Improving the efficiency of diluents for heavy oil pipeline transportation

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dc.contributor.advisorMaini, Brij B.
dc.contributor.advisorBellehumeur, Celine
dc.contributor.authorHu, Haoyang
dc.date.accessioned2017-12-18T21:41:53Z
dc.date.available2017-12-18T21:41:53Z
dc.date.issued2008
dc.descriptionBibliography: p. 79-84en
dc.description.abstractWith the projected increase in the Canadian production of heavy oil and bitumen, the transportation issues are likely to come to the forefront. The occurrence of asphaltene association in heavy oil is a contributing factor in high viscosity of heavy oils. The asphaltene aggregates formed by asphaltene self-association can also precipitate by the variation of temperature, pressure or oil compositions. Precipitated asphaltenes can form deposits on the wall of pipelines so as to reduce the effective transportation volume. Therefore, if the asphaltene association can be inhibited, it will improve the efficiency of heavy oil transportation significantly. In this research, different solvents and their combinations were tested to evaluate their dilution effects on heavy oils and their abilities for inhibiting asphaltene association. Diluents were formulated by combining aromatic and polar solvents. Analysis of experimental results showed that polar solvents can be beneficial, when combined with non-polar diluents, in inhibiting asphaltenes association and reducing oil viscosity. The ability of a solvent for inhibiting asphaltene association improves mildly with increasing its aromaticity. Several surfactants were evaluated as additives to inhibit the asphaltenes' association. These surfactants were tested with heavy oil diluted with a common solvent by measuring their impact on the diluted oil viscosity. The surfactants were also tested on solution of asphaltenes in m-xylene to isolate their abilities for inhibiting asphaltene association. Our results suggested that generalization on optimal molecular structure of surfactants for inhibiting asphaltene association in heavy oil pipeline transportation has to account for the presence of resins and other oil constituents.en
dc.format.extentxii, 96 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm.en
dc.identifier.citationHu, H. (2008). Improving the efficiency of diluents for heavy oil pipeline transportation (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/2157en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/2157
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1880/103158
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
dc.publisher.placeCalgaryen
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.titleImproving the efficiency of diluents for heavy oil pipeline transportation
dc.typemaster thesis
thesis.degree.disciplineChemical and Petroleum Engineering
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgary
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science (MSc)
ucalgary.item.requestcopytrue
ucalgary.thesis.accessionTheses Collection 58.002:Box 1795 520708958
ucalgary.thesis.notesUARCen
ucalgary.thesis.uarcreleaseyen
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