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Sludge is a general term used to describe residual deposits found within oilfield operations wells, flowlines, pipelines, and storage tanks. .
The composition of sludge particles consists of valuable light hydrocarbons, paraffin, asphaltene, water and inorganic solids .
The characteristics of Sludge are the following:
- Wax crystals grow with cooling
- Asphaltene Micelles and Steric Colloids agglomerate/flocculate with paraffin
- All the different components of the sludge interact together causing a growing higher viscosity deposit especially when there is little fluid movement or lower temperatures
Using K-Line products we can disperse sludge particles resulting in a less concentrated sludge deposit that can become part of the normal oilfield flow.
PARAFFIN DISPERSEMENT
Below is a diagram indicating how our K-Line products disperse the Microcrystallines and Microcrystalline Paraffin via 3 distinct processes, Fracture, Repel, and Surround.
FRACTURE - Surfactant ingredients act as a wedge to fracture between both types of wax crystal surfaces. (Macro & Micro)
REPEL - A second set of surfactants modify the electrostatic charge of the wax surfaces to have a net negative charge. The wax crystals now repel each other.
SURROUND - more dispersing solvents affect the surface of the existing smaller crystals resulting in the paraffin more amenable to wetting. It is then more difficult for the wax crystals to join back together because they are surrounded by the wetting agents.
ASPHALTENE DISPERSEMENT
Asphaltene Colloid contain neutral resin layers which can be used to disperse the large concentrations of Asphaltene within sludge deposits.
STABILITY - K-Line products acts to improve the stabilization of asphaltenes and maintain their dispersion in solution with natural crude oil by providing increased stability to the neutral resin layer of Asphaltene Colloids.
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