The VAPEX process, from beginning up to date

Pourabdollah, Kobra; Bahram, Morteza

doi:10.1016/j.fuel.2012.12.003

Cited by 28 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 119 publications

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“…While thermal processes are effective, they have significant economic and environmental challenges . Solvent-based processes are proposed as an alternative to thermal processes to improve the recovery performance and reduce the greenhouse gas emission associated with bitumen production. − However, hydrocarbon solvents have been reported to have caused pore-throat plugging and reservoir damage due to asphaltene deposition, particularly near the well-bore. − Asphaltenes are the heaviest fraction of crude oil, mainly composed of aromatic rings containing heteroatoms (e.g., nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, and metals) attached to alkane chains. Asphaltenes are generally defined as crude oil fractions that are n -alkanes insoluble and toluene soluble .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Asphaltene Deposition during Bitumen Extraction with Natural Gas Condensate and Naphtha

Abedini

Sharbatian

et al. 2018

Energy Fuels

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Solvent bitumen extraction processes are alternatives to thermal processes with potential for improved economic and environmental performance. However, solvent interaction with bitumen commonly results in in situ asphaltene precipitation and deposition, which can hinder flow and reduce the process efficiency. Successful implementation requires one to select a solvent that improves recovery with minimal flow assurance problems. The majority of candidate industrial solvents are in the form of mixtures containing a wide range of hydrocarbon fractions, further complicating the selection process. In this study, we quantify the pore-scale asphaltene deposition using two commonly available solvent mixtures, natural gas condensate and naphtha, using a microfluidic platform. The results are also compared with those of two typical pure solvents, n-pentane and n-heptane, with all cases evaluated with both 50 and 100 μm pore-throat spacing. The condensate produced more asphaltenes and pore-space damage than the naphtha and exhibited deposition dynamics similar to that of pentane and heptane. This similarity is due to the presence of a large amount of light hydrocarbon fractions in condensate (∼85 wt % of C5s–C7s) dictating the overall deposition dynamics. Naphtha, which contains heavier fractions (∼70 wt % of C8s–C11s) and aromatic/naphthenic components, generated less asphaltenes and exhibited a slower deposition rate, resulting in less pore damage and overall better performance.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Asphaltene Deposition during Bitumen Extraction with Natural Gas Condensate and Naphtha

Abedini

Sharbatian

et al. 2018

Energy Fuels

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“…Subsurface upgrading of heavy oil via solvent deasphalting (SSU-SDA) has been reported previously under laboratory and field conditions. − The main advantage of these processes is that they do not require external energy sources because they are operated at reservoir temperature or in the presence of a warm solvent. Specifically, VAPEX involves the injection of solvent vapor (typical light hydrocarbons in the C3 to C5 range) into an upper horizontal well in a conventional steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) configuration pair. − The solvent dissolves into the viscous oil making it mobile enough to drain downward to the production well.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Subsurface Upgrading of Heavy Oils via Solvent Deasphalting Using Asphaltene Precipitants. Preparative Separations and Mechanism of Asphaltene Precipitation Using Benzoyl Peroxide as Precipitant

et al. 2017

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Subsurface upgrading of heavy oil via solvent deasphalting has been reported previously under laboratory and field conditions. However, these processes require a relatively high solvent-to-oil ratio (SvOR > 1:1 v/v) to induce subsurface asphaltene precipitation, increase oil production, and upgrade crude oil in situ. In our previous work, lab experiments demonstrated that asphaltene precipitants reduce the SvOR (∼30−50 vol %) for subsurface upgrading at initial reservoir conditions and when heat is also applied. In this work, the preparative separations were carried out using benzoyl peroxide (BP), Fe 2 O 3 , and NiO nanoparticles as asphaltene precipitants for Venezuelan and Canadian heavy crude oils. Initial experiments showed that BP is the most effective additive, producing an increase of ∼21 wt % in the asphaltene content for a 2500 mg/kg dosage. Preparative separations at 5:1 vol/wt ratio and 50 °C showed that the order of activity as asphaltene precipitants is BP > NiO > Fe 2 O 3 . In the presence of nickel-and iron-containing precipitants, most of these metals are found in the asphaltenes indicating that the nanoparticles are acting as nucleation sites. Spectroscopic and mechanistic studies using BP as precipitant suggest a free radical mechanism that involves the thermally initiated homolytic cleavage of BP, follow by abstraction of a hydrogen atom from the asphaltenes or maltenes to produce free radical species. In the termination steps, the latter species react with each other to generate new asphaltene species that are not present in the original crude oils.

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“…19 Em alguns processos de recuperação do petróleo, a precipitação dos asfaltenos é desejada, como no VAPEX, um dos processos baseados no uso de solventes no qual propano (puro ou como componente majoritário de uma mistura de hidrocarbonetos leves) é injetado em reservatórios para a diluição e extração de petróleos pesados. 14,20,21,22 A precipitação dos asfaltenos, contudo, normalmente é indesejável, pois leva a alterações na molhabilidade e permeabilidade originais da rocha reservatório, formação e estabilização de espumas e emulsões e obstrução de poços e tubulações das linhas de produção/processamento, por exemplo. 8,11,14,15,21,23 Tais problemas têm levado ao desenvolvimento de aditivos, compostos cuja função é minimizar ou evitar a precipitação dos asfaltenos, sobretudo sem que seja necessária a interrupção da produção.…”

Section: Introductionunclassified

Avaliação De Asfaltenos Precipitados Em Diferentes Condições De Composição, Temperatura E Pressão

Moura¹,

Rosa²

2017

Quim. Nova

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EVALUATION OF ASPHALTENE PRECIPITATION IN DIFFERENT CONDITIONS OF COMPOSITION, TEMPERATURE, AND PRESSION.Asphaltenes are a heavy fraction of petroleum with the ability for self-association, a phenomenon that can occur spontaneously in the reservoirs or in any of the various stages of production and processing, depending on variations in pressure, temperature, composition and shearing, among others. In this work, it was evaluated the precipitation of asphaltenes in two oils (P01 and P02) in different conditions of temperature and pressure and in the absence or presence of CO 2 . Under high pressure and temperature conditions, the precipitation of asphaltenes was observed in the presence of CO 2 in mixtures with methane, while the addition of propane induced precipitation in the absence of CO 2 . The results of analyses elemental (CHNO), SEM, FTIR and LDI-MS were consistent with the structure assigned to samples of this nature (oils, maltenes and fractions of asphaltenes insoluble in n-pentane, C5I, and n-heptane, C7I).Keywords: asphaltenes; precipitation; characterization; carbon dioxide; light alkanes. INTRODUÇÃOO petróleo é uma mistura complexa constituída de hidrocarbonetos saturados, aromáticos, resinas e asfaltenos.1,2 O sistema polidisperso formado pelo petróleo normalmente está em condições de equilíbrio, mas perturbações como variações de composição, temperatura e pressão, podem induzir a precipitação dos asfaltenos. 2,3Outros fatores como cisalhamento e efeitos eletrocinéticos aparentemente também exercem este efeito. 1,4,5 Estudos indicam que a precipitação de asfaltenos também pode ocorrer espontaneamente nos reservatórios, levando à formação de nanopartículas, principalmente quando essa fração está presente em baixas concentrações (< 0,1 g L -1).6-8 Esse fenômeno, no entanto, normalmente está relacionado à produção/recuperação do petróleo, principalmente devido a variações de temperatura e à despressurização, comum nesses processos.9-12 Na prática, uma das razões mais frequentes para a ocorrência desse fenômeno in situ é a injeção de gases (CO 2 , N 2 , hidrocarbonetos leves, gás natural) nos processos de recuperação avançada, ou métodos especiais de recuperação do petróleo. 10,[13][14][15][16] Nos petróleos brasileiros são pouco comuns problemas de precipitação de asfaltenos, mas estudos indicam que este fenômeno deve ocorrer nos campos do pré-sal, devido à injeção de CO 2 prevista para esses poços.12,17,16 Além de ser um fluido de injeção nos processos de recuperação, o CO 2 é um dos constituintes do gás natural e do próprio petróleo, geralmente presente em concentrações entre traços e 5% (em mol), 18 podendo, contudo, chegar a concentrações mais elevadas, como cerca de 20% (em volume) nos reservatórios do pré-sal. 19Em alguns processos de recuperação do petróleo, a precipitação dos asfaltenos é desejada, como no VAPEX, um dos processos baseados no uso de solventes no qual propano (puro ou como componente majoritário de uma mistura de hidrocarbonetos leves) é injetado em reservatórios para a diluiçã...

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The VAPEX process, from beginning up to date

Cited by 28 publications

References 119 publications

Asphaltene Deposition during Bitumen Extraction with Natural Gas Condensate and Naphtha

Asphaltene Deposition during Bitumen Extraction with Natural Gas Condensate and Naphtha

Subsurface Upgrading of Heavy Oils via Solvent Deasphalting Using Asphaltene Precipitants. Preparative Separations and Mechanism of Asphaltene Precipitation Using Benzoyl Peroxide as Precipitant

Avaliação De Asfaltenos Precipitados Em Diferentes Condições De Composição, Temperatura E Pressão

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