Papers by Keyword: Heavy Oil

Abstract: A novel Mg_1-xCo_xAl₂O₄ (x=0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1) nano-catalyst with high viscosity reduction rate of heavy oil and photocatalytic activity for the degradation methylene blue was synthesized by a tartaric acid complexation method. The crystallite size, cell parameter, cell volume and particle size of Mg_1-xCo_xAl₂O₄ catalyst are proportional to the x value, while the specific surface area is inversely proportional to the x value. The effects of different catalyst, catalyst content and water content on viscosity reduction rate of Dongying heavy oil were investigated. When the catalyst content of Mg_0.5Co_0.5Al₂O₄ is 15 wt%, the viscosity reduction rate of heavy oil reaches 89.53%, while water decreases the viscosity reduction rate. The degradation percentage of the Mg_1-xCo_xAl₂O₄ (x=0.5) catalyst for the degradation of methylene blue reached 95.34% when the catalyst dose was 1 g/L, the dye concentration was 15 mg/L and pH was 7. The dye sensitization greatly improved the photocatalytic activity of the MgAl₂O₄ under the combined action of Mg and Co ions. This new experimental phenomenon will help to expand the application range of spinel aluminate in catalysis fields including reduce viscosity with heavy oil and dye removal.

Abstract: Heavy oils, due to their high viscosity, have greater viscous resistance to flow, requiring high pumping power for transport and increasing operating cost. As an alternative to minimize this problem, the core-flow technique emerged, which consists of injecting water simultaneously with the oil flow, causing the heavy oil to be surrounded by a layer of water and flowing in the center of the duct without touching the pipe wall, consequently reducing the friction pressure gradient. Thus, this work aims to numerically study the core-annular flow of oil, water and gas in a cylindrical duct with an elliptical cross-section, considering a three-dimensional, isothermal and incompressible flow. For the numerical solution of the governing equations, the software Ansys FLUENT 15.0 was used. It was found that the lubrication provided by the water on the duct wall reduced the pressure variation by 7.20 times compared to the heavy oil single-phase flow, proving the good efficiency of the core-flow technique.

Abstract: Oil reservoirs are porous and permeable rocks that allow the hydrocarbon accumulation. Reservoir simulations are necessary to obtain the best fluid flow conditions in the porous medium and increase oil recovery capacity. The aim of this paper was to study the influence of the absolute rock permeability on the oil recovery of a complex geometry oil reservoir, using water injection with the black oil model. Numerical simulations in boundary-fitted coordinates were performed in a two-dimensional and irregularly shaped reservoir. Finite volume method was used to solve the governing equations and two inverted five-spot meshes were set in parallel for a total injection time of 30 years. Results of injected porous volume per recovered oil volume, the water cut charts and the water saturations maps showed that the lower porous medium permeability increased the oil recovery, once the permeability intensified fingers and early breakthrough, which leads to high water production rates and consequent reduction of the waterflooding efficiency.

Abstract: This paper obtains the formula for calculating fuel dynamic viscosity based on the Barus formula and Eying formula from both macroscopic and microscopic perspectives, studies the mathematical model of fuel bulk modulus changing with temperature and pressure based on equation of state for gases and solids, and computes the fitting formula and correlation coefficients of dynamic viscosity and bulk modulus based on IFO 180 test data. The result indicates that the calculation models for fuel dynamic viscosity and bulk modulus are effective.

Abstract: The oil industry increasingly exploits ‘heavy oils’ which are highly viscous and difficult to extract in a ‘clean’ way. Heat and ‘cracking’ catalysts facilitate extraction e.g. by applying the ‘Toe-to-Heel Air Injection’ (THAI) and ‘Catalytic Process In-Situ’ (CAPRI) techniques. Cracking catalysts include palladium. Use of Pd-catalyst is uneconomic but by using palladium deposited on bacterial cells (in combination with other PMs) a waste can be turned into a valuable product. Road dusts contain precious metals (PMs) which arise from automotive catalytic converters. Once washed from roads the PMs are dispersed to the environment. Model r oad dust solutions were produced to simulate acid leaching of road dust to solubilise the PMs. Bacteria cannot directly recover PMs from acidic leachate but by lightly depositing Pd(0) ‘seeds’ enzymatically the resulting ‘bio-Pd’-catalyst accumulates PMs from waste model leachate. The bio-catalyst was assessed in the reduction of heavy oil viscosity compared to a commercial catalyst, achieving this reduction with significantly less coke formation, which was not attributable to the biomass component alone.

Abstract: The effect of EOR technologies on the contents of petroporphyrins and naphthenic acids in recovered crude oil was studied using heavy oil from Usinskoye oil field (Republic Komi), which has high density, high content nickel and vanadium porphyrin complexes, the oxygen compounds and naphthenic acids. It is found that EOR system in combination with thermal steam treatment injection brings about an increase in the content of vanadium porphyrin complexes of crude oils. As a result of the oil-displacement EOR system injection, the naphthenic acids content would decrease in heavy oils.

Abstract: In this study series of runs were done by a CFD technique in which the injected fluid is nanoparticles/supercritical CO₂. Geometry of the porous medium was created with the commercial grid generation tool (Gambit software). Continuity, momentum and volume fraction equations were solved based on the finite volume method. The benefits of existing nanoparticles in the gas injection process have been investigated. The numerical results show that addition of nanosilica into the supercritical CO₂ improves the oil recovery. It was also found that by increasing the nanoparticles concentration from 1 Vol. % to 2 Vol. %, the oil recovery factor increases about 5%. In addition, obtained results confirmed that by injecting the nanofluid fingers are reduced. The displacing fluid containing nanoparticles is more efficient than the supercritical CO₂ in sweeping the in-situ oil.

Abstract: In this project we have represented the reduction of the ancillary heavy oil substance in the rotary kilns in the new foundry of the new Ferronickel in Drenas, with the use of the ancillary substance Pet Kok. The experimental and industrial research have been analyzed during the years 2008,2009,2010,2011,2012 and 2013. The chemical composition of heavy oil was analyzed in the INKOS Institute in Obiliq, while the composition of Pet Kok in the laboratory of the new foundry in the new Ferronickel in Drenas. The use of Pet Kok reduces the attachment of the substances in the rotary kilns walls, and it impacts the benefit of the calcines in a higher temperature and quality. The big amount of moisture of the Fe-Ni ore and the lack of an adequate dryer to reduce the moisture of the ore are two of the many factors of the large amount of ancillary substances in the rotary kilns. On 12.05.2011 pet kok has begun to be used in rotary kiln two, while in rotary kiln one pet kok has been used from 1.09.2012, the favorable impact of the use of pet kok in the technological process in the new foundry of the new Ferronickel in Drenas in the qualitative iron-nickel affected the reduction of the amount of heavy oil.

Abstract: In order to improve the efficiency of the heavy oil thermal recovery in high temperature and high pressure conditions, a new transformation joint was designed based on the theory of fluid pressure difference. Through the automatic displacement of a one-way valve and a seal tongue under the action of pressure difference, it realized intelligent transformation between the production status and the well testing status. According to the oil recovery requirements about structure size, energy loss, high temperature sealing property and high temperature resistance, thermal expansion of material, designs about structure, key sizes, material model and sealing parts were carried out, and strength of key parts was verified theoretically. Fluent was used to simulate the internal flows of the structure, to analyze and verify the energy loss under the working status. The result shows that the product can meet the requirements of heavy oil exploitation, and its simple structure, high reliability and strong durability can greatly improve the efficiency of crude oil recovery.

Abstract: Recently, reconstruction of abandoned railroad stations and railroad beds are increasingly taking place in Korea. Soil remediation is necessary for the eco-friendly development. Soil found in abandoned railroad sites typically contaminated with heavy oils, which are low volatile petroleum products and less decomposable in nature. The objective of this study is to analyze those contaminants and contamination levels of the soils collected from an abandoned railroad bed located in Seoul, Korea. Heavy oils were extracted from contaminated soils using an organic solvent mixture of methanol and dichloromethane (1:2, v/v). Extracted solvent were analyzed qualitatively by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and qualitatively using high performance liquid chromatography. It was found that the abandoned railroad bed soil was mainly contaminated by heavy oils such as bunker C oil, which was confirmed by FT-IR spectra of petroleum oil products such as gasoline, diesel, kerosene, JP-8, bunker C oil, and lubricants. Benzo [a] antracene was found from the contaminated soil and its level was as high as 11.45 mg/kg, and other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were trivial.