Enhanced viscosity reduction in heavy oils by subcritical water
Abstract We determine the chemical changes associated with viscosity reduction when heavy oil is cracked in subcritical water. The viscosity reduction has a temperature threshold for onset of 290 °C—this suggests an enhanced acid cracking regime associated with the maximisation of water dissociation...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2017-07-01
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| Series: | Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13202-017-0370-y |
| _version_ | 1811252873340649472 |
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| author | M. C. M. Cuijpers M. D. Boot M. Golombok |
| author_facet | M. C. M. Cuijpers M. D. Boot M. Golombok |
| author_sort | M. C. M. Cuijpers |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract We determine the chemical changes associated with viscosity reduction when heavy oil is cracked in subcritical water. The viscosity reduction has a temperature threshold for onset of 290 °C—this suggests an enhanced acid cracking regime associated with the maximisation of water dissociation at these conditions aided by the already increased solubility. The mean molecular weight is reduced by nearly 50%. Oxygen and sulphur are reduced by about half of this—either by expelled gas effluent ($${\text{H}}_{2} {\text{S}}$$ H2S ) or by conversion into mono-aromatic base sulphur-containing structures. The amount of lower branched paraffins is increased. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T16:41:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-35c4adaf5e0249cdb5e66b041e32b91f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2190-0558 2190-0566 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T16:41:12Z |
| publishDate | 2017-07-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology |
| spelling | doaj.art-35c4adaf5e0249cdb5e66b041e32b91f2022-12-22T03:24:46ZengSpringerOpenJournal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology2190-05582190-05662017-07-018129129810.1007/s13202-017-0370-yEnhanced viscosity reduction in heavy oils by subcritical waterM. C. M. Cuijpers0M. D. Boot1M. Golombok2Department of Mechanical Engineering, Combustion Technology, Eindhoven University of Technology, (TU/e)Department of Mechanical Engineering, Combustion Technology, Eindhoven University of Technology, (TU/e)Department of Mechanical Engineering, Combustion Technology, Eindhoven University of Technology, (TU/e)Abstract We determine the chemical changes associated with viscosity reduction when heavy oil is cracked in subcritical water. The viscosity reduction has a temperature threshold for onset of 290 °C—this suggests an enhanced acid cracking regime associated with the maximisation of water dissociation at these conditions aided by the already increased solubility. The mean molecular weight is reduced by nearly 50%. Oxygen and sulphur are reduced by about half of this—either by expelled gas effluent ($${\text{H}}_{2} {\text{S}}$$ H2S ) or by conversion into mono-aromatic base sulphur-containing structures. The amount of lower branched paraffins is increased.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13202-017-0370-yOil recoverySubcritical waterViscositySulphur |
| spellingShingle | M. C. M. Cuijpers M. D. Boot M. Golombok Enhanced viscosity reduction in heavy oils by subcritical water Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology Oil recovery Subcritical water Viscosity Sulphur |
| title | Enhanced viscosity reduction in heavy oils by subcritical water |
| title_full | Enhanced viscosity reduction in heavy oils by subcritical water |
| title_fullStr | Enhanced viscosity reduction in heavy oils by subcritical water |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhanced viscosity reduction in heavy oils by subcritical water |
| title_short | Enhanced viscosity reduction in heavy oils by subcritical water |
| title_sort | enhanced viscosity reduction in heavy oils by subcritical water |
| topic | Oil recovery Subcritical water Viscosity Sulphur |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13202-017-0370-y |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mcmcuijpers enhancedviscosityreductioninheavyoilsbysubcriticalwater AT mdboot enhancedviscosityreductioninheavyoilsbysubcriticalwater AT mgolombok enhancedviscosityreductioninheavyoilsbysubcriticalwater |