Investigating the effect of external magnetic field on preventing deposition process in wax/asphaltene nanostructure using molecular dynamics simulation

Background:

A critical challenge in extraction and exploitation in the oil industry is the buildup of crude oil in surface tanks and transmission lines. This leads to the development of heavy organic compounds like wax and asphaltene, which can further result in sediment formation. This issue is particularly prevalent in oil facilities and transmission systems.

Methods

To address this concern, a recent study focused investigating the effect of varying the frequency and amplitude of an external magnetic force on preventing precipitation in a Fe₃O₄@SiO₂/wax/asphaltene nanostructure. This investigation was carried out using molecular dynamics simulation techniques. The results of this study indicate that after completing the molecular dynamics simulation, the kinetic energy of the analyzed structure reached the convergence point of 0.89 kcal/mol. Also, during the structural equilibrium phase, the total energy of the studied structure was stabilized at 32.34 kcal/mol, which indicated the stability obtained in the simulated system. This study showed that by increasing the frequency of external magnetic force from 0.01 to 0.05 fs⁻¹, the viscosity value of the structure increased from 1092 to 1106 mPa.s. This occurred as the frequency of external magnetic force increased, reducing the agglomeration time in the structure from 8.61 to 8.43 ns. On the other hand, increasing the amplitude of external magnetic force from 0.1 to 0.5 T caused a significant decrease in the viscosity of the structure. It reduced it from 1092 to 1028 mPa·s.

Significant findings

Finally, this increase in the amplitude of external magnetic force produced a corresponding trend in the structure's agglomeration time, which increased from 8.61 to 9.03 ns. By optimizing oil flow in pipelines, the results of this study could have significant applications in the oil industry. The precise control of external magnetic forces can minimize the buildup of wax and asphaltene, which leads to a smoother and more efficient oil transportation process. Furthermore, by reducing the frequency of blockages and sediment formation, the need for maintenance and cleaning operations would decrease, ultimately lowering operational costs and enhancing the overall efficiency of extraction and transportation systems.