Aquathermolysis of conventional heavy oil with superheated steam

• Published in: Petroleum science Vol. 6; no. 3; pp. 289 - 293
• Main Authors: Song, Guangshou, Zhou, Tiyao, Cheng, Linsong, Wang, Yunxian, Tian, Guoqing, Pi, Jian, Zhang, Zheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Beijing China University of Petroleum (Beijing) 01.09.2009; NO.6 Oil Production Plant,PetroChina Changqing Oiifield Company,Xi'an,Shaanxi 710018,China%Key Laboratory of Petroleum Engineering,Ministry of Education,China University of Petroleum,Beijing 102249,China; Research Center,China National Offshore Oil Corporation,Beijing 100027,China; Department of Geology,Northwest University,Xi'an,Shaanxi 710069,China%Key Laboratory of Petroleum Engineering,Ministry of Education,China University of Petroleum,Beijing 102249,China%China National Offshore Oil Co.Ltd-Tianjin,Tianjin 300452,China%Key Laboratory of Petroleum Engineering,Ministry of Education,China University of Petroleum,Beijing 102249,China
• Subjects: Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Economics and Management; Energy Policy; Industrial and Production Engineering; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Mineral Resources; 反应时间; 常规稠油; 水热裂解反应; 稠油油藏; 过热蒸汽; 高温高压釜; superheated steam; aquathermolysis; Conventional heavy oil; viscosity reduction
• ISSN: 1672-5107; 1995-8226
• DOI: 10.1007/s12182-009-0046-4

This paper presents a new aquathermolysis study of conventional heavy oil in superheated steam. A new high temperature autoclave was designed, where volume and pressure could be adjusted. Aquathermolysis was studied on two different conventional heavy oil samples under different reaction times and temperatures. Experimental results show that aquathermolysis does take place for conventional heavy oil. As reaction time increases, the oil viscosity reduces. However, the reaction will reach equilibrium after a certain period of time and won＇t be sensitive to any further reaction time any more. Analysis shows that, while resin and asphaltenes decrease, saturated hydrocarbons and the H/C ratio increase after reaction. The main mechanism of aquathermolysis includes hydrogenization, desulfuration reaction of resin and asphaltenes, etc.