Experimental Study on Reducing Viscosity by Emulsification of
Surfactants from Heavy Oil Oxidation

doi:10. 3863/j. issn. 1674 – 5086. 2013. 03. 022

Abstract

Abstract:

The effects of air-injection catalytic oxidation at low temperature on the composition and properties of the Bohai Sea
heavy oil were investigated in the paper. And the capability of emulsification of petroleum carboxylate produced by petroleum
carboxylic acids which were extracted from oxidized heavy oil was evaluated. The effects of many parameters such as degree
of heavy oil oxidation，the dosage of texture modifier，water ratio and the temperature of emulsification on the capability of
emulsification of oxidized heavy oil were studied，and results were obtained by air-injection catalytic oxidation at low temperature
for 72h. The results indicate that the content of resins and asphaltene in heavy oil decreased by 4.4%，and the relative
average molecular mass also decreased by 5.18%. So oxidation had certain influence on modification of heavy oil behavior，
and the acid value of heavy oil increased from 2.78 mg KOH/g to5.05 mg KOH/g. Due to lower O/W interfacial tension，
petroleum carboxylate has good emulsification effect. Heavy oil generated autogenous surfactant under the action of compound
texture modifier by air-injection catalytic oxidation at low temperature，and formed O/W emulsion system to achieve emulsified
viscosity reduction，the viscosity reduction ratio reaching above 92%.

Key words: heavy oil, oxidation, emulsification, autogenous surfactant, viscosity reduction

Cui Yingxian1，2, Tang Xiaodong3, Li Jingjing3, Su Xu4, Zhao Wensen1，2. Experimental Study on Reducing Viscosity by Emulsification of
Surfactants from Heavy Oil Oxidation[J]. 西南石油大学学报(自然科学版), DOI: 10. 3863/j. issn. 1674 – 5086. 2013. 03. 022.

0
/ / Recommend

Add to citation manager EndNote|Ris|BibTeX

URL: http://journal15.magtechjournal.com/Jwk_xnzk/EN/10. 3863/j. issn. 1674 – 5086. 2013. 03. 022

http://journal15.magtechjournal.com/Jwk_xnzk/EN/Y2013/V35/I3/154

References

[1] 李士伦，张正卿，冉新权. 注气提高石油采收率技

术[M]. 成都：四川科学技术出版社，2001.

[2] Turta A T，Chattopadhyay S K，Bhattacharya R N，et al.

Current status of commercial in situ combustion projects

worldwide[J]. Journal of Canadian Petroleum Technology，

2007，46（11）：8–14.

[3] Fassihi M R，Yannimaras D V，Westfall E E，et al. Economics

of light oil air injection projects[C]. SPE 35393，

1996.

[4] 张霞林，张义堂，吴永彬，等．油藏注空气提高采收率

开采技术[J]. 西南石油大学学报，2007，29（6）：80–84.

Zhang Xialin，Zhang Yitang，Wu Yongbin，et al. EOR by

air injection[J]. Journal of Southwest Petroleum University，

2007，29（6）：80–84.

[5] 唐晓东，何柏，黄志宇，等. 一种稠油注空气缓和催化

氧化采油方法[P]. CN 1987043，2007.

[6] Tang Xiaodong，He Bai，Cui Yingxian，et al. Feasibility

study of heavy oil recovery by air-injection Catalytic

Oxidation technique[A]//油气藏地质及开发工程国家重

点实验室第四次国际学术会议论文集（下册）. 成都：

西南石油大学，2007，1296–1301.

[7] 唐晓东，崔盈贤，孟科全，等. 注空气催化氧化渤海稠

油降粘工艺可行性探讨[J]. 西南石油大学学报：自然

科学版，2008，30（6）：141–144.

Tang Xiaodong，Cui Yingxian，Meng Kequan，et al. Feasibility

research on the viscosity-reducting technology for

bohai heavy oil by air-injection catalytic oxidation[J].

Journal of Southwest Petroleum University：Science &

Technology Edition，2008，30（6）：141–144.

[8] 唐晓东，崔盈贤，何柏，等. 辽河稠油注空气催化氧化

降黏实验研究[J]. 油田化学，2008，25（4）：316–319.

Tang Xiaodong，Cui Yingxian，He Bai，et al. Experimental

study on the viscosity reduction of Liaohe heavy oil

by catalytic air oxidation[J]. Oilfield Chemistry，2008，

25（4）：316–319.

[9] 唐晓东，孟科全，崔盈贤，等. 环烷酸铜催化氧化海上

稠油的试验研究[J]. 化学研究与应用，2009，21（3）：

435–437.

Tang Xiaodong，Meng Kequan，Cui Yingxian，et al. A

experiment study on offshore heavy oil catalytic oxidized

by copper naphthenic[J]. Chemical Research and Application，

2009，21（3）：435–437.

[10] 崔盈贤，唐晓东，孟科全，等. 稠油石油酸盐及其对

稠油乳化降粘应用研究[J]. 应用化工，2008，37（12）：

1409–1412.

Cui Yingxian，Tang Xiaodong，Meng Kequan，et al.

Study on naphthenate and its emulsify viscosity reduction

property in heavy crude oil[J]. Applied Chemical Industry，

2008，37（12）：1409–1412.

[11] 秦冰，彭朴，景振华. 羧酸盐在稠油乳化降粘中的作

用[J]. 石油炼制与化工，2002，33（3）：1–4.

Qin Bing，Peng Pu，Jing Zhenhua. Function of carboxylate

in the emulsification process of viscous crude oil[J].

Petroleum Processing and Petrochemicals，2002，33（3）：

1–4.

[12] Hongdu Huang，Donnellan WH，Jones J H. Ultra-low oil第

3 期崔盈贤，等：稠油氧化自生表面活性剂乳化降黏实验研究159

heater IFTS using neutralized oxidized hydrocarbons surfactants[

J]. J.Am Oil Chem Soc，1990，67（6）：406–411.

[13] Houngdu Huang，Donnellan WH，Jones JH. Evaluation

of surfactants from oxidized hydrocarbons in enhanced oil

recovery[J]. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering，

1991，6（3）：193–200.

[14] 黄宏度，杨又震，唐继信，等. 驱油剂石油羧酸盐的研

制[J]. 油田化学，1991，8（3）：235–239.

Huang Hongdu，Yang Youzhen，Tang Jixin，et al. Preparation

of petroleum carboxylates for chemical flooding[J].

Oilfield Chemistry，1991，8（3）：235–239.

[15] 刘德新，黄宏度，岳湘安. 石油氧化皂界面活性研究[J].

石油与天然气化工，2005，34（1）：56–58.

Liu Dexin，Huang Hongdu，Yue Xiangan. Study on interfacial

activity of petroleum oxidation soap[J]. Chemical

Engineering of Oil & Gas，2005，34（1）：56–58.

[16] Burger J G. Chemical aspects of in-situ combustion-heat

of combustion and kinetics[C]. SPE 3599，1972.