Increasing the efficiency of thermal methods of high-viscosity oil fields development can be achieved through the implementation of catalytic processes in the reservoir, which provide an increase in oil mobility and, consequently, enhanced oil recovery. Under steam-heat influence, conditions for chemical conversion of high-molecular weight components of oil are created. Aquathermolysis catalysts intensify chemical processes of oil conversion and in combination with hydrogen-donor solvents provide increase of well production rate. The key components of high-viscosity oil that determine its low mobility are resins and asphaltenes. Their molecules are built of polycyclic aromatic or naphthenoaromatic nuclei containing heteroatoms and side substituents of different composition. Asphaltene molecules tend to aggregate even at low concentrations. On average, an asphaltene molecule contains one polycondensed nucleus of seven aromatic cycles. Part of asphaltene molecules consists of polycyclic nuclei connected by methylene chains or sulfide bridges. The formation of stable nanoaggregates from 6-10 asphaltene macromolecules leads to the formation of structures 2-10 nm in size. Thermostable organosoluble surfactants may have the ability to affect asphaltene aggregates in hydrothermal conditions created in the formation during treatment with superheated steam. This increases the probability of breaking the carbon-heteroatom bond in the presence of aquathermolysis catalysts. When combining in-situ catalytic complexes and heat-resistant surfactants, a synergetic effect is achieved in reducing the content and molecular weight of asphaltene substances of high-viscosity oil.
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