Effect of Bitumen Viscosity and Bitumen-Water Interfacial Tension on the Efficiency of Steam Assisted Bitumen Recovery Processes

Abstract

In Alberta, Canada bitumen is commercially produced by in-situ processes at about 830,000 bbl/d capacity, production capacity is projected to exceed 5,000,000 bbl/d in the next two decades. Steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) process is one of the in-situ bitumen recovery processes; the economics and efficiency of which would be improved by reducing the steam to bitumen ratio. For this purpose, the addition of light hydrocarbon solvents into steam as a solvent to reduce bitumen viscosity has been studied; however, several decades of research efforts has resulted in only limited commercial success. More recently, as an alternative to solvent addition, the use of biodiesel (fatty acid methyl esters) with steam as a surfactant additive reducing bitumen-water interfacial tension was proposed and studied experimentally Babadagli and Ozum, 2010).

Effect of thermal variances on flexible pavements

“…Moreover, greater temperatures may lead to a quicker (accelerated) aging of the asphalt layers and because of increased fracture, pavements may become more prone to cracking [37,38]. Furthermore, low temperatures may lead to asphalt concrete hardening and result in thermal cracking on the road surface; low temperatures promote cracking processes, whereas high temperatures distort plastic deformation processes such as rutting [39].…”

“…The convection of the heat conduction of the pavement structure and subgrade between the surface of the pavement and the surrounding environment. This is achieved using transmission media such as air or when water reaches the surface [39,44]. On the other hand, temperature change was the most important factor for changing pavement performance in most studies on climate factors [45].…”

Effect of Thermal Variances on Flexible Pavements

“…Moreover, greater temperatures may lead to a quicker (accelerated) aging of the asphalt layers and because of increased fracture, pavements may become more prone to cracking [37,38]. Furthermore, low temperatures may lead to asphalt concrete hardening and result in thermal cracking on the road surface; low temperatures promote cracking processes, whereas high temperatures distort plastic deformation processes such as rutting [39].…”

“…The convection of the heat conduction of the pavement structure and subgrade between the surface of the pavement and the surrounding environment. This is achieved using transmission media such as air or when water reaches the surface [39,44]. On the other hand, temperature change was the most important factor for changing pavement performance in most studies on climate factors [45].…”