Application of catalytic aquathermolysis technology in Boca de Jaruco oilfield: spotlight from theory to field test

UDK: 622.276.6

DOI: 10.24887/0028-2448-2022-9-37-41

Key words: steam injection, aquathermolysis, heavy oil, in situ conversion, catalyst, transition metals

Authors: S.I. Kudryashov (Zarubezhneft JSC, RF, Moscow), I.S. Afanasiev (Zarubezhneft JSC, RF, Moscow), A.V. Solovyev (Zarubezhneft JSC, RF, Moscow), O.V. Petrashov (Zarubezhneft JSC, RF, Moscow), G.V. Sansiev (Zarubezhneft JSC, RF, Moscow), K.A. Dubrovin (Zarubezhneft JSC, RF, Moscow), А.I. Volik (VNIIneft JSC, RF, Moscow), Ia.O. Simakov (VNIIneft JSC, RF, Moscow), A.V. Vakhin (Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, RF, Kazan), I.I. Mukhamatdinov (Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, RF, Kazan), S.A. Sitnov (Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, RF, Kazan), I.F. Minkhanov (Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, RF, Kazan), M.A. Varfolomeev (Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, RF, Kazan), A.V. Bolotov (Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, RF, Kazan), D.K. Nurgaliev (Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, RF, Kazan)

The article presents a review of laboratory and field results on the development and application of new technology of catalytic aquathermolysis to improve the efficiency of heavy oil production in case of Boca de Jaruco field. The main stages of work are considered: from laboratory studies to determine changes in oil properties and displacement efficiency in the presence of aquathermolysis catalyst to the selection of optimal injection conditions and analysis of the results of field tests in a pilot area. A set of studies carried out in an autoclave reactor under thermobaric conditions of steam-thermal treatment of wells at the Boca de Jaruco field showed that among a series of systems based on various transition metals and organic ligands, the system based on nickel tallate turned out to be the most effective catalyst. The optimal concentration (0.2% by metal) of the catalyst was determined and its commercial form for injection into the well was developed. Regularities have been established for the formation of the active form consisting of mixed nickel sulfides nanosized particles. It is shown that nanoparticles adsorbed on the rock can act for several cycles of steam injection. It has been established that the use of a catalyst, the active form of which is formed in situ, provides a decrease in the mass fraction of heavy components of oil, an increase in the fraction of saturated hydrocarbons, a decrease in the average molecular weight of oil, a multiple decrease in oil viscosity, as well as an increase in the displacement efficiency by 50% (relative) in laboratory tests.

A technology has been developed for thermal steam treatment of wells together with the injection of a catalytic composition in a cyclic mode. Catalyst production has been probated. Field testing demonstrated an increase in bituminous oil production of more than 2000 tons per well compared to the previous steaming cycle without catalyst. The results obtained confirm the prospects of using the developed technology to improve the efficiency of bituminous oil production. It is currently planned for further scale-up at the Boca de Jaruco field.

 

References

1. Shah A., Fishwick R., Wood J. et al., A review of novel techniques for heavy oil and bitumen extraction and upgrading, Energy Environ. Sci., 2010, V. 3, pp. 700–714, DOI: 10.1039/b918960b

2. Tumanyan B.P., Petrukhina N.N., Kayukova G.P. et al., Aquathermolysis of crude oils and natural bitumen: chemistry, catalysts and prospects for industrial implementation (In Russ.), Uspekhi khimii = Russian Chemical Reviews, 2015, V. 84(11), pp. 1145–1175. 

3. Simão A., Domínguez-Álvarez E., Yuan C. et al., On the use of metallic nanoparticulated catalysts for in-situ oil upgrading, Fuel, 2022, V. 313, DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2021.122677

4. Kayukova G.P.,  GubaidullinA.T., Petrov S.M. et al., The changes of asphaltenes structural-phase characteristics in the process of conversion of heavy oil in the hydrothermal catalytic system, Energy Fuels, 2016, V. 30, pp. 773–783, DOI: 10.1021/acs.energyfuels.5b01328

5. Wen S., Zhao Y., Liu Y., Hu S., A study on catalytic aquathermolysis of heavy crude oil during steam stimulation, SPE-106180-MS, 2007, DOI:10.2118/106180-MS

6. Chao K., Chen Y., Liu H. et al., Laboratory experiments and field test of a difunctional catalyst for catalytic aquathermolysis of heavy oil, Energy Fuels, 2012, V. 26 (2), pp. 1152–1159, DOI: 10.1021/ef2018385

7. Schuler B. et al., Unraveling the molecular structures of asphaltenes by atomic force microscopy, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2015, V. 137, no. 31, pp. 9870–9876, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.5b04056

8. Hyne J.B. et al., Aquathermolysis of heavy oils, Revista Tecnica INTEVEP, 1982, V. 2, no. 2, pp. 87-94.

9. Mukhamatdinov I.I.,  KhaidarovaA.R., Zaripova R.D. et al., The composition and structure of ultra-dispersed mixed oxide (II, III) particles and their influence on in-situ conversion of heavy oil, Catalysts, 2020, V.10(1), no. 114, DOI: 10.3390 /catal10010114

10. Kudryashov S.I., Afanas’ev I.S., Petrashov O.V. et al., Catalytic heavy oil upgrading by steam injection with using of transition metals catalysts (In Russ.), Neftyanoe khozyaystvo = Oil Industry, 2017, no. 8, pp. 30–34, DOI:10.24887/0028-2448-2017-8-30-34

11. Al-Muntaser A.A., Varfolomeev M.A., Suwaid M.A. et al., Hydrogen donating capacity of water in catalytic and non-catalytic aquather-molysis of extra-heavy oil: Deuterium tracing study, Fuel, 2021, V. 283, DOI: 10.1016 / j.fuel.2020.118957

12. Vakhin A.V., Aliev F.A., Kudryashov S.I. et al., Aquathermolysis of heavy oil in reservoir conditions with the use of oil-soluble catalysts: Part I – Changes in composition of saturated hydrocarbons, Petroleum Science and Technology, 2018, V. 36(2), pp. 1829-1836, DOI:10.1080/10916466.2018.1514411

13. Vakhin A.V.,  Mukhamatdinov I.I., Aliev F.A., et al., Aquathermolysis of heavy oil in reservoir conditions with the use of oil-soluble catalysts: Part II – Changes in composition of aromatic hydrocarbons, Petroleum Science and Technology, 2018, V. 36(22), pp. 1850-1856, DOI:10.1080/10916466.2018.1514412

14. Vakhin A.V.,  SitnovS.A., Mukhamatdinov I.I. et al., Aquathermolysis of heavy oil in reservoir conditions with the use of oil-soluble catalysts: Part III – Changes in composition resins and asphaltenes, Petroleum Science and Technology, 2018, V. 36(22), pp. 1857-1863, DOI: 10.1080/10916466.2018.1514413.

15. Vakhin A.V., Mukhamatdinov I.I., Aliev F.A. et al., Industrial application of nickel tallate catalyst during cyclic steam stimulation in Boca De Jaruco reservoir, SPE-206419-MS, 2021, DOI: 10.2118/206419-MS

16. Vakhin A.V., Aliev F.A., Mukhamatdinov I.I. et al., Extra-heavy oil aquathermolysis using nickel-based catalyst: Some aspects of in-situ transformation of catalyst precursor, Catalysts, 2021, V.11(2), no.189, pp. 1-22, DOI: 10.3390/catal11020189

17. Minkhanov I.F., Bolotov A.V., Al’-Muntaser A.A., Experimental study on the improving the efficiency of oil displacement by co-using of the steam-solvent catalyst (In Russ.), Neftyanoe khozyaystvo = Oil Industry, 2021, no. 6, pp. 54-57, DOI: 10.24887/0028-2448-2021-6-54-57