Further development of surface-plasmon-resonance sensors for on-site detection of wax deposition from crude oils

这项提案要求提供资金，以扩大UBC的周博士和Dr。 斯伦贝谢DBR技术中心(总部设在埃德蒙顿)的Sieben为 检测原油中的蜡沉积。原油中含有的蜡溶于油液相中。 储集层条件。当原油温度下降时，高分子量的蜡会减少。 溶于液体和溶解的蜡分子倾向于结晶并形成固体颗粒。蜡沉积 是石油生产、运输和加工过程中的一个主要问题，导致了如下复杂情况 减少从储油层中提取石油，堵塞管道和井眼，吸附到炼油中 储存过程中的设备和封堵。在过去的六个月里，周博士和西本博士成功地 设计、制造并表征了一种表面等离子体共振(SPR)光学传感器，用于检测 纯组分混合物和原油中的蜡沉积。斯伦贝谢目前正在申请一项专利， 在这一点上发展了技术，并有兴趣继续开发，以增加复杂性 测量的结果。 这个Engage Plus项目有两个目标。第一个目标是修改传感器以测量SPR 从400 nm到1600 nm的多个波长的信号。据认为，SPR数据在其他 波长将能够估计蜡沉积的厚度，这是通常情况下的一个重要参数 难以用非侵入性方法测量。第二个目标是构建一个原型 高温高压SPR传感器确定井下是否可以进行SPR 条件。这些测试将在斯伦贝谢的专门测试设施中进行。总体而言，这 Engage Plus项目将为评估SPR传感器的商业化潜力提供有价值的信息 原油结蜡检测技术。

This proposal requests funding to extend a collaborative Engage project between Dr. Chau at UBC and Dr. Sieben at Schlumberger DBR Technology Center (based in Edmonton AB) to develop optical sensors for detecting wax deposition from crude oils. Crude oils contain waxes that are soluble in the oil liquid phase at reservoir conditions. When the crude oil temperature drops, the high-molecular-weight waxes become less soluble in the liquid and dissolved wax molecules tend to crystallize and form solid particles. Wax deposition is a major problem during oil production, transportation, and processing, causing complications such as reduced oil extraction from the reservoir, clogging of pipelines and well-bores, adsorption onto refining equipment and plugging during storage. Over the past six months, Dr. Chau and Dr. Sieben have successfully designed, built, and characterized a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) optical sensor to detect phase changes in pure component mixtures and wax deposition from crude oils. Schlumberger is currently filing a patent on the technology developed at this point, and there is interest in continued development to increase the sophistication of the measurement. There are two goals of this Engage Plus project. The first goal is to modify the sensor to measure the SPR signal at multiple wavelengths spanning from 400 nm to 1600 nm. It is believed that SPR data at additional wavelengths will enable estimation of the thickness of wax deposition, an important parameter that generally difficult to measure by non-non-invasive methods. The second goal is to construct a prototype high-temperature, high-pressure SPR sensor to determine whether SPR can be performed under down-hole conditions. These tests will be performed at the specialized testing facilities at Schlumberger. Overall, this Engage Plus project will provide valuable information to assess the commercialization potential of SPR sensor technology for detection of wax deposition from crude oils.