In‐situ upgrading of heavy oil using nano‐catalysts: A computational fluid dynamics study of hydrogen and vacuum residue injection

Abstract

A novel nano-catalytic in-situ upgrading technology (ISUT) using hot fluid injection for heavy oil and bitumen production and recovery has been proposed recently (Pereira-Almao et al., in-situ upgrading via hot fluid injection, US Patent US20150114636A1). In this method, a vacuum distillation unit is used to separate the vacuum residue of the produced oil. The nano-catalysts are then dispersed into the vacuum residue (VR) and are re-injected in the reservoir, along with hydrogen. However, because of the difference in the interface forces in the residue/gas mixture, segregation of gas is possible. A practical hydrogen to VR ratio of 120 Scc/cc is employed to study the physical separation possibility within actual reservoir/well geometry. VR and hydrogen are injected at 357 and 100 8C, respectively. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is employed to model the VR þ H 2 injection using the volume of fluid (VOF) method. Sensitivity analysis on reservoir pressure, mixing layout, and hydrogen solubility is also conducted.

Improvement of Steam Injection Processes Through Nanotechnology: An Approach through in Situ Upgrading and Foam Injection

“…The nanoparticles employed in this study also show high catalytic activity towards heavy fractions decomposition and improved thermal conductivity [78][79][80]. The asphaltene position in the active phases of the support and metal oxides promotes its conversion into lower molecular weight hydrocarbons [32,38,81,82], and gases such as CO [35], CO 2 [35], and CH 4 , through the development of different reactions such as water-gas shift [83], methanation [84], steam reforming [38], partial oxidation [85], methane combustion, Boudouard, and hydrogenation [86,87].…”

Heavy Oil Catalytic In Situ Upgrading in Fractured Carbonate Reservoirs. Fluid Distributions and Occurring Reactions Monitored with Marker Hydrocarbons

“…To assess the displacement capacity of ISUT-produced light hydrocarbons over reservoir zones resembling regions outside the reaction zone (i.e., the annulus around the injector perforations), an experimental setup was arranged, as illustrated in Figure . ,, The displacement cylinder, which represents the reservoir region away from the reaction zone, was maintained at a temperature of 62 °C. Both the reactor and the displacement cylinder are filled with carbonate cores.…”

“…In situ upgrading using ultradispersed nanocatalysts [in situ upgrading technology (ISUT)] is a cutting-edge method for upgrading heavy oil and bitumen. It minimizes energy needs by using a small reservoir section as an upgrading chamber. , Hot fluid and active metal particles are injected directly into the reservoir together with small amounts of H 2 , utilizing reservoir rocks as the catalyst support that anchor active metals. − This technology, developed over 15 years of research, employs nanocatalysts and has been extensively documented in published articles − and a comprehensive monograph chapter …”

Non-Isothermal Matrix Blocks Heating Under Constant Heat Flux

“…Rendon (2011) and Galarraga (2011) conducted thermodynamic spontaneity evaluations to prove that chemical reactions occur at a temperature range of 320 to 380°C. Most reactions associated with hydroprocessing of vacuum residue and oil contained in the reservoir are exothermic (Elahi, et al, 2018). Thus, additional thermal energy is transferred from the fracture to the matrix block.…”