Acoustic and sonochemical methods for altering the viscosity of oil during recovery and pipeline transportation.

Reduction of oil viscosity is of great importance for the petroleum industry since it contributes a lot to the facilitation of pipeline transportation of oil. This study analyzes the capability of acoustic waves to decrease the viscosity of oil during its commercial production. Three types of equipment were tested: an ultrasonic emitter that is located directly in the well and affects oil during its production and two types of acoustic machines to be located at the wellhead and perform acoustic treatment after oil extraction: a setup for ultrasonic hydrodynamic treatment and a flow-through ultrasonic reactor. In our case, the two acoustic machines were rebuilt and tested in the laboratory. The viscosity of oil was measured before and after both types of acoustic treatment; and 2, 24 and 48h after ultrasonic treatment and 1 and 4h after hydrodynamic treatment in order to estimate the constancy of viscosity reduction. The viscosity reduction achieved by acoustic waves was compared to the viscosity reduction achieved by acoustic waves jointly with solvents. It was shown, that regardless of the form of powerful acoustic impact, a long lasting decrease in viscosity can be obtained only if sonochemical treatment is used. Using sonochemical treatment based on ultrasonic hydrodynamic treatment a viscosity reduction by 72,46% was achieved. However, the reduction in viscosity by 16%, which was demonstrated using the ultrasonic downhole tool in the well without addition of chemicals, is high enough to facilitate the production of viscous hydrocarbons.

Ultrasonically improved galvanochemical technology for the remediation of industrial wastewater.

Two general methodologies adopted for the decontamination of industrial wastewater containing oil and metal ions are flocculation and coagulation. Both methods require the addition of chemicals and in the case of electrocoagulation the additional use of electrical power. Another methodology that was developed in Russia some years ago involves the production of Fe2O3 particles as coagulants by a galvanochemical reaction between iron and coke. Both of these materials are inexpensive and generally available in bulk. Ultrasonic processing of the particles generated in this reaction reduces the particle size of the Fe2O3 particles and provides surface cleaning making them more effective. Trials have proved their efficiency for the decontamination of wastewater made up in a laboratory and real wastewater from a carriage cleaning station on the St. Petersburg Metro. A mathematical model for the process has been developed.

Ultrasonic technology for enhanced oil recovery from failing oil wells and the equipment for its implemention.

A new method for the ultrasonic enhancement of oil recovery from failing wells is described. The technology involves lowering a source of power ultrasound to the bottom of the well either for a short treatment before removal or as a permanent placement for intermittent use. In wells where the permeability is above 20 mD and the porosity is greater than 15% ultrasonic treatment can increase oil production by up to 50% and in some cases even more. For wells of lower permeability and porosity ultrasonic treatment alone is less successful but high production rates can be achieved when ultrasound is applied in conjunction with chemicals. An average productivity increase of nearly 3 fold can be achieved for this type of production well using the combined ultrasound with chemical treatment technology.