Synthesis and Performance Evaluation of Graphene-Based Comb Polymer Viscosity Reducer

Zhengdong Xu, Mingjie Li, Yidan Kong, Changjun Long, Yankun Sun, Guohua Liu, Chunhui Yu, Yi Lu, Junpu An and Fan Yang ()
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Zhengdong Xu: Engineering Technology Research Institute, PetroChina Huabei Oilfield Company, Renqiu 062552, China
Mingjie Li: State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China
Yidan Kong: State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China
Changjun Long: Engineering Technology Research Institute, PetroChina Huabei Oilfield Company, Renqiu 062552, China
Yankun Sun: State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China
Guohua Liu: Engineering Technology Research Institute, PetroChina Huabei Oilfield Company, Renqiu 062552, China
Chunhui Yu: State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China
Yi Lu: State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China
Junpu An: State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China
Fan Yang: Engineering Technology Research Institute, PetroChina Huabei Oilfield Company, Renqiu 062552, China

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 15, 1-13

Abstract: The high viscosity of heavy oil makes it difficult to realize its economic value. Therefore, improving the fluidity of heavy oil can effectively improve the economic benefit of the development of heavy oil resources. Oil-soluble viscosity reducers can utilize functional groups in monomers to break up asphaltene aggregates to improve the flow of crude oil. Graphene can be used to insert and split asphaltene aggregates through sliding phenomena and π–π interaction with colloidal asphaltene, thereby improving the fluidity of heavy oil. In this study, a graphene nanocomposite viscosity reducer was synthesized from lipophilic-modified graphene and a polymer viscosity reducer. The net viscosity reduction rate reached 80.0% at 400 ppm. Compared with a polymer viscosity reducer, the viscosity reduction effect of a graphene nanocomposite viscosity reducer was improved by about 7%. Structural characterization of a graphene nanocomposite viscosity reducer was characterized with infrared spectroscopy and a thermogravimetric test. The mechanism of a graphene nanocomposite viscosity reducer splitting asphaltene aggregates was verified with scanning electron microscopy. This study provides a theoretical and practical basis for the research and development of a novel nanocomposite viscosity reducer.

Keywords: heavy oil; nanocomposite viscosity reducer; comb polymer; graphene (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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