Selective Rejection of Inorganic Fine Solids, Heavy Metals, and Sulfur from Heavy Oils/Bitumen Using Alkane Solvents

Abstract

Bitumen and heavy oil + alkane solvents exhibit complex phase behaviors. For example, organic components of these materials can be solubilized and inorganic solids dispersed into a high-pressure gas phase. Conversely, they can also be partitioned into as many as three bulk phases: a gas phase, a liquid phase that is largely free of inorganic solids, and a phase comprising essentially all of the inorganic solids and a small fraction of the organic material. The outcome depends on the temperature, pressure, and solvent-to-feed ratio. Mass balance results for a screening survey for Athabasca vacuum bottoms (ABVB) + alkane solvents (pentane, heptane, decane, and dodecane) are reported along with a limited number of phase composition data for ABVB + pentane and dodecane mixtures. Reversible phase behavior and irreversible thermolysis conditions were considered. The key findings are that inorganic solids are readily partitioned from ABVB irrespective of the solvent and operating conditions employed, while key heavy metals, such as vanadium, require a combination of phase behavior and mild thermolysis. Sulfur- and nitrogen-containing species possess low rejection selectivities in this solvent series.

Dispersed Phases and Dispersed Phase Deposition Issues Arising in Asphaltene Rich Hydrocarbon Fluids

“…Solids and slurries formed in SL2, SL2V, SL3, and SL3V zones, comprising 50 to 80 wt% asphaltenes (Zou, 2003), do not appear to possess these undesirable characteristics to the same degree. Solids and slurries formed in SL2, SL2V, SL3, and SL3V zones, comprising 50 to 80 wt% asphaltenes (Zou, 2003), do not appear to possess these undesirable characteristics to the same degree.…”

Phase Behavior and Thermophysical Properties of Peace River Bitumen + Propane Mixtures from 303 K to 393 K

“…The phase behavior of propane + Peace River bitumen was studied using a custom X-ray view cell developed specifically for opaque mixtures such as bitumen and heavy oil. The equipment, used in numerous studies, ,− is described in detail elsewhere . Only a brief description is provided here.…”

Phase Behavior of Athabasca Vacuum Bottoms + n-Alkane Mixtures

“…Through careful calibration, phase volumes, densities, and elemental compositions can be obtained simultaneously without sampling. Recently (Zou 2003;Zhang 2006), the authors have upgraded their telemetry and data analysis software, thus allowing users to track changes in phase volumes and densities more readily and facilitating dispersed phase detection. The apparatus is well suited to investigations involving mixtures that are opaque to visible light, such as heavy oil+diluent mixtures.…”