Article
Energy & Fuels
Alcides Simao, Enrique Dominguez-Alvarez, Chengdong Yuan, Muneer A. Suwaid, Mikhail A. Varfolomeev, Jorge Ancheyta, Omar F. Al-mishaal, Sergey Kudryashov, Igor S. Afanasiev, Dmitry A. Antonenko, Oleg Petrashov, Kirill A. Dubrovin
Summary: This article provides a comprehensive review of the application of different metal-based nanoparticles for upgrading heavy oils. The focus is on the catalysts used for in-situ upgrading, using various thermal treatment methods. Different types of catalysts have been identified, but due to their diversity and variations in evaluation conditions, a direct comparison of their performance is not possible. The literature reviewed indicates the need for further research in order to develop more effective catalysts for increasing recovery factor and permanent upgrading of heavy and extra-heavy oil quality.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Ameer H. AL-Rubaye, Muneer A. Suwaid, Ameen A. Al-Muntaser, Mikhail A. Varfolomeev, Ilfat Z. Rakhmatullin, Mohammed H. Hakimi, Shadi A. Saeed
Summary: The study demonstrates that bimetallic catalysts based on transition metals can effectively improve the in-situ heavy oil upgrading process by reducing viscosity, increasing saturates content, improving H/C ratio, and removing sulfur and nitrogen compounds. Among the catalysts tested, CoFe2O4 shows the best performance in enhancing the quality of heavy crude oil.
JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Khoshim Kh. Urazov, Nikita N. Sviridenko
Summary: The study shows that the NiO precursor in heavy oil catalytic cracking can affect the composition of products, reduce the content of high molecular weight components, increase the yield of fractions, and decrease sulfur content.
JOURNAL OF THE TAIWAN INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Pavel Afanasev, Alexey Smirnov, Anastasia Ulyanova, Evgeny Popov, Alexey Cheremisin
Summary: This study experimentally modeled cyclic steam-air injection in a dual porosity heavy oil reservoir with the presence of a nickel-based catalyst for in situ oil upgrading and simultaneous hydrogen generation. The research was conducted using a combustion tube setup with a sandpack core model under reservoir conditions, involving consistent injection of air, in situ combustion, and steam injection. The results showed that the original oil was upgraded in terms of fractional composition and oil properties, and the simulated reservoir heterogeneity and cyclic stimulation enhanced hydrogen synthesis, contributing to oil upgrading.
Review
Energy & Fuels
Boni Swadesi, Suranto Ahmad Muraji, Aditya Kurniawan, Indah Widiyaningsih, Ratna Widyaningsih, Agung Budiarto, Billal Maydika Aslam
Summary: The study aims to optimize the development scenario of a combined CSS-SF for heavy oil recovery, and the combination of proxy model development and optimization results in the best scenario for increasing oil recovery in the field.
JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Hongjun Fan, Tingen Fan, Junhui Deng, Lijun Zhang, Wei Zheng, Lifeng Chen, Zunzeng Ge, Haojun Xie, Xu Liang
Summary: This study investigates the effects of interlayer permeability and well-interlayer distance on the performance of cyclic steam stimulation (CSS). The results show that the self-made interlayer has high-temperature resistance and adjustable permeability. The top water area has a detrimental effect on the growth of the steam chamber during CSS, while the bottom water area has a minimal impact. This study provides valuable insights for the development of heavy oil resources with a top water barrier using steam stimulation technology.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Jie Fan, Jinzhou Shi, Jing Yang, Baoguang Jin
Summary: With the increasing demand for energy, extra-heavy oil has gained more attention. Cyclic steam stimulation (CSS) is one of the main methods to produce extra-heavy oil, but the periodic oil production decreases and the water cut increases with the increase of stimulation cycle. Assisted CSS methods such as non-condensable gas, surfactant, high-temperature foam, and horizontal well technology have been applied in heavy oil reservoirs, indicating the diversification of CSS process. Air-assisted cyclic steam stimulation (AACSS) has become a popular technique for developing extra-heavy oil due to its abundant sources and low cost.
ENERGY SOURCES PART A-RECOVERY UTILIZATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Eric N. Coker, Burl Donaldson, Brian Hughes, Nadir Yilmaz
Summary: This study focuses on the occurrence and composition of flammable pyrolysis gases generated from heavy oil stimulation with superheat steam. Test results show that all oil samples can produce light hydrocarbons such as methane, ethane, propane, and hydrogen at 500 degrees Celsius. These findings provide possibilities for subsequent in situ combustion drive.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Nicolas Bueno, Juan M. Mejia
Summary: Thermal techniques are successful in heavy oil production, and nanotechnology has provided an opportunity to enhance thermal EOR methods through in-situ upgrading. This study presents a rigorous mathematical description of in-situ upgrading, allowing for a thermodynamic description of complex mixtures. The model can be used to design a field-scale deployment strategy for increasing recoverable reserves and improving the quality of upgraded oil.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Anastasia N. Mikhailova, Ameen A. Al-Muntaser, Muneer A. Suwaid, Rustem R. Zairov, Ibrahim T. Kadhim, Richard Djimasbe, Alexey Dovzhenko, Ilya A. Bezkishko, Almaz Zinnatullin, Dmitrii A. Emelianov, Reyimkulyyeva S. Umarkulyevna, Farit G. Vagizov, Chengdong Yuan, Mikhail A. Varfolomeev
Summary: In this study, the effectiveness of Ferrocene-based ligand catalysts in hydrothermal upgrading of heavy crude oil was investigated. The results showed that these catalysts promoted the in-situ upgrading of the oil, enhancing its physical and chemical properties. The presence of Tri-Ferrocene resulted in the greatest reduction in viscosity, reaching 40% compared to non-catalytic upgrading. Furthermore, the upgraded oil samples exhibited changes in composition, with increased H/C ratio, reduced sulfur content, increased saturates and aromatics, and decreased resins and asphaltenes.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Mikhail A. Varfolomeev, Chengdong Yuan, Alexander V. Bolotov, Ilgiz F. Minkhanov, Seyedsaeed Mehrabi-Kalajahi, Emil R. Saifullin, Marat M. Marvanov, Emil R. Baygildin, Raushan M. Sabiryanov, Allan Rojas, Dmitrii A. Emelianov, Ameen A. Al-Muntaser, Bulat G. Ganiev, Azat T. Zaripov, Anton N. Beregovoi, Damir K. Shaihutdinov
Summary: Using copper stearate as catalysts can significantly accelerate the combustion of heavy oil, promote fuel deposition and combustion, and make them occur more easily at lower temperatures. In combustion processes, copper stearate can lower the ignition temperature, increase the air/fuel ratio, enhance oil recovery, and achieve a higher level of in-situ oil upgrading.
JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Petroleum
Teng Lu, Xiaochun Ban, Erpeng Guo, Qiu Li, Zihan Gu, Dongliang Peng
Summary: Cyclic in-situ combustion is a promising method for thermal enhanced oil recovery. This study investigates the characteristics and mechanism of cyclic in-situ combustion after cyclic steam stimulation through 3D physical simulation experiments and laboratory tests. The results show that cyclic in-situ combustion can increase the temperature near the well, upgrade the crude oil, improve its fluidity, and enhance the oil recovery. The porosity of the coking zone has little effect on the oil recovery.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Ameen A. Al-Muntaser, Mikhail A. Varfolomeev, Muneer A. Suwaid, Mujtaba M. Saleh, Richard Djimasbe, Chengdong Yuan, Rustem R. Zairov, Jorge Ancheyta
Summary: The effect of decalin as a hydrogen-donor on the catalytic and non-catalytic hydrothermal upgrading of heavy crude oil was studied. The use of decalin in the presence of nickel-based catalyst (nickel (II) stearate) showed good conversion and promoted in situ upgrading of heavy crude oil. The addition of decalin and Ni-stearate resulted in high viscosity reduction, increased saturates content, decreased resins and asphaltenes content, and removal of sulfur and nitrogen from the crude oil.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
S. Sayas, N. Vivo, J. F. Da Costa-Serra, A. Chica
Summary: The study demonstrates that nickel catalyst supported on sepiolite exhibits promising catalytic performance in steam reforming of toluene, especially when prepared using precipitation method. This alternative method results in a catalyst with higher activity, selectivity to hydrogen, and lower production of undesirable by-products compared to the traditional incipient wetness impregnation method.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2021)
Article
Thermodynamics
Qichen Zhang, Huiqing Liu, Xiaodong Kang, Yisheng Liu, Xiaohu Dong, Yanwei Wang, Siyi Liu, Guangbo Li
Summary: A new semi-analytical model considering the non-isothermal effect is proposed to predict heated radius and production performance in a CSS horizontal well. The effect of injection rate on production performance is analyzed, and the consideration of non-isothermal effect provides a more accurate method for estimation.