Synthesis of long-chain polyester polymers and their properties as crude oil pour point depressant

Abstract

Abstract Using acrylic acid advanced ester and styrene as raw materials, the long-chain polyester polymer, polyacrylic acid advanced ester-styrene pour point depressant (P-PPD), was synthesized by molecular design, and its structure was characterized by infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance. In addition, this study experimentally investigated the effect of P-PPD on the phase equilibrium and induction time of natural gas hydrate inhibitors in deionized water (DW) and crude oil/water (O/W) systems, respectively. Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and mono ethylene glycol (EG) were selected as representatives of kinetic hydrate inhibitor (KHIs) and thermodynamic hydrate inhibitor (THIs), respectively. The results exhibit that P-PPD played a sight role in the phase equilibrium of hydrate, while the addition of P-PPD significantly prolonged the induction time of methane hydrate both in O/W + PVP, OW + EG and O/W + PVP + EG system, indicating that the addition of as-synthesized PPD has a synergistic inhibition effect on the nucleation ability of methane hydrate and can prevent hydrate from formatting during oil and gas transport process, and thus guarantee the flow assurance. The findings of this work will provide a data reference for the hybrid use of hydrate inhibitors and pour point depressants in oil and gas transport.

Keywords

• Long chain polyester polymer
• Pour point depressant
• Hydrate inhibitor
• Synergistic inhibition
• Oil transport
• Crude oil