Phenol aldehydes asphaltene inhibitors
A method of stabilizing asphaltenes in a petroleum hydrocarbon fluid comprises contacting the petroleum hydrocarbon fluid with a mixed phenol aldehyde derived from an aldehyde and two or more unsubstituted or alkyl-substituted monophenols, the two or more unsubstituted or alkyl-substituted monophenols comprising a first phenol which is a C 1-20 linear or branched alkyl monophenol; and a second phenol which is unsubstituted or a C 1-20 linear or branched alkyl monophenol different from the first phenol, wherein the molar ratio of the first phenol relative to the second phenol is about 4:1 to about 1:4.
1. A method of stabilizing asphaltenes in a petroleum hydrocarbon fluid, the method comprising:
contacting the petroleum hydrocarbon fluid with a mixed phenol aldehyde, the mixed phenol aldehyde having a structure represented by the formula
wherein
R 5 is a linear or branched dodecyl,
R 6 is t-butyl, and
n:m is 2.3:1 to 1:2.3.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mixed phenol aldehyde has a higher weight average molecular weight, a lower viscosity, or a combination thereof than a reference phenol aldehyde prepared by the same method using a single alkyl-substituted monophenol and the same aldehyde, determined under the same testing conditions.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the amount of the mixed phenol aldehyde is about 50 ppm to about 5000 ppm based on a total volume of the petroleum hydrocarbon fluid.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein a synergistic additive is used together with the mixed phenol aldehyde to treat the petroleum hydrocarbon fluid, and the synergistic additive comprises an amine, a polyamine, or a combination thereof.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the synergistic additive comprises a fatty acid based imidazoline, diethylenetriamine, tetraethylenetetramine, tetraethylenepentamine, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the weight ratio of the mixed phenol aldehyde relative to the synergistic additive is about 99:1 to about 4:1.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the petroleum hydrocarbon fluid further contains water, brine, a gas, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the contacting is conducted during production, storage, transportation, and refining of the petroleum hydrocarbon fluid.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the contacting is conducted at a temperature of about −50° C. to about 250° C. and a pressure of about 14.7 psig to about 40,000 psig.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mixed phenol aldehyde and the synergist additive are separately added to the petroleum hydrocarbon fluid.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising combining the mixed phenol aldehyde and the synergist additive to provide an asphaltene inhibitor composition, and contacting the petroleum hydrocarbon fluid with the asphaltene inhibitor composition.
12. A petroleum hydrocarbon fluid comprising:
an asphaltene inhibitor or dispersion composition that contains a mixed phenol aldehyde, the mixed phenol aldehyde having a structure represented by the formula
wherein
R 5 is a linear or branched dodecyl,
R 6 is t-butyl, and
n:m is 2.3:1 to 1:2.3.
13. The petroleum hydrocarbon fluid of claim 12 , further comprising a synergistic additive, and the synergistic additive comprises an amine, a polyamine, or a combination thereof.
14. An asphaltene inhibitor composition comprising:
a mixed phenol aldehyde having a structure represented by the formula
wherein
R 5 is a linear or branched dodecyl,
R 6 is t-butyl, and
n:m is 2.3:1 to 1:2.3.