Upgrading Crude Oil by a Deasphalting Technology Under Non Severe Operating Conditions

Abstract

Because of very large reserves of heavy and extra heavy oil, mainly located in Venezuela, the development of technologies for recovering and treating these hydrocarbons becomes a key factor in the strategic valorization of those resources. In accordance with these needs, has been developed since 2005 a technology named INT-MECS®. INT-MECS® technology is a heavy and extra heavy oil deasphalting process for streams coming from waste pits and different production areas; it is based on a liquid - liquid extraction unit, using low molecular weight paraffin solvents under not severe operating conditions (temperature and pressure). INT-MECS® technology has been evaluated at laboratory scale under a batch scheme and finally, using a 250BOPD pilot plant facility, located in Jobo field (Morichal, Venezuela); generating encouraging results with high crude conversion and an improvement in the physicochemical properties of the original fluids coming from PETROMONAGAS upgrader and Morichal's production unit: reduction of viscosities, increase in API gravity (14 – 21 °API deasphalted oils from heavy and extra heavy oils), asphaltene content reduction, desulfurization and demetallization, getting better results in transportation and refining processes. After having passed the stages of laboratory scale and pilot scale tests, this technological solution is currently entering in a visualization study for field deployment in existing upgrading facilities schemes in the Venezuelan oil industry.