Publication Type

Journal Article

Publication Date (Issue Year)

2024

Journal Name

Chemical Science International Journal

Abstract

Oilfield-scale formation is a persistent challenge in the oil industry. While numerous scale inhibitors have been in use for decades, there is a significant research gap in discovering renewable, cost-effective, ecologically friendly, and efficient inhibitors. This study sets out to fill this gap by investigating the potential of scale inhibitors (SIs) made from bio-resin derivatives of red onion skin; ROF and ROFU, in reducing CaCO3 and CaSO4 scales. The scale inhibition performance of ROF and ROFU was rigorously evaluated using the NACE standard static bottle test method. The data revealed that increasing scale-inhibitor contact time, concentration, and temperature enhances inhibitor efficacy, with the best inhibition efficiencies found for ROF and ROFU on the CaSO4 scale compared to the CaCO3 scale across all studied parameters. A comparison of the prepared SIs with a commercial scale inhibitor (CSI) showed a high inhibition rate of over 90% at minimal dosage of 60ppm in both scales studied. Despite having a lower inhibition rate (IE) than CSI, ROF and ROFU demonstrate significant potential as green oilfield SIs. This sustainable technique, which transforms agro-waste into a valuable oilfield chemical via a one-pot chemical process, could have profound economic and societal benefits, offering hope for a more sustainable future in the oil industry.

Keywords

Oilfield-scale formation, oil industry, bio-resin, red onion skin, biomass, renewable resource, biobased chemical

Grantee Name(s)

Cynthia Onyekachi Victor-Oji

Project Title

Developing Orange Mesocarp and Red Onion Skin into Multifunctional Materials for Oilfield Applications

Type of Grant

Research Award

Thematic Area

Energy including Renewables

Funding Statement

The authors are grateful to ICIPE for the financial support under the PASET Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund, which enabled the completion of this work. We also acknowledge the technical support of the staff of Central Instrument Laboratory, University of Port Harcourt.

Download

Share

COinS