Aquathermolysis of conventional heavy oil with superheated steam

作者：Song Guangshou; Zhou Tiyao^*; Cheng Linsong; Wang Yunxian; Tian Guoqing; Pi Jian; Zhang Zheng

来源：Petroleum Science, 2009, 6(3): 289-293.

DOI：10.1007/s12182-009-0046-4

• Conventional heavy oil
• superheated steam
• aquathermolysis
• viscosity reduction

This paper presents a new aquathermolysis study of conventional heavy oil in superheated steam. A new high temperature autoclave was designed, where volume and pressure could be adjusted. Aquathermolysis was studied on two different conventional heavy oil samples under different reaction times and temperatures. Experimental results show that aquathermolysis does take place for conventional heavy oil. As reaction time increases, the oil viscosity reduces. However, the reaction will reach equilibrium after a certain period of time and won't be sensitive to any further reaction time any more. Analysis shows that, while resin and asphaltenes decrease, saturated hydrocarbons and the H/C ratio increase after reaction. The main mechanism of aquathermolysis includes hydrogenization, desulfuration reaction of resin and asphaltenes, etc.

• 出版日期2009-9
• 单位中国石油大学（北京）; 西北大学