Numerical verification of in-situ heavy oil upgrading experiments and thermal processes for enhanced recovery

Bueno, Nicolás; Mejía, Juan M.

doi:10.1016/j.fuel.2021.122730

Cited by 14 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…In recent years, under the dual pressure of energy and environment, vigorously developing clean energy has become the consensus of all countries in the world; hence, underground coal gasification, , heavy oil thermal recovery, geothermal resource development, storage of nuclear waste, and other clean projects have become the focus of research. However, all of these projects will be affected by high temperature; due to the different properties and structures of various minerals in the rock, cracks will appear between and inside rock mineral particles under the action of high temperature, resulting in the destruction of the rock pore structure. − This will affect not only the mechanical properties but also the seepage and transmission capacity of rocks. − In order to ensure the smooth progress of underground engineering, understanding the pore structure change law of limestone under a high temperature has become increasingly important.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pore Structure Evolution and Failure Mechanism of Limestone in the Taiyuan Formation of the Ordos Basin under High Temperature

Kong,

Yin,

Chen

et al. 2024

ACS Omega

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The study on the destruction of the limestone microstructure after hightemperature treatment has a significant value in the airtightness and safety of underground high-temperature geotechnical engineering. In order to truly simulate the influence of the underground high-temperature environment on limestone, taking seven groups of limestones of the Taiyuan Formation in the Ordos Basin as examples, we carried out a high-temperature (25−1200 °C) heating experiment of limestone in an argon atmosphere. The pore structure of limestone after the high temperature is studied based on scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), porosity, and permeability, and the change in the fractal dimension of the limestone pore structure was discussed based on the thermodynamic fractal theory, combined with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetry differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), the variation of mineral composition with temperature is characterized, and the evolution mechanism of the limestone microstructure under high temperature is discussed. The results show that the evaporation of pore water does not destroy the lattice structure of limestone minerals; however, with the increase of temperature, the complete decomposition of dolomite and calcite occurs, along with the tensile fracture of calcite crystals under the effect of swelling stress. Moreover, the new minerals generated by the decomposition products under the effect of temperature severely damage the crystal structure, leading to the rapid increase of porosity and permeability. The comprehensive results show that the decomposition, expansion, and recrystallization of calcite and dolomite minerals after 800 °C led to the development of limestone macropores and fissures, increased the pore throat radius, enhanced the pore connectivity, simplified the pore structure, and sharply increased the permeability; thus, 800 °C can be used as the critical temperature to change the limestone pores and fractures. The research results can provide data support for subsurface high-temperature geotechnical engineering.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pore Structure Evolution and Failure Mechanism of Limestone in the Taiyuan Formation of the Ordos Basin under High Temperature

Kong,

Yin,

Chen

et al. 2024

ACS Omega

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“…Standard techniques for enhancing oil recovery include hot-fluid injection, in situ combustion (ISC), steam (CSS and CSI), and thermal stimulation. 4 These methods involve injecting heat or steam into the hydrocarbon reservoirs to reduce oil viscosity and increase recovery rates. 5 Notwithstanding, HO contains a high concentration of asphaltenes, which are considered macromolecular compounds made up of condensed polynuclear and heterocyclic aromatic sheets with alkyl side chains and naphthenic rings.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There have been several methods used to increase the amount of crude oil extracted from an oil field, but Thermal Enhanced Oil Recovery technology is widely believed to be able to meet future energy demands. Standard techniques for enhancing oil recovery include hot-fluid injection, in situ combustion (ISC), steam (CSS and CSI), and thermal stimulation . These methods involve injecting heat or steam into the hydrocarbon reservoirs to reduce oil viscosity and increase recovery rates …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular Dynamic Simulation and Experiments on n-C₇ Asphaltene Pyrolysis under High-Pressure Conditions Using Ceria-Based Nanocatalysts

Medina

Moncayo-Riascos

Franco

et al. 2023

ACS Appl. Nano Mater.

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This work aims to widen our knowledge about the pyrolysis, and catalytic pyrolysis of asphaltenes at low and high pressure through experimental and simulation approaches. Experimentally, asphaltenes were subjected to high-pressure thermogravimetric analysis obtaining a pressure-dependent behavior. As pressure increases, asphaltene reactivity is reduced by the retardation in the thermal cracking temperature and increment of the coke amount deposition. The coke deposited follows the order 0.084 MPa (8.0%) < 3.0 MPa (10.0%) < 6.0 MPa (11.0%). When ceria-based nanoparticles were used for the catalytic thermal cracking of asphaltenes, it was obtained that during the low-temperature range (<250 °C), the amount of mass lost was 60, 45, and 38% at 0.084, 3.0, and 6.0 MPa, respectively. The rest of the asphaltenes are cracked in the high-temperature region (HTR), which means that coke is not produced in the catalytic reaction regardless of the system pressure. Molecular dynamic calculations were done based on the ReaxFF potential to provide an atomistic description of asphaltene pyrolysis at 0.084 and 6.0 MPa. The theoretical results were compared with those obtained experimentally, achieving successful reproducibility. During the LTR region, the asphaltene aggregate integrity remains without significant changes, whereas most structural changes in the HTR were obtained. The number of the species increases with the rising temperature, obtaining at 0.084 MPa, 32, 1515, and 4065 species at 300, 450, and 550 °C, respectively, whereas at 6.0 MPa, 28, 589, and 867 species at 300, 450, and 550 °C were obtained. The variety of the molecules was found to be higher at 450 °C due to the breaking of a large number of complex hydrocarbons. This result corroborates that asphaltenes mainly react during HTR, and with increasing pressure, the rate of reaction is negatively affected. The species are mainly found in the form of reactive radicals such as CHO2 (carboxyl radical), OH (hydroxyl radical), and CHO (aldehyde radical), and molecules of CO2, H2O, CH2O, and CO are observed as major O-containing gas products that account for most of the gas phase.

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“…During oil production, reservoirs suffer a natural energy decline. To minimize this effect, two strategies can be implemented: (i) supplement energy through fluid injection and (ii) reducing the viscous and/or capillary resistances of the fluid–rock system by modifying the physicochemical characteristics to reduce the amount of oil retained in the reservoir. , In the case of energy injection, special recovery methods can be used, which are classified into thermal methods, miscible methods, chemical methods, and microbiological methods. − Such technologies are usually applied in mature fields, once conventional methods have been used. However, they may be used at the start of field production, as in the case of thermal methods.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Increasing Recovery Factor in Heavy Oil Fields Using Alternating Steam and Surfactant Injection

et al. 2023

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Fossil fuels, particularly oil, currently dominate the global energy matrix. With a projected 30% increase in demand by 2040 compared to 2010, it is crucial to maintain current oil production levels. To achieve this, it is necessary to increase the oil recovery factor through alternative methodologies that will improve oil extraction from reservoirs and exploration viability in mature fields. While previous studies have investigated thermal and chemical methods to increase the recovery factor, this study aims to explore the synergy between steam and non-ionic surfactants varying the surfactant degrees of ethoxylation and injection configurations. The experimental study investigated the application of solutions of ethoxylated nonylphenol surfactants (NP-10EO and NP-100EO) combined with steam injection into banks at different concentrations and injection configurations. The results showed that combining the NP-100EO surfactant (0.5% m/m) with steam demonstrated the highest oil recovery (64.88%) compared to conventional steam (45.19%). The most effective configurations were surfactant + steam + surfactant (65.06%) and surfactant + steam + water (65.88%). These findings suggest that the proposed technique of steam injection and surfactant solution could be a promising alternative. By revitalizing marginal fields, this technique could help extend production and stimulate local and regional development.

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Numerical verification of in-situ heavy oil upgrading experiments and thermal processes for enhanced recovery

Cited by 14 publications

References 33 publications

Pore Structure Evolution and Failure Mechanism of Limestone in the Taiyuan Formation of the Ordos Basin under High Temperature

Pore Structure Evolution and Failure Mechanism of Limestone in the Taiyuan Formation of the Ordos Basin under High Temperature

Molecular Dynamic Simulation and Experiments on n-C₇ Asphaltene Pyrolysis under High-Pressure Conditions Using Ceria-Based Nanocatalysts

Increasing Recovery Factor in Heavy Oil Fields Using Alternating Steam and Surfactant Injection

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Numerical verification of in-situ heavy oil upgrading experiments and thermal processes for enhanced recovery

Cited by 14 publications

References 33 publications

Pore Structure Evolution and Failure Mechanism of Limestone in the Taiyuan Formation of the Ordos Basin under High Temperature

Pore Structure Evolution and Failure Mechanism of Limestone in the Taiyuan Formation of the Ordos Basin under High Temperature

Molecular Dynamic Simulation and Experiments on n-C7 Asphaltene Pyrolysis under High-Pressure Conditions Using Ceria-Based Nanocatalysts

Increasing Recovery Factor in Heavy Oil Fields Using Alternating Steam and Surfactant Injection

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Molecular Dynamic Simulation and Experiments on n-C₇ Asphaltene Pyrolysis under High-Pressure Conditions Using Ceria-Based Nanocatalysts