Aggregation study of asphaltenes from colombian Castilla crude oil using molecular simulation

A molecular simulation model to study the mechanism for asphaltene aggregation is presented. Four species were selected, obtained from structural analysis of asphaltenes from the oil extracted from Castilla oil field, in Colombia. Energetic contributions to the aggregation process for each species...

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Main Authors: Jennifer De León-Barreneche, Bibian Alonso Hoyos-Madrigal, Wilson Antonio Cañas-Marín
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidad de Antioquia 2015-12-01
Series:Revista Facultad de Ingeniería Universidad de Antioquia
Subjects:
Online Access:https://revistas.udea.edu.co/index.php/ingenieria/article/view/20255
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author Jennifer De León-Barreneche
Bibian Alonso Hoyos-Madrigal
Wilson Antonio Cañas-Marín
author_facet Jennifer De León-Barreneche
Bibian Alonso Hoyos-Madrigal
Wilson Antonio Cañas-Marín
author_sort Jennifer De León-Barreneche
collection DOAJ
description A molecular simulation model to study the mechanism for asphaltene aggregation is presented. Four species were selected, obtained from structural analysis of asphaltenes from the oil extracted from Castilla oil field, in Colombia. Energetic contributions to the aggregation process for each species were studied, and the solubility parameter was evaluated. Finally, the aggregation process between different species was studied in order to determine the tendency of the molecules towards self-association. Results show that for all species, aggregation state is energetically favorable; also, both Van der Waals interactions and electrostatic forces contribute equally to the aggregation process. It was also found that the molecular structure of the substances has a big influence on the manner in which asphaltenes aggregate. For continental structures, long ramifications cause a physical obstacle for aggregation. On the other hand, the molecular flexibility associated with archipelago structures enables the aggregation with other species, but somehow hinders the process of self-association. The solubility parameter for all four substances was within the range established by literature.
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spelling doaj.art-a96c592360844ae3849a0b06d7597b252023-03-23T12:30:48ZengUniversidad de AntioquiaRevista Facultad de Ingeniería Universidad de Antioquia0120-62302422-28442015-12-017710.17533/udea.redin.n77a04Aggregation study of asphaltenes from colombian Castilla crude oil using molecular simulationJennifer De León-Barreneche0Bibian Alonso Hoyos-Madrigal1Wilson Antonio Cañas-Marín2National University of ColombiaNational University of ColombiaECOPETROL S.A A molecular simulation model to study the mechanism for asphaltene aggregation is presented. Four species were selected, obtained from structural analysis of asphaltenes from the oil extracted from Castilla oil field, in Colombia. Energetic contributions to the aggregation process for each species were studied, and the solubility parameter was evaluated. Finally, the aggregation process between different species was studied in order to determine the tendency of the molecules towards self-association. Results show that for all species, aggregation state is energetically favorable; also, both Van der Waals interactions and electrostatic forces contribute equally to the aggregation process. It was also found that the molecular structure of the substances has a big influence on the manner in which asphaltenes aggregate. For continental structures, long ramifications cause a physical obstacle for aggregation. On the other hand, the molecular flexibility associated with archipelago structures enables the aggregation with other species, but somehow hinders the process of self-association. The solubility parameter for all four substances was within the range established by literature. https://revistas.udea.edu.co/index.php/ingenieria/article/view/20255molecular simulationaggregation energiessolubility parameterasphaltene
spellingShingle Jennifer De León-Barreneche
Bibian Alonso Hoyos-Madrigal
Wilson Antonio Cañas-Marín
Aggregation study of asphaltenes from colombian Castilla crude oil using molecular simulation
Revista Facultad de Ingeniería Universidad de Antioquia
molecular simulation
aggregation energies
solubility parameter
asphaltene
title Aggregation study of asphaltenes from colombian Castilla crude oil using molecular simulation
title_full Aggregation study of asphaltenes from colombian Castilla crude oil using molecular simulation
title_fullStr Aggregation study of asphaltenes from colombian Castilla crude oil using molecular simulation
title_full_unstemmed Aggregation study of asphaltenes from colombian Castilla crude oil using molecular simulation
title_short Aggregation study of asphaltenes from colombian Castilla crude oil using molecular simulation
title_sort aggregation study of asphaltenes from colombian castilla crude oil using molecular simulation
topic molecular simulation
aggregation energies
solubility parameter
asphaltene
url https://revistas.udea.edu.co/index.php/ingenieria/article/view/20255
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AT wilsonantoniocanasmarin aggregationstudyofasphaltenesfromcolombiancastillacrudeoilusingmolecularsimulation