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Heavy Oil Partial Upgrading |
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Project Objectives
Develop an Economic Method to Improve Crude Oil Viscosity
• Lower Acid Content in Heavy Oil
• Removal of Sulfur
• Improve Heavy Crude Oil Transportation Efficiency
• Increase Crude Oil Value |
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Industry Trend Decline in Quality of Crude Oil to Refineries |
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Partial Oil Upgrading
• H2 is not required to achieve the project objectives
• Focus on viscosity reduction (lower API gravity by 4-8 points) to meet heavy oiil transportation requirements
• Focus on acid number reduction to minimize emulsion and corrosion issues
c Develop a heavy oil upgrading system which has low capital cost requirements, hs minimal controls, is easy to operate, and has low operating costs |
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A Novel Approach
• We have developed a new proprietary catalyst system
• Fixed bed reactor at temperatures ranging from 300° - 350° C
• No additional hydrogen required
• Low pressure system
• Our preliminary results show:
- About 60-70% acid reduction
- Significant viscosity reduction from 6000 cp to 175 cp at 40° C (200-500 cp required to assure oil flow)
• Estimated 7 API unit improvement
• About 50% sulfur removal |
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Summary
• Partial upgrading with visocity and acid number reduction achieved
• Low capital & operating costs
• Uses standard refinery/oilfield equipment
• Need to find partners to build pilot plant |
