Ab Initio molecular dynamics of the dissolution of oilfield pyrite scale using borax
Author | Onawole A.T. |
Author | Hussein I.A. |
Author | Ahmed M.E.M. |
Author | Saad M.A. |
Author | Aparicio S. |
Available date | 2022-04-25T10:59:46Z |
Publication Date | 2020 |
Publication Name | Journal of Molecular Liquids |
Resource | Scopus |
Identifier | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2020.112500 |
Abstract | Iron sulfide scales, particularly pyrite, form in oil and gas underground tubing and surface equipment thus blocking the flow of fluids and halting production. Therefore, the development of physicochemical processes for scale removal is of pivotal relevance. In this work, Ab Initio Molecular dynamics simulations have been employed to investigate the use of borax as a scale removal agent and understand the molecular level features in the dissolution of pyrite using a borax solution. Geometry analysis, radial distribution function, and near neighbor analysis tools have been used to analyze the data. The reported results show that potassium ion is preferentially bonding with the sulfur atoms in the top layer of the pyrite surface rather than with iron, thus being the predominant factor that accounts for pyrite dissolution. The K[sbnd]S bonds evolve dynamically exposing the whole pyrite surface. The presence of the chelating agent would prevent the formation of Fe[sbnd]S bonds. It is proposed that borax, in conjunction with chelating agents, could be used for removing the pyrite scale and consequently boosting production in the upstream sector. |
Sponsor | The authors would like to acknowledge the support of Qatar National Research Fund (a member of Qatar Foundation) through Grant # NPRP9-084-2-041 . The findings achieved herein are solely the responsibility of the authors. The Research Computing group at Texas A&M University at Qatar (funded by Qatar Foundation) provided the HPC facilities used in this work. Qatar University and the Gas Processing Center are also acknowledged for their support. |
Language | en |
Publisher | Elsevier B.V. |
Subject | Borate minerals Chelation Dissolution Distribution functions Oil fields Pyrites Sodium borate Sulfur compounds Underground equipment Ab initio molecular dynamics Ab initio molecular dynamics simulation Chelating agent Iron sulfide scale Physicochemical process Pyrite dissolution Radial distribution functions Surface equipment Molecular dynamics |
Type | Article |
Volume Number | 302 |
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Chemical Engineering [1141 items ]
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GPC Research [494 items ]