Study on the influence mechanism of the interaction between waxes and asphaltenes on hydrate growth

Waxes and asphaltenes, two typical heavy components of crude oil, can complicate hydrate problems associated with deep-sea multiphase transport. This study investigates the transformation of water droplets into hydrate particles in waxy and wax-asphaltene coexisting systems. The results indicate that dissolved wax molecules in-crease the porosity, degree of transformation, and surface roughness of hydrate particles. In addition, the size of hydrate particles increases over time. Besides, wax precipitation precedes hydrate formation as wax content increases. When the crystal network structure is formed, the viscosity of the continuous phase increases signif-icantly, and the mass transfer process is severely impeded, thereby inhibiting the hydrate transformation process. Moreover, adding asphaltenes will influence adsorption at the oil-water interface and inhibit the effect of wax molecules on hydrate particles. The asphaltene concentration required to inhibit the effect of wax molecules is proportional to the wax concentration.

Automated summary

This study investigates the transformation of water droplets into hydrate particles in the presence of waxes and asphaltenes in crude oil. The results show that dissolved wax molecules enhance the porosity, degree of transformation, and surface roughness of hydrate particles. Furthermore, the size of hydrate particles increases over time. In addition, the precipitation of waxes precedes hydrate formation, and the viscosity of the continuous phase increases significantly once the crystal network structure is formed, inhibiting the hydrate transformation process. Moreover, the presence of asphaltenes influences adsorption at the oil-water interface and inhibits the effect of wax molecules on hydrate particles. The concentration of asphaltenes needed to inhibit the effect of wax molecules is proportional to the wax concentration.