Improvement of Heavy Oil Recovery in the VAPEX Process using Montmorillonite Nanoclays

Abstract

Résumé -Amélioration de la récupération d'huile lourde par utilisation de nanoargiles de Montmorillonite dans le procédé VAPEX -Dans cet article, on décrit l'utilisation de particules de nanoargile en tant qu'adsorbant mobile dans des réservoirs d'huile afin d'adsorber les asphaltènes, réduire la viscosité de l'huile et renforcer la dispersion. L'objectif de cet article consiste en la description d'une étude expérimen-tale de récupération améliorée d'huile lourde par l'utilisation de nanoparticules in situ. Ce qui constitue une première. En outre, deux méthodes d'analyse thermique (thermogravimétrie et analyse thermique différentielle) ont été utilisées pour analyser la teneur en asphaltène des résidus d'hydrocarbures dans les chambres balayées au cours des procédés VAPEX nano-assisté et conventionnel. Les expériences ont été réalisées en utilisant une huile lourde iranienne et du propane : le dispositif expérimental consistait en deux cellules garnies de sable, l'une garnie uniquement avec des billes de verre en tant que milieu poreux et l'autre avec des billes de verre et de la montmorillonite modifiée en tant que nanoargile ; les deux avaient la même porosité et la même perméabilité. La teneur en asphaltène déposé dans les zones balayées, le profil de propagation des chambres de vapeur ainsi que les taux de consommation de solvant et de production d'huile ont été déterminés. Les résultats ont mis en évidence que la montmorillonite a modifié l'hétérogénéité du milieu poreux et a conduit à former des percées accrues, à augmenter la surface interfaciale solvant/bitume et à accélérer la production d'huile. Il s'est avéré que non seulement le débit d'injection de solvant a été diminué, mais que la récupération d'huile lourde a également été sensiblement accrue de 30 (± 4) %.Abstract -Improvement of Heavy Oil Recovery in the VAPEX Process using Montmorillonite Nanoclays -In this paper, the nanoclay particles were introduced as mobile adsorbents in oil reservoirs to adsorb the asphaltenes, reduce the viscosity and enhance the dispersion.

Asphaltene Adsorption, a Literature Review

“…However, the same phenomena can also be used to selectively remove these problematic asphaltenes to partially upgrade oil. Analysis of naturally occurring pipeline deposits can provide a caricature of which molecules are most important to target for removal to produce high quality treated oil: the most polar, aromatic, precoke asphaltenes, metal- and heteroatom-containing species, and asphaltenic precoated particles. , Treating oil by adsorption produces feedstocks that are significantly less likely to precipitate, are highly amenable for further upgrading giving greater liquid yields and less coke during upgrading ,,,, exhibit reduced fouling, and have decreased viscosity. , …”

“…Adsorption within the reservoir has also been proposed as a way to upgrade oil at the earliest stages of production. In-situ adsorption of asphaltenes within the well by nanoparticles of metal oxides supported on silica gel and montmorillonite have been demonstrated as a way to upgrade oils to enhance liquid yields while reducing clogging of rock pores, viscosity, and well damage . Nanoparticles impregnated with metals such as nickel oxide have been demonstrated to penetrate porous well rocks, adsorb problematic asphaltenes, and restore production …”

“…39,99 Treating oil by adsorption produces feedstocks that are significantly less likely to precipitate, are highly amenable for further upgrading 45 giving greater liquid yields and less coke during upgrading 42,45,98,100,101 exhibit reduced fouling, 56 and have decreased viscosity. 32,102 In general, most work carried out on asphaltene adsorption has been carried out by contacting a model oil solution of C5 or C7 precipitated asphaltenes with various sorbents such as glass, clay minerals, soils, minerals, rock minerals, silica, modified silica, alumina, silica−alumina (some in the form of zeolites), metals, metal oxides, various forms of carbon, heated asphaltenes (a kind of coke material), and polymers. The asphaltenes come from a variety of sources such as oil sands, crudes, vacuum residua, asphalt (similar to vacuum residua), and residua from various levels of hydrotreating or thermal cracking; for simplicity, these will generally be referred to as oils.…”

“…In-situ adsorption of asphaltenes within the well by nanoparticles of metal oxides supported on silica gel 104 and montmorillonite have been demonstrated as a way to upgrade oils to enhance liquid yields while reducing clogging of rock pores, viscosity, and well damage. 102 Nanoparticles impregnated with metals such as nickel oxide have been demonstrated to penetrate porous well rocks, adsorb problematic asphaltenes, and restore production. 105 Asphaltene adsorption is a multifaceted process that is highly sensitive to many variables making it highly complex, and as a result, there are some inconsistencies throughout the literature.…”

Increasing the Efficiency of the Sagd Method by Adding Various Gases

“…We also observe on the both images that at the top of the reservoir, oil viscosity forms a sort of chamber. This phenomenon is known for a while, and well described in the articles [9][10][11].…”