PEFTEC - Abstract

Abstract Information :

Foaming is a physical incorporation of gas bubbles within a liquid solution. It is a serious problem in oilfield processes which may decrease production process efficiency. Foaming causes pumps cavitation and excessive process fouling. It also increases wastes, maintenance costs and processing time. Foams generated in oilfield production lines are complex dispersions of solid particulates, surface active components, brine, and hydrocarbons. The complexity of the foams makes difficultly in controlling the volume produced by the release of volatile hydrocarbons in the separators. Therefore effective defoamer systems are needed.

At the present study we introduced a stable, effective, and readily usable defoamer formulation. The foam control formulation is a micro emulsion. The microemulsion system is beneficial because it is thermodynamically stable. It also will be stable over a wide temperature range and will not easily separate or settle out. The defoamer is free of silicone, water in oil (W/O) dispersion which when diluted in water that will form oil in water (O/W) emulsion. The defoamer composition comprise an intimate blend of a mixture of water insoluble liquid (this phase contains at least one compound of fatty alcohols, fatty acid monoglycerides, diglycerides, triglycerides and fatty acid esters), one or more nonionic low foam surfactant ( surfactant contains alkylene oxide block copolymer, polyalkylene glycol ester, sorbitan esters), water, coupling agent, anti gelling agent and optionally includes one or more corrosion inhibitors, scale inhibitors, water clarifiers, dispersants, hydrogen sulfide scavenger, gas hydrate inhibitors, preservatives and PH modifiers defoaming components.

This study is straightforward to manufacture and form upon simple mixing of the components. It is possible to prepare the formulations of the invention on site prior to use. The performance of the defoamer was benchmarked against commercial defoamer/antifoam products using antifoaming and defoaming test apparatus. Data were obtained by the ASTM test method E2407-04(2015). Formulation had low viscosity at low temperature and did not separate on storage at each respective temperature. The foam control formulation of the invention may suitably be used to prevent or reduce foam formation in a hydrocarbon plant;(e.g plant for exploration, recovery, refining or distribution of hydrocarbon) It also may be used as antifoam and defoamer in an aqueous system in a chemical plant;( e.g. a chemical manufacturing, processing or distribution plant). In summary, the wide temperature stability range, ease of dosing due to low viscosity, easy to manufacture, non-depositing and relatively benign to the environment are the major benefits of the micro emulsion defoamer formulation.