ENERGY SAVINGS THROUGH THE APPLICATION OF EFFICIENT COMPOSITIONS IN THE PREPARATION OF HEAVY OILS FOR TRANSPORTATION

The preparation of high-viscosity crude oils, which contain high-molecular-weight compounds and exhibit complex anomalous rheological properties, for transportation under field conditions remains a pressing issue. Efficient dehydration and desalting of such oils are critical because their preparation for transportation typically requires high temperatures. Although high temperatures facilitate the separation of water from oil, they also lead to the evaporation and loss of light hydrocarbons, which readily transition into vapor. Consequently, this results in both hydrocarbon losses and the release of light gaseous compounds into the atmosphere, contributing to environmental pollution and an increase in carbon emissions. Therefore, the selection of an appropriate reagent for the preparation of anomalous crude oils for transportation is of utmost importance. The addition of highly effective demulsifiers at optimal concentrations can facilitate the demulsification process at lower temperatures. This approach not only reduces the consumption of reagents and energy but also saves time and extends the operational lifespan of processing equipment. Thus, the application of an effective demulsifier minimizes raw material and energy consumption while simultaneously mitigating environmental impact. Moreover, the use of a demulsifier with strong demulsification properties simplifies the complex transportation preparation technology, ensuring that the crude oil maintains a high-quality composition. In this context, the present study analyzes the results of laboratory experiments conducted to evaluate the application of new compositions with high surface activity for the breakdown of emulsions with the aforementioned properties. For the research process, crude oil samples were collected from the Absheron, Sangachal, and Dashgil fields with water content levels of 35 %, 30 %, and 32 %, respectively. Four new compositions, designated as AZ-1, AZ-2, AZ-3, and AZ-4, were synthesized using various molar ratios of different demulsifying agents with similar functional purposes. A comprehensive analysis of numerous experimental results has demonstrated that the new compositions exhibit significantly higher efficiency compared to their individual components. The effectiveness of the compositions in the demulsification process of crude oil samples with anomalous properties was calculated based on the obtained results. It was determined that at an optimal concentration and a temperature of 50 °C, the efficiency of the AZ-1, AZ-2, AZ-3, and AZ-4 compositions for the Absheron, Sangachal, and Dashgil crude oil samples was 97.2 %, 98.0 %, and 97.5 %; 98.8 %, 99.2 %, and 99.0 %; 98.5 %, 99.0 %, and 98.7 %; 99.8 %, 99.9 %, and 99.8 %, respectively. Bibl. 25, Tab. 3, Fig. 4.