Uniqema launches ArivaSol carrier fluid – high performance and low environmental impact

Citation

(2000), "Uniqema launches ArivaSol carrier fluid – high performance and low environmental impact", Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Vol. 52 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/ilt.2000.01852fad.005

Uniqema launches ArivaSol carrier fluid – high performance and low environmental impact

Uniqema launches ArivaSol carrier fluid – high performance and low environmental impact

Keywords: Environment, Solvents

Uniqema's Oilfield Business Unit announces the launch of ArivaSol, a new carrier fluid for use in oilfield drilling and production applications. ArivaSol offers the solvent performance of conventional aromatic carrier fluids with excellent environmental impact characteristics.

Environmental credentials

ArivaSol is based on phenyl ester technology and has the following environmental attributes:

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  ArivaSol is "Readily Biodegradable" (84 per cent in 28 days – OECD 301 B – modified).

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  ArivaSol is classed as "Non-bioaccumulating" (log Pow 2.9 – OECD 117).

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  ArivaSol has low aquatic toxicity (resulting in an overall UK OCNS category E classification).

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  ArivaSol is non-fish tainting.

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  ArivaSol has gained wide regulatory clearance including EINECS (Europe); MITI (Japan); AICS (Australia); TSCA (USA); CEPA:DSL (Canada) and PICCS (The Philippines).

Enhanced performance

ArivaSol has similar solvency power to aromatic hydrocarbon-based solvents but offers enhanced physical properties that will give enhanced performance in the field. The excellent physical properties are based on the application of Uniqema's expertise in fundamental structure-activity relationships. This has allowed Uniqema to design the carrier fluid at the molecular level to deliver the following physical characteristics:

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  Flash point 99°C

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  Boiling point 219°C

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  Pour point < –60°C

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  Density at 25°C of 1.008kg/litre

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  Viscosity at 25°C of 2.32cSt

Substantial strides have been made in the development of environmentally sound performance chemistry for corrosion inhibitors, demulsifiers and asphaltene and paraffin treatment chemistry in the oilfield sector. Unfortunately, these advanced components are then placed in a hydrocarbon-based solvent, for example kerosene, to achieve the required level of performance.

Terry Cox, business manager of Uniqema's Oilfield business, describes ArivaSol as a major breakthrough for the Oilfield industry. "In order to meet the challenges of an environmentally challenging marketplace, Uniqema is continually developing improved products for the Petroleum Industry. Today's oilfield chemicals represent significant advances in environmental performance, with one notable exception – the aromatic solvents that are required to carry them to the point of use," explains Cox. "With ArivaSol, Uniqema has utilised its new molecule design approach to produce an innovative technology that has minimal environmental impact, but offers solvency equivalent to aromatic technology and physical properties that can improve performance over conventional solvents."

"The patented technology behind ArivaSol has been developed to minimise environmental impact," continues Cox. "ArivaSol is readily biodegradable, non-bioaccumulating and has low aquatic toxicity. This means that it can be used with confidence with other high performance chemicals (e.g. in demulsifier and corrosion inhibitor formulations) to help customers achieve their demanding production targets."

Uniqema's Oilfield business group is actively engaged in the development of new chemistry for use in petroleum exploration and production applications. Uniqema's portfolio of products includes emulsion breaking chemicals and corrosion inhibitors for the production sector and lubricants and shale inhibitors for the drilling sector.