Effect of Thermo-catalytic Process on the Viscosity, Composition of a Colombian Heavy Crude Oil and the Corrosion on Api N-80 Steel
Global oil reserves indicate that a high percentage corresponds to heavy and extra-heavy crude oils. Numerous techniques exist to upgraded the properties of petroleum, among which catalytic aquathermolysis as a recovery method plays a key role. In this research, the effect of three oil-soluble catal...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
AIDIC Servizi S.r.l.
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Chemical Engineering Transactions |
| Online Access: | https://www.cetjournal.it/index.php/cet/article/view/15391 |
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| Summary: | Global oil reserves indicate that a high percentage corresponds to heavy and extra-heavy crude oils. Numerous techniques exist to upgraded the properties of petroleum, among which catalytic aquathermolysis as a recovery method plays a key role. In this research, the effect of three oil-soluble catalysts, NFe, NNi, and NMo, at a concentration of 100 ppm relative to the metal was evaluated on a Colombian heavy crude with an °API of 11.6 and viscosity of 22000 cP (@ 30 °C). The tests were carried out in a batch reactor at 3103 KPa (@ 25 °C) and two temperatures of 220 and 270 °C over a 66 h reaction period. The upgraded crudes were characterized through viscosity testing and maltenes/asphaltenes content analysis. Tests at 270 °C showed an upgrading in crude oil properties, with catalyst performance following the order iron naphthenate (NFe) > nickel naphthenate (NNi) > molybdenum naphthenate (NMo). Iron naphthenate (NFe) reduced the crude oil viscosity by approximately 56%. On the other hand, tests conducted at 220 °C showed a deterioration in the crude oil properties, significantly increasing both the viscosity and asphaltene content.
Finally, the optimal temperature and catalyst conditions were selected, and the corrosive effect on API N-80 steel and the microstructural changes in the material were analyzed using SEM-EDS. The results conclude that using the catalyst during the aquathermolysis process promotes the upgrading of heavy crude oil properties while reducing the corrosive effect generated on API N-80 steel. |
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| ISSN: | 2283-9216 |