Iraqi Journal of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering

Scientists are investigating the efficacy of different biosorbents for promoting economic and environmental viability in purifying contaminants. Among the primary by-products of biodiesel production is waste microalgae biomass, which has the potential to be used as a cheap biosorbent for the treatment of pollution. In the present study, the biomass left over after extracting the chlorella vulgaris was used to test the potential biosorption of CIP from simulated aqueous solutions. Bisorbent's ability was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Analysis with a Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer revealed that CIP biosorption occurred mainly at biomass sites containing carboxyl and amino groups. The equilibrium isotherm data and biosorption kinetics were addressed in the present study. The biosorption data match the Langmuir isotherm model, and the maximal biosorption capacity was determined to be 7.56 mg/g. While The pseudo-second-order model accurately described the biosorption kinetic data. Biosorbent regeneration was also studied using two different sodium hydroxide concentrations, the results showing that after desorption, the biosorption capacity decreased from 5.2 to 3.74 and 1.77 (mg/g) using 0.1NaOH and 0.5NaOH, respectively.

Hartha Formation is an overburdened horizon in the X-oilfield which generates a lot of Non-Productive Time (NPT) associated with drilling mud losses. This study has been conducted to investigate the loss events in this formation as well as to provide geological interpretations based on datasets from nine wells in this field of interest. The interpretation was based on different analyses including wireline logs, cuttings descriptions, image logs, and analog data. Seismic and coherency data were also used to formulate the geological interpretations and calibrate that with the loss events of the Hartha Fm.
The results revealed that the upper part of the Hartha Fm. was identified as an interval capable of creating potential mud losses, resulting in high NPT. This is due to its diagenetic features such as succrosic dolomites and vuggy zones that could act as thief zones. Seismic potential was used for the prediction of the geological related non-productive drilling time in the Hartha interval. The seismic data quality in this interval was good, with geological observations already made. Detailed interpretation and analysis of the Hartha interval were performed and integrated with the existing seismic interpretation, rock properties, and NPT database to calibrate wells with the loss events to the seismic observations.

Today, dimethyl ether (DME) is changing to ordinarily worn as a superb aerosol propellant and refrigerant for its eco-friendly characteristics. Lately, with the development of novel chemical energy in the coal industries, it has become a fascinating field of research as an alternative green fuel for diesel machines due to the high cetane number. The DME synthesis processes include catalytic dehydrating methanol in an adiabatic fixed-bed reactor. In this study, to investigate the chemical conditions of the methanol dehydration reaction, CFD simulations of the adiabatic reactor have been assessed. The advantage of the work is a sensitivity analysis was run to find the effect of pressure, kinetics, and velocity on the reactor performance. The results showed that using a γ-Al2O3 catalyst with selective mechanical properties and unique surface properties is a convenient choice for DME synthesis. The CFD simulation results also show that the laboratory data such as pressure, energy, and velocity in the adiabatic reactor meet the reaction requirements well, and deliberated a major vision of what happened in the reactor. Also, the graphs of the temperature profile with changes in physical properties pomp that methanol dehydration reaction strongly depends on environmental factors and gives different results under the influence of other conditions.

The aim of this study is to investigate the kinetics of copper removal from aqueous solutions using an electromembrane extraction (EME) system. To achieve this, a unique electrochemical cell design was adopted comprising two glass chambers, a supported liquid membrane (SLM), a graphite anode, and a stainless-steel cathode. The SLM consisted of a polypropylene flat membrane infused with 1-octanol as a solvent and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (DEHP) as a carrier. The impact of various factors on the kinetics constant rate was outlined, including the applied voltage, initial pH of the donor phase solution, and initial copper concentration. The results demonstrated a significant influence of the applied voltage on enhancing the rate of copper mass transfer across the membrane. As the applied voltage increased, the rate constant also increased. Additionally, increasing the pH of the solution led to an initial elevate in the rate constant, reaching a maximum value at pH 5, after which it started to decline. Moreover, higher initial copper concentrations had an adverse effect on the rate constant. Notably, the concentration decay profiles observed under different operating conditions followed first-order kinetics, with correlation coefficients exceeding 0.99. The elucidation of this discovery emanated from a remarkable and striking congruence between the experimental data and the mathematical underpinnings of the first-order kinetics model. This serendipitous alignment profoundly reinforced the robustness, veracity, and unwavering reliability of meticulously obtained results, amplifying the credibility and trustworthiness of the present comprehensive study.

In southern Iraq, the Yamama Formation has been a primary carbonate resource since the Lower Cretaceous era. This study covers Siba Field, which is located in southeastern Iraq. This paper will be devoted to a YC unit of study. The most crucial step in reservoir management is petrophysical characterization. The primary goal of this research is to assess the reservoir features and lithology of the Yamama (YC) Formation in the Siba region. Accessible excellent logs include sonic, density, neutron, gamma-ray, SP, and resistivity readings. The Interactive Petrophysics (IP4.4) program examined and estimated petrophysical features such as clay volume, porosity, and water saturation. The optimum approach was the neutron density and clay volume calculation using the Gamma Ray Method (VclGR), it was 0.246 in SB-6 since they are not impacted by anything. The Archie method was chosen due to its suitability for limestone. The lithology and mineralogy of the formations were determined using M-N cross plots; the diagram revealed that the Formation was composed of limestone. The Archie parameter was determined using the Pickett plot and formation water resistivity from the Pickett plot and SP log where the results were similar in all wells (RW=0.016, m=2.08, n=2.3, a=1.1). In addition, the higher section of the formation has good reservoir qualities such as density is (2.368g/cc), porosity is (PHIE=0.117) in SB-6.

The Khor Mor gas-condensate processing plant in Iraq is currently facing operational challenges due to foaming issues in the sweetening tower caused by high-soluble hydrocarbon liquids entering the tower. The root cause of the problem could be liquid carry-over as the separation vessels within the plant fail to remove liquid droplets from the gas phase. This study employs Aspen HYSYS v.11 software to investigate the performance of the industrial three-phase horizontal separator, Bravo #2, located upstream of the Khor Mor sweetening tower, under both current and future operational conditions. The simulation results, regarding the size distribution of liquid droplets in the gas product and the efficiency gas/liquid separation, reveal that the separator falls short of eliminating all liquid droplets of specified sizes from the gas phase to meet efficiency requirements, weather with or without a mist extractor. Consequently, an analysis of various structural parameters of the vessel is undertaken to determine their impact on the carried-over liquid mass flow rate and the vessel’s gas/liquid efficiency. The findings recommend a new design concept termed the "smart separator" for Bravo #2, applicable to both current and anticipated operational scenarios. The smart separator demonstrates a remarkable enhancement in gas/liquid separation efficiency, showcasing improvements of 21.31% and 24.02% under existing and future operating conditions, respectively. This innovative design proves effective in controlling liquid carry-over and maintaining high-efficiency levels, even as vessel inlet flow rates increase over time, thus preventing foaming phenomena in downstream processes caused carried-over liquids.

Water contamination is a pressing global concern, especially regarding the presence of nitrate ions. This research focuses on addressing this issue by developing an effective adsorbent for removing nitrate ions from aqueous solutions. two adsorbents Chitosan-Zeolite-Zirconium (Cs-Ze-Zr composite beads and Chitosan-Bentonite-Zirconium Cs-Bn-Zr composite beads were prepared. The study involved continuous experimentation using a fixed bed column with varying bed heights (1.5 and 3 cm) and inlet flow rates (1 and 3 ml/min). The results showed that the breakthrough time increased with higher bed heights for both Cs-Ze-Zr and Cs-Bn-Zr composite beads. Conversely, an increase in flow rate led to a decrease in breakthrough time. Notably, Cs-Ze-Zr and Cs-Bn-Zr demonstrated impressive removal efficiencies, reaching 87.23% and 92.02%, respectively. The optimal conditions for peak performance were found to be an inlet flow rate of 1 ml/min, a bed height of 3 cm, and initial concentrations of 400 mg/L and 600 mg/L for Cs-Ze-Zr and Cs-Bn-Zr, respectively.

The modified Hummers method was applied to prepare graphene oxide (GO) from the graphite powder. Tin oxide nanoparticles with different loading (10-20 wt.%) supported on reduced graphene oxide were synthesized to evaluate the oxidative desulfurization efficiency. The catalyst was synthesized by the incipient wetness impregnation (IWI) technique. Different analysis methods like FT-IR, XRD, FESEM, AFM, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) were utilized to characterize graphene oxide and catalysts. The XRD analysis showed that the average crystal size of graphene oxide was 6.05 nm. In addition, the FESEM results showed high metal oxide dispersions on the rGO. The EDX analysis shows the weight ratio of Sn is close to its theoretical weight. The reduction of metal oxide and (GO) has occurred in one step at temperatures of 400 °C for 2 hours. The performance of the catalysts for dibenzothiophene (DBT) removal using H2O2 as an oxidizing agent was determined under a range of different operating conditions. The results showed that the maximum desulfurization was 71.68% in the best conditions (DBT concentration = 385 ppm, time = 90 min, temperature = 60 oC, catalyst dosage = 0.04g, and amount of oxidant = 0.375 ml).

Nanoparticles (NPs) have unique capabilities that make them an eye-opener opportunity for the upstream oil industry. Their nano-size allows them to flow within reservoir rocks without the fear of retention between micro-sized pores. Incorporating NPs with drilling and completion fluids has proved to be an effective additive that improves various properties such as mud rheology, filtration, thermal conductivity, and wellbore stability. However, the biodegradability of drilling fluid chemicals is becoming a global issue as the discharged wetted cuttings raise toxicity concerns and environmental hazards. Therefore, it is urged to utilize chemicals that tend to break down and susceptible to biodegradation. This research presents the practical application of bio-based Zinc Oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) prepared chemically from celery leaf plant extract as green additive in water-based mud drilling fluid (WBM). The study aimed to evaluate the filtration and thermal stability of WBM using green-synthesized ZnO NPs. The results showed that the ZnO NPs have minimal effect of mud density, but significant improvement in mud thermal stability and filtration properties were attained with concentrations lower than 1g. The fluid loss rate was reduced by 33% with 0.45g of ZnO nanoparticles, and the thinnest mud cake was obtained as well. In terms of thermal stability, the bio-based ZnO NPs greatly enhanced the rheological properties of WBM at elevated temperatures. The rate of increment in plastic viscosity (PV) or decrement in yield point (YP) and gel strength occurred in a controllable manner compared to the rheological properties of base mud at high temperatures reaching 90°C. This study provides insight into the effect of green-synthesized ZnO nanoparticles on the performance of water-based mud and highlights their potential as an effective and environmentally friendly additive for the oil and gas industry.

In the drilling and production operations, the effectiveness of cementing jobs is crucial for efficient progress. The compressive strength of oil well cement is a key characteristic that reflects its ability to withstand forceful conditions over time. This study evaluates and improves the compressive strength and thickening time of Iraqi oil well cement class G from Babylon cement factory using two types of additives (Nano Alumina and Synthetic Fiber) to comply with the American Petroleum Institute (API) specifications. The additives were used in different proportions, and a set of samples was prepared under different conditions. Compressive strength and thickening time measurements were taken under different conditions. The amounts of Nano Alumina (0.5%, 1%, and 1.5% by weight of cement (BWOC)) were selected with synthetic fiber (0.5 g, 1 g, and 1.5 g, respectively). The results show a significant improvement in compressive strength, with all values meeting the API requirements, and a decrease in the thickening time of Iraqi oil well cement, depending on the proportions of additives. The most significant improvement in compressive strength was achieved in the sample containing 1.5% Nano Alumina by weight of cement (BWOC) and 1.5 g Synthetic Fiber (Barolift), where the compressive strength increased by 40.7% and 33.8% at a temperature of 38 °C and 60 °C, respectively, while the thickening time decreased by 26.53% at this ratio of additives. The results demonstrate the feasibility of using these additives to enhance the performance of Iraqi oil well cement, expanding its potential application in Iraqi oil fields.

The removal of Ibuprofen antibiotics (IBU) by photo-degradation UV/H2O2/Fe+2 system was investigated in a batch reactor under different initial concentrations of H2O2 (100-500) mg/L, Fe+2 (10-40) mg/L, pH (3-9) and initial concentrations of IBU (10-80) mg/L, and their relationship with the degradation efficiency were studied. The result demonstrated that the maximum elimination of IBU was 85.54% achieved at 300 mg/L of H2O2, 30 mg/L of Fe+2, pH=3, and irradiation time of 150 min, for 10 mg/L of IBU. The results have shown that the oxidation reagent H2O2 plays a very important role in IBU degradation.

The economical and highly performed anode material is the critical factor affecting the efficiency of electro-oxidation toward organics. The present study aimed to detect the best conditions to prepare Mn-Co oxide composite anode for the electro-oxidation of phenol. Deposition of Mn-Co oxide onto graphite substrate was investigated at 25, 30, and 35 mA/cm2 to detect the best conditions for deposition. The structure and the crystal size of the Mn-Co oxide composite electrode were examined by using an X-Ray diffractometer (XRD), the morphological properties of the prepared electrode were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques, and the chemical composition of the various deposited oxide was characterized by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The study also highlighted the effect of current density (40, 60, and 80 mA/cm2), pH (3, 4, and 5), and the concentration of NaCl (1, 1.5, and 2 g/l) on the anodic electro-oxidation of phenol was investigated. The results revealed that the composite anodes are successfully prepared galvanostatically by anodic and cathodic deposition. In addition, the current density of 25 mA/cm2 gave the best cathodic deposition performance. The removal efficiency of phenol and other by-products increased as the current density and the concentration of NaCl in the electrolyte increased, while it decreased as the pH increased. The prepared composite electrode gave high COD removal efficiency (98.769 %) at the current density of 80 mA/cm2, pH= 3, NaCl conc. of 2 g/L within 3 h.

In the petroleum industry, multiphase flow dynamics within the tubing string have gained significant attention due to associated challenges. Accurately predicting pressure drops and wellbore pressures is crucial for the effective modeling of vertical lift performance (VLP). This study focuses on predicting the multiphase flow behavior in four wells located in the Faihaa oil field in southern Iraq, utilizing PIPESIM software. The process of selecting the most appropriate multiphase correlation was performed by utilizing production test data to construct a comprehensive survey data catalog. Subsequently, the results were compared with the correlations available within the PIPESIM software. The outcomes reveal that the Hagedorn and Brown (HB) correlation provides the most accurate correlation for calculating pressure in FH-1 and FH-3 while the Beggs and Brill original (BBO) correlation proves to be the optimal fit for wells FH-2 and Gomez mechanistic model for FH-4. These correlations show the lowest root mean square (RMS) values of 11.5, 7.56, 8.889, and 6.622 for the four wells, respectively, accompanied by the lowest error ratios of 0.00692%, 0.00033%, 0.00787%, and 0.0011%, respectively. Conversely, Beggs and Brill original (BBO) correlation yields less accurate results in predicting pressure drop for FH-1 compared with other correlations. Similarly, correlations, such as Orkiszewski for FH-2, Duns and Ros for FH-3, and ANSARI for FH-4, also display less accuracy level. Notably, the study also identifies that single-phase flow dominates within the tubing string until a depth of 6000 feet in most wells, beyond which slug flow emerges, introducing significant production challenges. As a result, the study recommends carefully selecting optimal operational conditions encompassing variables such as wellhead pressure, tubing dimensions, and other pertinent parameters. This approach is crucial to prevent the onset of slug flow regime and thus mitigate associated production challenges.

History matching is a significant stage in reservoir modeling for evaluating past reservoir performance and predicting future behavior. This paper is primarily focused on the calibration of the dynamic reservoir model for the Meshrif formation, which is the main reservoir in the Garraf oilfield. A full-field reservoir model with 110 producing wells is constructed using a comprehensive dataset that includes geological, pressure-volume-temperature (PVT), and rock property information. The resulting 3D geologic model provides detailed information on water saturation, permeability, porosity, and net thickness to gross thickness for each grid cell, and forms the basis for constructing the dynamic reservoir model. The dynamic reservoir model integrates a variety of inputs, including well position and trajectory, well completion data, initial reservoir condition, and daily production/injection rates. The validation process involves comparing the original oil reserve derived from the geological model with the one obtained from the dynamic reservoir model. To achieve an accurate history matching, the calibration process has been performed by aligning observed data with simulation results. This involves focusing on production/injection data for each well and pressure measurements for selected wells. Notably, horizontal permeability is identified as a critical parameter in this study, which is adjusted iteratively to achieve a robust match for individual wells and the entire field. Thus, Successful calibration facilitates the subsequent stage and future scenarios allowing for the exploration of different conditions to predict the performance of the Garraf oilfield. This comprehensive approach improves the reliability of reservoir predictions, facilitating well-informed decision-making in reservoir management.

A microbubble air flotation technique was used to remove chromium ions from simulated wastewater (e.g. water used for electroplating, textiles, paints and pigments, and tanning leather). Experimental parameters were investigated to analyze the flotation process and determine the removal efficiency. These parameters included the location of the sampling port from the bottom of the column, where the diffuser is located to the top of flotation column (30, 60, and 90 cm), the type of surfactant (anionic, SDS, or cationic, CTAB) and its concentration (5, 10, 15, and 20 mg/L), the pH of the initial solution (3, 5, 7, 9, and 11), the initial contaminant concentration (10, 20, 30, and 40 mg/L), the gas flow rate (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.5 L/min), and the contact time (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 min). The experimental results revealed that the highest removal efficiency (95%) was achieved in 20 min with a pH of 7, a flow rate of air 0.5 L/min, an SDS surfactant concentration of 15 mg/L, and a pollutant concentration of 30 mg/L at a sampling port height of 30 cm. The use of microbubbles in comparison to normal bubbles, resulted in a 56% improvement of the removal efficiency. The flotation process follows a first-order kinetics.