Using hydrogen donor with oil-soluble catalysts for upgrading heavy oil

With self-made oil-soluble organic cobalt salt as catalyst and formamide as hydrogen donor, we studied the aquathermolysis reaction of heavy oil through simulating the condition of thermal recovery of oil reservoir with autoclave. In the paper, we explored the effect of the hydrogen donor added into catalytic aquathermolysis reaction on the viscosity of heavy oil, group composition and component contents. Moreover, FTIR spectrum was employed to analyze the structural change of heavy oil after hydrogen donor catalytic aquathermolysis. The obtained data are validated that when the mass fraction of added hydrogen donor was increased, the viscosity reduction rate and the contents of saturated hydrocarbons and aromatic hydrocarbons were increased and the contents of resin and asphalt were decreased. Under the synergic action of catalysts and hydrogen donor, the content of carbon in heavy oil was decreased and the content of hydrogen was increased. Thus, the ratio of H/C rose and the content of sulfur was reduced. Analysis result of infrared spectrum validated that hydrogen donor catalytic aquathermolysis underwent decarboxylation and that the number of aromatic rings was reduced.