Downhole Upgrading of Extra-heavy Crude Oil Using Hydrogen Donors and Methane Under Steam Injection Conditions

Downhole Upgrading of Orinoco Basin Extra-Heavy Crude Oil Using Hydrogen Donors under Steam Injection Conditions. Effect of the Presence of Iron Nanocatalysts

“…These changes can be attributed to upgrading reactions occurring during the time needed to reach the distillation temperature to separate the tetralin, which was approximately 30-45 min (see Experimental Section) By increasing reaction time to 24 h ( Table 1, Run 2), a product with higher ° API (14.7°) and lower percentages of sulfur (12%) and asphaltenes (13%) was obtained in comparison with the original crude oil. Even though the changes in the product properties were small and sometimes within the experimental error of the techniques used, the results presented in Table 1 indicates a general trend, which allows concluding that effective crude oil upgrading can be achieved in the presence of hydrogen donor (tetralin) at steam injection conditions (315 °C, 24 h) [5]. As mentioned, these results have been reported before in our previous publications [3][4][5][6].…”

“…The effect of the tetralin concentration (from 1% to 50% w/w) on the properties of the upgraded crude oils was studied in our previous paper [5]. For example, the viscosity of the product decreased from 9870 to 2900 cP (measured at 60 °C) with the hydrogen donor added up to 50% w/w [5].…”

“…For example, the viscosity of the product decreased from 9870 to 2900 cP (measured at 60 °C) with the hydrogen donor added up to 50% w/w [5]. Next, three iron supported nanocatalysts were prepared by dispersion of commercial 20 nm, 60 nm and 90 nm iron oxide nanoparticles in a natural silica support (see Experimental Section for details).…”

“…This concept could be coupled to a steam stimulation process with 70-80% hydrogen donor recycled [5,6]. In our previous publication [5], X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis of the natural formation indicated the presence of 0.6 wt.%. of iron as Fe2O3.…”

“…of iron as Fe2O3. The use of this compound as catalyst led to further reduction in the viscosity of the upgraded crude oil (from 5500 cP at 60 °C with natural formation to 1300 cP using Fe2O3) [5]. Thus, in this work, three iron-containing nanocatalysts were evaluated and laboratory experiments will be presented that involve the addition of a hydrogen donor additive (tetralin) to an Orinoco Basin extra-heavy crude oil (Hamaca C.) under steam injection conditions (280-315 °C and residence times of at least 24-h.…”