Experimental Measurements of Bitumen–Water Aquathermolysis during a Steam-Injection Process

Abstract

Laboratory studies and pilot project tests have shown that appreciable amounts of H 2 S and CO 2 could be generated as a result of the aquathermolysis reaction between bitumen and steam or hot water during thermal recovery operations. A detailed experimental study was carried out to investigate the H 2 S generation mechanism that occurs during the recovery processes. A laboratory setup was designed and assembled that allowed for aquathermolysis tests to be carried out under controlled pressure conditions and at temperatures to 250 °C. Aquathermolysis tests on a defined ratio of bitumen and water sample were carried out at 225 and 245 °C over 3, 10, and 30 day reaction periods. Phase sampling and analysis procedures were developed to quantify the amount of H 2 S and CO 2 generated during the individual vapor and aqueous phases. Vapor-and liquid-phase composition and bitumen properties, including viscosity and density, were analyzed after each reaction. The results of the investigation showed that the amount of H 2 S and CO 2 generated increased with the reaction time and temperature and the CO 2 concentration tended to flatten out over the test period. Data generated during the study were used to develop a kinetic model on a laboratory scale for predicting the time and temperature effects on H 2 S and CO 2 production during the bitumen−steam/hot water aquathermolysis.

Evaluation of the Catalytic Activity of Metal Phosphates and Related Oxides in the Ketonization of Propionic Acid

“…Moreover, ketones can be further coupled with each other via aldol condensation, leading to the formation of longer chain molecules, further enhancing the calorimetric properties of the final mixture [15,16]. It is worth noticing that, during such upgrading process, several reactions in addition to ketonization can lead to the formation of CO2 (e.g., direct decarboxylation of carboxylic acids or aquathermolysis reactions occurring on the heavier components of the bio-oil [17][18][19]). Scheme 1.…”

A Critical Review of Reservoir Simulation Applications in Key Thermal Recovery Processes: Lessons, Opportunities, and Challenges

“…141 Steam injection is an effective way to reduce oil viscosity, but it also raises the reservoir temperature leading to H 2 S and CO 2 generation by aquathermolysis. Jia et al (2016) experimentally measured the amounts of generated H 2 S and CO 2 and revealed that a rising temperature promoted gas generation. 142 Huang et al (2018) measured the key controlling component in heavy oils with different viscosities on the aquathermolysis process and concluded that cracking long-chain hydrocarbons into short-chain hydrocarbons was the dominate contributor for the gas generation.…”

“…Jia et al (2016) experimentally measured the amounts of generated H 2 S and CO 2 and revealed that a rising temperature promoted gas generation. 142 Huang et al (2018) measured the key controlling component in heavy oils with different viscosities on the aquathermolysis process and concluded that cracking long-chain hydrocarbons into short-chain hydrocarbons was the dominate contributor for the gas generation. 143 Boytsova et al (2018) found that a rising pressure enhanced the asphaltene gasification and reported the activation energy and frequency factors at a pressure from 80 to 100 kPa and temperature from 100 to 900 °C.…”

Interfacial Chemistry in Steam-Based Thermal Recovery of Oil Sands Bitumen with Emphasis on Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage and the Role of Chemical Additives

“…When heavy oil or bitumen is produced with steam, for example, a common observation is that the produced oil is lighter than the original, which is believed to be a consequence of in situ upgrading processes [12][13][14]. It has been suggested [12,13] that minerals in the oil sands or the products of mineral-steam reactions [14] act to catalyze upgrading reactions (e.g., aquathermolysis [15][16][17]).…”