenes, and reformate. The best results are obtained
by using methanol because it owns a high efficiency to reduce viscosity of crude oil to
21.1 cSt at 40 °C. Toluene, xylenes and reformate decreased viscosity to 25.3, 27.5
and 28,4 cSt at 40 °C, respectively. Asphaltenes content decreased to 4.2 wt. % by
using toluene at 110 °C. And best improvement in API of the heavy crude oil is 26.1
at 40 °C by using xylenes.
Light Naphtha
Light naphtha was supplied from Al-
Doura refinery, with viscosity and
density 6.76*107(stock) and 0.65 g
cm-3, respectively.
2. Evaporation
Treated stripped crude oil was exposed
to the evaporation to ensure a
recovering not less than 90% of
solvent from treated samples of
stripped crude oil with solvent.
Temperature of evaporation was varied
according to the boiling point of each
Fig. 1: Schematic diagram of the labrorty
solvent.
distillation unit
3. Blending
Solvent Stage The evaporated sample of treated
1. Mixing stripped crude oil was blended with
A 250 ml two-necked flat bottom flask distilled naphtha recovered from
was equipped with high efficiency distillation stage. Constant blending
condenser from one neck and with the percentage (vol. 17%) of naphtha was
sensor of controlled hot plate magnetic blended to ensure converting
stirrer (Stuart) from another. A chiller evaporated treated stripped crude oil to
(Gallenham) was used for providing treated crude oil.
cold water for condenser as shown in
Fig. 2. A 100 g of stripped crude oil Results and Discussions
was poured into the mixing flask for The results obtained in the present
each run. Mixing was carried out with investigation for viscosity reduction of
two temperatures, 40 °C and normal Sharqi Baghdad heavy crude oil by the
boiling point of each solvent with breakdown of asphaltenes using
various solvent concentrations 4,8,10 different polar solvents at different
and 12 wt.% based on crude oil. The temperatures and concentrations are as
sample of stripped crude oil was heated follows:
to the temperature of treatment and
then a specific concentration of solvent
Content 6.4
Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 show the effect of
different types of polar solvents with 6.2
Asphaltene Content
6.0
asphaltene content. The feedstock is
exposed to different solvents at 5.8
through the crude oil matrix and Fig. 5: Effect of methanol weight fraction on
penetration into the asphaltene asphaltene content of crude oil
agglomerates.
6.8
5.8
6.4
5.6
Asphaltene Content
5.4 6.0
Asphaltene Content
5.2
5.6
5.0
4.8 5.2
o
Asphaltene at 40 C
4.6 o
o
Asphaltene at 40 C Asphaltene at 100 C
o 4.8
Asphaltene at 110 C 3 5 7 9 11 13
4.4
3 5 7 9 11 13 Solvent wt.%
Solvent wt.% Fig. 6: Effect of reformate weight fraction on
Fig. 3: Effect of toluene weight fraction on asaphaltene content of crude oil
asphaltene content of crude oil
Viscosity (cSt)
21.7 cSt at 110 °C by using toluene,
24.5
and to 21.1, 27.5, and 28.4 cSt at 40 °C
by using methanol, xylenes, and 23.5
reformate, respectively.
It is widely assumed that the 22.5 o
Viscosity at 40 C
asphaltene molecules in oil o
Viscosity at 110 C
agglomerate to form micelle-like 21.5
3 5 7 9 11 13
cluster. Interactions between these Solvent wt.%
clusters contribute towards the Fig. 7: Effect of toluene weight fraction on
viscosity of the oil. By breaking these viscosity of crude oil
agglomerates apart, viscosity will be
reduced. So, increasing polar solvent 60
56
reduction [19].
The addition of a polar solvent acted 54
Methanol owns high polarity more Figure 13 shows the effect of using
than the other solvent used in this reformate to reduce viscosity in crude
study. So the lowest crude oil viscosity oil at different concetrations and
was achieved by this solvent. The different temperature; viscosity of the
effect of methanol concentration on crude at 40 °C is better than 100 °C.
viscosity is better at low temperature Figure 14 clarifies VR% of reformate .
40 °C than at its boiling point or high 30.2
temperature, and this is more
economical point of work as shown in 29.8
Viscosity (cSt)
29.0
28
28.6
27
28.2
26
o
27.8 Viscosity at 40 C
Viscosity (cSt)
o
Viscosity at 138 C
25
27.4
3 5 7 9 11 13
24 Solvent wt.%
o 47
22 Viscosity at 40 C
o
Viscosity at 65 C
21 46
3 5 7 9 11 13
Solvent wt.%
Viscosity reduction %
60
43
o
Viscosity at 40 C
58 o
Viscosity at 138 C
Viscosity reduction %
42
56 3 5 7 9 11 13
Solvent wt.%
54
Fig. 12: Effect of xylenes weight fraction on
52
viscosity reduction percentage of crude oil
50 33
o
48 Viscosity at 40 C
o
Viscosity at 65 C 32
46
3 5 7 9 11 13
Solvent wt.%
Viscosity (cSt)
31
Fig. 10: Effect of methanol weight fraction on
viscosity reduction percentage of crude oil
30
45 26.5
44
25.5
43
Viscosity reduction %
42
24.5
API at (60/60) F
o
41
40 23.5
39
22.5
38
o
Viscosity at 40 C
37 21.5 o
o
Viscosity at 100 C API at 40 C
o
36 API at 65 C
3 5 7 9 11 13
20.5
Solvent wt.% 3 5 7 9 11 13
25
24.4
24
API at (60/60) F
23.8
o
23
API at (60/60) F
o
23.2
22
21 22.6
o
API at 40 C
o
API at 100 C
20 o
API at 40 C 22.0
o 3 5 7 9 11 13
API at 110 C
Solvent wt.%
19
3 5 7 9 11 13
Fig. 18: Effect of reformate weight fraction on
Solvent wt.%
API of crude oil
Fig. 15: Effect of toluene weight fraction on
API of crude oil
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