During crude oil extraction, temperature and pressure fluctuations cause light hydrocarbon gases to escape and form foam, which not only affects pipeline transportation stability but can also cause problems such as gas-borne oil carryover and equipment corrosion. Furthermore, during mineral processing, excessive use of foaming agents can easily lead to the adhesion of non-target minerals, forming a stubborn foam layer and reducing mineral recovery. To address these challenges, oilfield mining defoamers have emerged. By regulating the foam generation and breakdown mechanisms, they have become a key additive to ensure smooth production processes. This article will systematically analyze the classification, technical standards, and key application points of oilfield mining defoamers.
Core Classifications of Oilfield Mining Defoamer
- Non-silicone Defoamers: These are primarily based on organic compounds such as mineral oils and fatty acid esters and are suitable for systems with low shear forces and mild foaming. These oilfield mining defoamers offer the advantage of low cost, but their ability to eliminate dense foam is weak, making them primarily used in applications where defoaming strength is less critical.
- Polyether Defoamers: These are based on ethylene oxide/propylene oxide copolymers and offer strong foam suppression and high-temperature resistance. Among them, GPE-type oilfield mining defoamers enhance hydrophilicity through the addition of ethylene oxide to the chain ends and are suitable for viscous systems. GPES-type oilfield mining defoamers improve defoaming efficiency through a hydrophobic capping mechanism, but note that their foam breaking rate is slow and requires continuous replenishment.
- Silicone-type defoamers: These use dimethyl silicone oil as their primary ingredient and form a stable emulsion through emulsification technology. The advantages of this type of oilfield mining defoamer include rapid defoaming, long-lasting foam suppression, and environmental friendliness and non-toxicity. However, single silicone defoamers exhibit poor stability in high-temperature and high-alkali environments and require compounding with other components.
- Polyether-modified silicone defoamers: These incorporate polyether segments into silicone molecules through chemical bonding, combining the advantages of both: low surface tension, strong permeability, and resistance to high temperatures and strong alkalis. This type of defoamer performs exceptionally well in oilfield drilling muds and high-temperature cementing slurries. For example, the silicone-ether composite system developed by Defeng boasts a 40% improvement in defoaming efficiency compared to traditional products.
Technical Standards for Oilfield Mining Defoamers
- Density: 0.96 ± 0.05 g/cm² (standard for oil well cement defoamers), ensuring compatibility with the media.
- Stability: No stratification or precipitation after three years of storage below 50°C, suitable for long-term storage needs.
- Temperature Resistance: 15-200°C, covering temperature fluctuations throughout the drilling, cementing, and refining processes.
- Acid and Alkali Resistance: Remains active within a pH range of 2-12, suitable for the highly alkaline environments of oilfield acid fracturing and mineral processing.
- Toxicity: ISO9001 certified, ensuring environmental friendliness and compliance with relevant application standards.
- Biodegradability: Some products use low-toxic triisobutyl phosphate instead of traditional additives to reduce environmental impact.
- Defoaming Efficiency: At a 0.05%-0.2% addition rate, foam height is reduced by ≥90% within 15 minutes. 8. Anti-foaming time: Maintain no secondary foaming for more than 24 hours, reducing the cost of repeated dosing.
