The Prospects of Using the Mechanical Activation Method in the Technological Processes of Oil and Gas Production

The need to improve the technological processes of raw fuel resources processing, to search for new technologies and to involve oil and gas waste production wastes as anthropogenic resources becomes urgent. The main directions of using the effects of the mechanical activation of substances in the technological processes of oil and gas production are analyzed.  A brief description of the method of mechanical activation is provided. The prospect of using the method of mechanical activation to solve the problem of waste disposal is shown. The author analyzes the main directions of mechanical activation influence used for changing the composition and properties of hydrocarbons and considers the possibilities of mechanical activation of a substance as an efficient way for accelerating the mechano-chemical processes that occur in hydrocarbons due to intense mechanical loads. The article generalizes the research results concerning the effect of mechanical activation on changes in the physical-chemical properties of oil, fuel oil, bottoms and sludge. The results of using mechanical activation for the preparation of plug-back mixtures based on silica sand and quartziferous waste are summarized. The laboratory research was carried out at a centrifugal-planetary mill. It is established that under the conditions of mechanical activation of hydrocarbons their destruction occurs. The process of transformations is a chain nature. The areas of mechanical and chemical transformations, change of fraction content in residual fuel oil, bottom products, and natural gasoline have been investigated. It has been established that destruction of hydrocarbon fractions takes place. The author demonstrates that processing modes, time and mechanical loads affect the course of hydrocarbon destruction, and its results depend on the type of substance. The researcher proves that it is promising to use the method of mechanical activation to control the properties of mineral flour obtained on the basis of oil sludge. The results of the research indicate clearly that it is possible to get different volume of the light cuts yield by regulating the modes of hydrocarbons processing. The author shows the possibility of increasing the depth of oil refining, as well as the possibility of obtaining a cement mixture with the addition of up to 30% of mechanically activated quartziferous additive without deteriorating the characteristics of cement stone achieved. The method of mechanical activation is promising for the utilization of the wastes of oil and gas complex, as these wastes can be considered the anthropogenic raw materials.