The impacts of gas impurities on the minimum miscibility pressure of injected CO_2-rich gas–crude oil systems and enhanced oil recovery potential

An effective parameter in the miscible-CO_2 enhanced oil recovery procedure is the minimum miscibility pressure(MMP)defined as the lowest pressure that the oil in place and the injected gas into reservoir achieve miscibility at a given temperature. Flue gases released from power plants can provide an available source of CO_2,which would otherwise be emitted to the atmosphere, for injection into a reservoir. However, the costs related to gas extraction from flue gases is potentially high. Hence, greater understanding the role of impurities in miscibility characteristics between CO_2 and reservoir fluids helps to establish which impurities are tolerable and which are not. In this study, we simulate the effects of the impurities nitrogen(N_2), methane(C_1), ethane(C_2) and propane(C_3) on CO_2 MMP. The simulation results reveal that,as an impurity, nitrogen increases CO_2–oil MMP more so than methane. On the other hand, increasing the propane(C_3)content can lead to a significant decrease in CO_2 MMP, whereas varying the concentrations of ethane(C_2) does not have a significant effect on the minimum miscibility pressure of reservoir crude oil and CO_2 gas. The novel relationships established are particularly valuable in circumstances where MMP experimental data are not available.

Impact of Crude Oil Storage Tank Emissions and Gas Flaring on Air/Rainwater Quality and Weather Conditions in Bonny Industrial Island, Nigeria

This study investigated the effects of gaseous emissions from crude storage tank and gas flaring on air and rainwater quality in Bonny Industrial Island. Ambient air quality parameters, rainwater and weather parameters were collected at 60 m, 80 m, 100 m, 200 m and control plot for 4 weeks at the Bonny. Rainwater parameters were investigated using standard laboratory tests. Data analyses were done using Analysis of variance, pairwise t-test and Pearson’s correlation statistical tools. Results show that emission rates, volatile organic compound (VOC) noise and flare temperature decreased with increasing distance from flare points and crude oil storage tanks. Findings further revealed the emission rates varied significantly with distance away from the gas flaring point (F = 6.196;p = 0.004). The mean concentration of pollutants between gas flare site and crude oil storage tank showed that CO (0.02 ± 0.001 - 0.002 ±0.001), SPM (0.011 ± 0.001 - 0.01 ± 0.001), VOC (0.005 ± 0.001 - 0.01 ± 0.001) and NO2 (0.04 ± 0.001 - 0.005 ± 0.000) had significant variations (p > 0.05) with CO, O3 and NO2 having higher concentrations at the gas flare site while SPM, and VOC were higher around the crude oil storage tank site. Wind turbulence was higher around the gas flaring point (4.93 TKE) than the crude oil storage tank (4.55 TKE). Similarly, there was significant variation in the sun radiation, precipitation, and wind speed caused by gas flaring (1582.25 w/m2, 436.25 mm, 0.53 m/s) and crude oil storage tank (1536.25 w/m2, 3.91.41 mm, 0.51 m/s). There were also significant variations in flared temperature (F = 22.144;p = 0.001);NO2 (F = 8.250;p = 0.001), CO (F = 6.000;p = 0.004) and VOC (F = 5.574;p = 0.006) with distance from the gas flaring point. The variation in the rainwater parameters with distance from the gas flaring indicated significant variations in pH (F = 5.594;p = 0.006). The study showed that the concentration of VOC and particulates were high in the supposedly control area which is perceived to be safe for human habitation. Significant variations exist in emission rate (p = 0.015), flare temperature (p = 0.001), NO2 (p = 0.003), VOC (p = 0.001), noise (p = 0.041), hydrogen carbonate (p = 0.037) and chromium (p = 0.032) between the gas flaring and crude oil storage tank. Regular monitoring is advocated to mitigate the harmful effects of the pollutants.

Main Indexes of Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil and Gas

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Evaluation of nutritive value and in vitro rumen fermentation gas accumulation of de-oiled algal residues

Background：Algae are widely recognized for their high oil content and for exponentially accumulating biomass with particular potential to provide single cell protein for human consumption or animal feed.It is believed that along with biodiesel from algae,the high protein de-oiled algal residue may become an alternative feed supplement option in the future.This study was conducted to investigate de-oiled algal residue obtained from the common Chlorella species,Thalassiosira weissflogii,Selenarstrum capricornutum,Scenedesmus sp.,and Scenedesmus dimorphus for assessment as potential feed supplements for ruminants by comparing with soybean（Glycine max） meal and alfalfa（Medicago sativa） hay.Results：With the exception of T.weissflogii,algal residue had higher concentrations of Cu,Zn,and Mn and lower concentration of Ca,Mg,and K than soybean meal and alfalfa hay.The algal residue CP（crude protein）concentrations ranged from 140 to 445 g/kg DM and varied among the de-oiled residues.In vitro rumen fermentation gas accumulation curves indicated that algal biomass degradation potential was less than that of soybean meal or alfalfa hay by up to 41.7%.The gas production curve,interpreted with a dual pool logistic model,confirmed that the fraction sizes for fast fermenting and slow fermenting of de-oiled algal residues were smaller than those in soybean meal and alfalfa hay,and the fermenting rate of the fractions was also low.Conclusions：Inferior in vitro rumen gas accumulation from the five de-oiled algal residues suggests that these algal byproducts are less degradable in the rumen.

Geochemical characteristics of light hydrocarbons in cracking gases from chloroform bitumen A,crude oil and its fractions

The composition characteristics of light hydrocarbons from crude oil,chloroform bitumen A,saturated hydrocarbon fraction,aromatic hydrocarbon fraction,and asphaltene fraction during cracking have been studied systematically. The results revealed that the content of n-alkanes,branched alkanes and cycloalkanes in light hydrocarbons from the samples gradually decreased as the simulation temperature increased,and finally almost depleted completely,while the abundance of methane,benzene and its homologues increased obviously and became the main products. The ratios of benzene/n-hexane and toluene/n-heptane can be used as measures for oil cracking levels. Variation characteristics of maturity parameters of light hydrocarbons,for example,iC4/nC4,iC5/nC5,isoheptane value,2,2-DMC4/nC6,and 2-MC6+3-MC6/nC7 for different samples with increasing pyrolysis temperature,are consistent with those in petroleum reservoirs,indicating that these parameters may be efficient maturity index.

Overload type and optimization of meadow carrying capacity in Maqin County in the Three-River Source Region,China

Alpine meadows,comprising the main ecosystem of the Three-River Source Region,play an important role in the economic development of western pastoral areas.To determine whether the grazing level was too intense or the nutrient-carrying capacity of the meadows was overloaded,and to offer solutions in Maqin County,Qinghai Province,China,the meadows carrying capacity was determined by combining grass-yield and nutrients data for different seasons across different meadows.The results showed that the levels of crude protein(CP),ether extract(EE),ash,soluble sugars(SS),gas production,and energy value of forage in the summer–autumn grazing meadows were higher than those of the winter–spring meadows.Neutral detergent fiber(NDF)and acid detergent fiber(ADF)of forage in the summer–autumn grazing meadows were lower than those of the winter–spring meadows.We found that no pastures were overloaded with metabolizable energy(ME)for the whole year but digestible crude protein(DCP)was overloaded in winter–spring.And there were differences in the amount carrying capacity(forage yield)of seasonal grazing meadows for the different herds,the overload types were annual overloading(herd A),overloaded in summer–autumn(herd B),overloaded in winter–spring(herd C),and not overloaded(herd D).Compared with the previous grazing mode,theoretical carrying capacity,DCP carrying capacity,and ME carrying capacity of herd A increased by 20,19,and 27 sheep units,respectively,after optimization;herd B:36,31,and 45 sheep units,respectively;herd C:28,23,and 44 sheep units,respectively;and herd D:43,40,and 61 sheep units,respectively.In the Three-River Source Region and similar alpine pastoral areas,the grassland-livestock structure should be optimized to improve grassland vegetation status and increase the theoretical carrying capacity.

Geochemical Characteristics and Origin of Crude Oil and Natural Gas in the Southern Slope Zone,Kuqa Foreland Basin,NW China

Continuous exploration has triggered a heated debate on hydrocarbon resource potential in the southern slope zone of the Kuqa foreland basin,and sources of the Mesozoic-Cenozoic oil and gas have become a key problem to be solved in this region.Composition and organic geochemical parameters of crude oil and natural gas from the southern slope zone of the Kuqa foreland basin were illustrated in order to reveal their origin by using a combination of gas chromatograph(GC),gas chromatogram-mass spectrum(GC-MS)and carbon isotope analyses.The characteristics of crude oil,such as low density,viscosity,solidification point and sulfur content,and high wax content,indicate that source of the crude oil is continental.The biomarker compositions of crude oil are characterized by low to medium molecular weight compounds(n-C_(12) to n-C_(20)),high Pr/Ph ratios(>1.0),low phytane/n-C18 ratios(0.06-0.54),and predominant regular sterane C_(29).All biomarker parameters clearly indicate that the crude oil was derived mainly from algae and aquatic plankton and deposited under weak reduction-oxidation environment,and has the characteristics of mixed kerogens.The Cretaceous crude oil was mainly derived from the Triassic lacustrine source rocks,which also contributed to the Paleogene crude oil together with Jurassic coal source rocks.Natural gas is characterized by moderate methane content,high heavy hydrocarbon and nitrogen content,and no hydrogen sulfide.The methane and ethane in Paleogene natural gas are relatively rich in ^(13)C withδ^(13)C_(1) andδ^(13)C_(2) values ranging from-37.3‰to-31.2‰(mean=-34.25‰)and from-25‰to-21.3‰(mean=-23.09‰),respectively,indicating the coal-derived gas from the Middle and Lower Jurassic strata.Hydrocarbon products in the southern slope zone of the Kuqa foreland basin are primarily generated from source rocks in the mature stage.The low-amplitude structural and lithologic traps with the updip pinch-out sand bodies or plugging secondary fault at relatively high tectonic positions are the most favorable areas for discovery and breakthrough in the study area.Results of this study will provide useful information for controlling factors of reservoirs and oil and gas exploration deployment in the southern slope zone of the Kuqa foreland basin.

Analyzing the energy intensity and greenhouse gas emission of Canadian oil sands crude upgrading through process modeling and simulation

This paper presents an evaluation of the energy intensity and related greenhouse gas/CO2 emissions of integrated oil sands crude upgrading processes. Two major oil sands crude upgrading schemes currently used in Canadian oil sands operations were investigated： cokingbased and hydroconversion-based. The analysis, which was based on a robust process model of the entire process, was constructed in Aspen HYSYS and calibrated with representative data. Simulations were conducted for the two upgrading schemes in order to generate a detailed inventory of the required energy and utility inputs： process fuel, steam, hydrogen and power. It was concluded that while hydroconversion-based scheme yields considerably higher amount of synthetic crude oil （SCO） than the cokerbased scheme （94 wt-% vs. 76 wt-%）, it consumes more energy and is therefore more CO2-intensive （413.2kg CO2/m3sco vs. 216.4kg CO2/m^3sco）. This substantial difference results from the large amount of hydrogen consumed in the ebullated-bed hydroconverter in the hydroconversion-based scheme, as hydrogen production through conventional methane steam reforming is highly energy-intensive and therefore the major source of CO2 emission. Further simulations indicated that optimization of hydroconverter operating variables had only a minor effect on the overall CO2 emission due to the complex trade-off effect between energy inputs.

Prime Energy Challenges for Operating Power Plants in the GCC

There is a false notion of existing available, abundant, and long lasting fuel energy in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries;with continual income return from its exports. This is not true as the sustainability of this income is questionable. Energy problems started to appear, and can be intensified in coming years due to continuous growth of energy demands and consumptions. The demands already consume all produced Natural Gas (NG) in all GCC, except Qatar;and the NG is the needed fuel for Electric Power (EP) production. These countries have to import NG to run their EP plants. Fuel oil production can be locally consumed within two to three decades if the current rate of consumed energy prevails. The returns from selling the oil and natural gas are the main income to most of the GCC. While NG and oil can be used in EP plants, NG is cheaper, cleaner, and has less negative effects on the environment than fuel oil. Moreover, oil has much better usage than being burned in steam generators of steam power plants or combustion chambers of gas turbines. Introducing renewable energy or nuclear energy may be a necessity for the GCC to keep the flow of their main income from exporting oil. This paper reviews the GCC productions and consumptions of the prime energy (fuel oil and NG) and their role in electric power production. The paper shows that, NG should be the only fossil fuel used to run the power plants in the GCC. It also shows that the all GCC except Qatar, have to import NG. They should diversify the prime energy used in power plants;and consider alternative energy such as nuclear and renewable energy, (solar and wind) energy.

Analysis of China＇s Oil Imports and Exports in 2016

In 2016,China's net imports of crude oil increased to 378.3 million tons and its net exports of product oil soared to 20.45 million tons.Refinery crude runs continue to grow at a low rate,and the domestic product oil market still has a supply surplus.Diesel consumption fell for the first time in 21 years.The liquefied petroleum gas(LPG) market continues to grow rapidly,spurred on by feedstock demand for chemicals and gasoline blending components,and imports of LPG have reached a record high of 16.12 million tons.The refinery throughput of Petro China and SINOPEC had declined for 2 consecutive years,but crude oil imports climbed to a new high of 381 million tons as independent refineries boosted their utilization of capacity and the domestic oilfields produced a decreased amount of output.Imported oil now accounts for more than 2/3 of the Chinese market compared to being only about 1/3 15 years ago.Moreover,the proportion of imported crude in refinery runs has risen to 70%.In 2017,China's economy will continue to face substantial pressure,and domestic demand for product oil will continue to grow slowly.

TSR promotes the formation of oil-cracking gases: Evidence from simulation experiments

TSR is an interaction between sulfate and hydrocarbons, occurring widely in carbonate reservoirs. Because this process can produce a large amount of noxious acidic gases like H2S, it has drawn seri- ous concern recently. This paper reports an experiment that simulated an interaction between different minerals and hydrocarbon fluids under different temperature and time using a confined gold-tube system. The results showed that the main mineral that initiates TSR is MgSO4, and adding a certain amount of NaCl into the reactive system can also promote TSR and yield more H2S. The H2S produced in TSR is an important incentive for the continuous oxidative degradation of crude oils. For instance, the yield of oil-cracking gases affected by TSR was twice of that not affected by TSR while the yield of TSR-affected methane was even higher, up to three times of that unaffected by TSR. The carbon iso- topes of wet gases also became heavier. All of the above illustrated that TSR obviously motivates the oxidative degradation of crude oils, which makes the gaseous hydrocarbon generation sooner and increases the gas dryness as well. The study on this process is important for understanding the TSR mechanism and the mechanism of natural gas generation in marine strata.

A comprehensive review concerning the problem of marine crudes sources in Tarim Basin

The issue of source of oil/gas in the platform basin area in Tarim Basin has been debated for a long time, and the debate is focused on whether the marine oil/gas resources that have been discovered in the basin were originated from hydrocarbon source rocks in the Cambrian-Lower Ordovician or in the Mid-Upper Ordovician. In this paper a summary was made in regard to the major points and supporting data by the predecessors, and a discussion was conducted toward the core issues related to the study on the oil source in the Tarim Basin area, such as choice of correlation parameters, influence of maturation and physical differentiation on oil source correlation parameters, and geological and geochemical significance of these relevant correlation indices. It is quite probable that different interpretation results could arise from the oil source correlation due to choice of parameters severely affected by the thermal maturation and physical differentiation effect, and insisted that only those parameters that

Kinetics of hydrocarbon generation for Well Yingnan 2 gas reservoir,Tarim Basin,CHina

Well Yingnan 2,an important exploratory well in the east of Tarim Basin,yields high commercial oil and gas flow in Jurassic.Natural gas components and carbon isotopic composition indicate that it belongs to sapropel type gas.Because this region presents many suits of hydrocarbon source rocks,there are some controversies that natural gases were generated from kerogen gas or crude oil cracking gas at present.By using the kinetics of hydrocarbon generation and carbon isotope,natural gas of Well Yingnan 2 is composed mainly of crude oil cracking gas,about 72%,it is generated from secondary kerogen gas of Cambrian-Lower Ordovician source rock and crude oil cracking gas of Mid-Upper Ordovician oil reservoir.The main oil and gas filling time is 65 Ma later in the Jurassic gas reservoir of Well Yingnan 2,so the gas reservoir belongs to late accumulation and continuous filling type.

Studies on free-radical scavenging activity and identification of active ingredients of different plant crude extracts of Mentha piperita collected from Sur,Sultanate of Oman

Objective:To determine free radical scavenging activity and active chemical ingredients of different plant crude extracts of Mentha piperita(M.piperita).Methods:The dried powder leaves of M.piperita were extracted with polar organic solvent by Soxhlet extractor.The crude extract and its fractions of hexane,chloroform,ethyl acetate and butanol crude extracts were prepared.The antioxidant activity of different crude extracts from M.piperita was carried out by DPPH method with minor modification,and the active chemical ingredients of different plant crude extracts of M.piperita were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS).Results:Qualitative analysis of different polarities crude extracts by GC-MS found different types of active organic compounds.The antioxidant activity of different crude extracts were found to be in the order of chloroform extract>butanol extract>ethyl acetate extract>hexane extract>methanol extract.Majority identified compounds in the plant crude extracts by GC-MS were biologically active.Conclusions:Therefore,the isolation,purification,identification and characterization of bioactive compounds from various crude extracts of M.piperita might have ecological significance.

Bioactive compounds and antifungal activity of three different seaweed species Ulva lactuca,Sargassum tenerrimum and Laurencia obtusa collected from Okha coast,Western India

Objective:To evaluate bioactive compounds responsible for antifungal activity from seaweeds of Okha coast,Western India.Methods:Each species were extracted with different solvents with increasing polarity:hexane,ethyl acetate,chloroform and methanol using Soxhlet apparatus.The antifungal activity was determined by agar diffusion plate method by using fluconazole,ketoconazole and amphotericin B as standards.Gas chromatography-mass spectrometer analysis was done for identification of bioactive compounds present in crude extract.Results:The gas chromatography-mass spectrometer analysis of all the extracts revealed the presence of steroids,fatty acids and esters compounds.Among the three species,the maximum crude extract yield(53.46%)and the largest inhibition zone(36 mm)were recorded in methanol extract of Ulva lactuca,whereas the minimum crude extract yield and inhibition zone were recorded in chloroform extract of the same species as 0.5%and 10 mm,respectively.Methanol and ethyl acetate extract showed the maximum antifungal activity and the major important compounds like steroids,fatty acids and esters were detected with higher amount in all the extracts.Conclusions:The present study revealed that the different seaweed extracts showed moderate to significant antifungal activity against the strains tested as compared with the standard fungicides,and polar solvents methanol and ethyl acetate were comparatively efficient for extraction of different metabolites that are responsible for antifungal activity.

Phytochemical studies of various polarities leave crude extracts of Omani Datura metel L.and evaluation of their antimicrobial potential

Objective:To identify the chemical constituents and evaluate antimicrobial potential of various crude extracts from leaves of Datura metel grown in Oman.Methods:The leaf samples were collected from the University of Nizwa and extracted with methanol by using Soxhlet extractor.The isolated crude extract was defatted with distilled water and extracted with solvents of different polarities including hexane,chloroform,ethyl acetate and butanol.Chemical compositions of the crude extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometer and their antimicrobial potential was evaluated by agar disc diffusion method against one Gram positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and two Gram negative bacteria Escherichia coli and Pseudomonus aeruginosa.Results:The crude extracts were composed of different organic compounds such as alkaloids,hydrocarbons,aromatic hydrocarbons,organic acids,terpenoids,vitamin etc.The methanol and its fractionated crude extracts showed antimicrobial potential with inhibition zone in the range of 0-13 mm.Conclusions:The selective crude extract from the leaves of Datura metel could be used as natural antibiotics.

Characteristics and accumulation mode of large-scale Sinian-Cambrian gas reservoirs in the Gaoshiti-Moxi region, Sichuan Basin

The Sinian-Cambrian formations of the Sichuan Basin have favorable hydrocarbon accumulation conditions,but the exploration for large-scale gas fields is quite challenging due to old strata and multiple tectonic movements.Since the Weiyuan Sinian large gas field was found in 1964,the largest monoblock gas field(Anyue Gasfield)was discovered in the Cambrian Longwangmiao Formation of the Moxi region in 2013 with proven gas reserves of 440.1×109 m3.Total proven,probable and possible reserves exceed one trillion cubic meters in the Sinian Dengying Formation and the Cambrian Longwangmiao Formation of the Gaoshiti-Moxi region.The natural gas components,light hydrocarbons,reservoir bitumen abundance and other evidences prove that the dry natural gas was mainly derived from oil-cracking,with methane(a content of 82.65%-97.35%),ethane(a content of 0.01%-0.29%),nitrogen(a content of 0.44%-6.13%),helium(a content of 0.01%-0.06%),and hydrogen sulphide(0.62-61.11 g/m^(3)).Gas reservoir pressure increases gradually from the Sinian normal pressure(a pressure coefficient of 1.07-1.13)to high pressure(a pressure coefficient of 1.53-1.70)in the Cambrian Longwangmiao Formation.The temperature of the gas reservoir is 137.5-163 ℃.Gas reservoir traps are divided into three categories:tectonic type,tectonic-formation type and tectonic-lithologic type.The large-scale enrichment of the Sinian-Cambrian natural gas results from effective configuration of the large stable inherited palaeo-uplift during the Tongwan tectonic movement,wide distribution of ancient source rocks,high-quality reservoirs with vast pore-cavity,crude oil cracking of large palaeo-reservoirs and favorable preservation conditions.According to the palaeo-structure pattern prior to crude oil cracking of the palaeo-reservoirs,and bitumen abundance as well as the distribution characteristics of current gas reservoirs,the accumulation patterns of the cracking gas reservoir can be classified into three types:accumulation type,semi-accumulation and semi-dispersion type,and dispersion type.This understanding will play an important role in guiding the exploration of the Sinian-Cambrian natural gas exploration in the Sichuan Basin.