Optimization of reaction temperature and Ni–W–Mo catalyst soaking time in oil upgrading: application to kinetic modeling of in-situ upgrading

Abstract

Decreasing the conventional sources of oil reservoirs attracts researchers’ attention to the tertiary recovery of oil reservoirs, such as in-situ catalytic upgrading. In this contribution, the response surface methodology (RSM) approach and multi-objective optimization were utilized to investigate the effect of reaction temperature and catalysts soaking time on the concentration distribution of upgraded oil samples. To this end, 22 sets of experimental oil upgrading over Ni–W–Mo catalyst were utilized for the statistical modeling. Then, optimization based on the minimum reaction temperature, catalysts soaking time, gas, and residue wt.% was performed. Also, correlations for the prediction of concentration of different fractions (residue, vacuum gas oil (VGO), distillate, naphtha, and gases) as a function of independent factors were developed. Statistical results revealed that RSM model is in good agreement with experimental data and high coefficients of determination (R2 = 0.96, 0.945, 0.97, 0.996, 0.89) are the witness for this claim. Finally, based on multi-objective optimization, 378.81 °C and 17.31 h were obtained as the optimum upgrading condition. In this condition, the composition of residue, VGO, distillate, naphtha, and gases are 6.798%, 39.23%, 32.93%, 16.865%, and 2.896%, respectively, and the optimum condition is worthwhile for the pilot and industrial application of catalyst injection during in-situ oil upgrading.

Assessment of the synthesis method of Fe3O4 nanocatalysts and its effectiveness in viscosity reduction and heavy oil upgrading

“…These nanocatalysts are used in military, medical, and pharmaceutical industries, oil extraction, and water or soil treatment 1 – 3 . One of the reasons for the widespread use of iron oxide nanocatalysts is their magnetic properties 4 , 5 Due to the properties of nanocatalysts, more attention has been paid to these materials 6 – 9 . The synthesis and preparation of nanocatalysts affect their properties, such as chemical composition, morphology, and particle size, and play an essential role in applying nanocatalysts in various engineering industries.…”