The potassium storage performance of carbon nanosheets derived from heavy oils

As by-products of petroleum refining,heavy oils are characterized by a high carbon content,low cost and great variability,making them competitive precursors for the anodes of potassium ion batteries(PIBs).However,the relationship between heavy oil composition and potassium storage performance remains unclear.Using heavy oils containing distinct chemical groups as the carbon source,namely fluid catalytic cracking slurry(FCCS),petroleum asphalt(PA)and deoiled asphalt(DOA),three carbon nanosheets(CNS)were prepared through a molten salt method,and used as the anodes for PIBs.The composition of the heavy oil determines the lamellar thicknesses,sp3-C/sp2-C ratio and defect concentration,thereby affecting the potassium storage performance.The high content of aromatic hydrocarbons and moderate amount of heavy component moieties in FCCS produce carbon nanosheets(CNS-FCCS)that have a smaller layer thickness,larger interlayer spacing(0.372 nm),and increased number of folds than in CNS derived from the other three precursors.These features give it faster charge/ion transfer,more potassium storage sites and better reaction kinetics.CNS-FCCS has a remarkable K^(+)storage capacity(248.7 mAh g^(-1) after 100 cycles at 0.1 A g^(-1)),long cycle lifespan(190.8 mAh g^(-1) after 800 cycles at 1.0 A g^(-1))and excellent rate capability,ranking it among the best materials for this application.This work sheds light on the influence of heavy oil composition on carbon structure and electrochemical performance,and provides guidance for the design and development of advanced heavy oil-derived carbon electrodes for PIBs.

The mechanisms of thermal solidification agent promoting steam diversion in heavy oil reservoirs

At high cycles of steam huff&puff,oil distribution in reservoirs becomes stronger heterogeneity due to steam channeling.Thermal solidification agent can be used to solve this problem.Its solution is a lowviscosity liquid at normal temperature,but it can be solidified above 80℃.The plugging degree is up to 99%at 250℃.The sweep efficiency reaches 59.2%,which is 7.3%higher than pure steam injection.In addition,simultaneous injection of viscosity reducer and/or nitrogen foams can further enhance oil recovery.The mechanism of this technology depends on its strong plugging ability,which changes the flowing pattern of steam to effectively mobilize remaining oil.Viscosity reducer and nitrogen foams further expand the sweep range and extends the effective period.Therefore,thermal solidification agent can plug steam channeling paths and adjust steam flowing direction to significantly enhance oil recovery at high cycles of steam huff&puff.

Recent advances in switchable surfactants for heavy oil production:A review

Surfactants are extensively employed in the cold production of heavy oil.However,producing heavy oil emulsions using conventional surfactants poses a challenge to spontaneous demulsification,necessitating the addition of demulsifiers for oil-water separation.This inevitably increases the exploitation cost and environmental pollution risk.Switchable surfactants have garnered much attention due to their dual capabilities of underground heavy oil emulsification and surface demulsification.This study focuses on the fundamental working principles and classification of novel switchable surfactants for oil displacement developed in recent years.It offers a comprehensive overview of the latest advances in the applications of switchable surfactants in the fields of enhanced oil recovery(EOR),oil sand washing,and oil-water separation.Furthermore,it highlights the existing challenges and future development directions of switchable surfactants for heavy oil recovery.

Innovations and applications of the thermal recovery techniques for heavy oil

Heavy oil represents a vital petroleum resource worldwide.As one of the major producers,China is facing great challenges in effective and economic production of heavy oil due to reservoir complexity.Plenty of efforts have been made to promote innovative advances in thermal recovery modes,methods,and processes for heavy oil in the country.The thermal recovery mode has been shifted from simple steam injection to a more comprehensive“thermal+"strategy,such as a novel N2-steam hybrid process and CO_(2)-enhanced thermal recovery techniques.These advanced techniques break through the challenges of heavy oil extraction from less accessible reservoirs with thinner oil layers and greater burial depths.Regarding thermal recovery methods,China has developed the steam-assisted gravity drainage method integrating flooding and drainage(also referred to as the hybrid flooding-drainage SAGD technology)for highly heterogeneous ultra-heavy oil reservoirs and the fire flooding method for nearly depleted heavy oil reservoirs,substantially improving oil recovery.Furthermore,a range of processes have been developed for heavy oil production,including the open hole completion process using sand control screens for horizontal wells,the process of integrated injection-recovery with horizontal pump for horizontal wells,the steam dryness maintenance,measurement,and control process,efficient and environment-friendly circulating fluidized bed(CFB)boilers with high steam dryness,the recycling process of produced water,and the thermal recovery process for offshore heavy oil.Based on the advances in methodology,technology,and philosophy,a series of supporting technologies for heavy oil production have been developed,leading to the breakthrough of existing technical limit of heavy oil recovery and the expansion into new exploitation targets.For the future heavy oil production in China,it is necessary to embrace a green,low-carbon,and energy-efficient development strategy,and to expand heavy oil extraction in reservoirs with larger burial depth,more viscous oil,thinner oil layers,and lower permeability.Moreover,it is highly recommended to collaboratively maximize oil recovery and oil-to-steam ratio through technological innovations,and boost intelligentization of heavy oil production.

A Real-time Prediction System for Molecular-level Information of Heavy Oil Based on Machine Learning

Acquiring accurate molecular-level information about petroleum is crucial for refining and chemical enterprises to implement the“selection of the optimal processing route”strategy.With the development of data prediction systems represented by machine learning,it has become possible for real-time prediction systems of petroleum fraction molecular information to replace analyses such as gas chromatography and mass spectrometry.However,the biggest difficulty lies in acquiring the data required for training the neural network.To address these issues,this work proposes an innovative method that utilizes the Aspen HYSYS and full two-dimensional gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry to establish a comprehensive training database.Subsequently,a deep neural network prediction model is developed for heavy distillate oil to predict its composition in terms of molecular structure.After training,the model accurately predicts the molecular composition of catalytically cracked raw oil in a refinery.The validation and test sets exhibit R2 values of 0.99769 and 0.99807,respectively,and the average relative error of molecular composition prediction for raw materials of the catalytic cracking unit is less than 7%.Finally,the SHAP(SHapley Additive ExPlanation)interpretation method is used to disclose the relationship among different variables by performing global and local weight comparisons and correlation analyses.

Catalytic Performance of Aquathermolysis and Viscosity Reduction of Heavy Oil over a WO_(3)/ZrO_(2) Solid Acid

Tungstated zirconia(WO_(3)/ZrO_(2))solid acid catalysts with different WO_(3) contents were prepared by a hydrothermal method and then used in the catalytic aquathermolysis of heavy oil from Xinjiang.The WO_(3)/ZrO_(2) solid acid catalyst was characterized by a range of characterization methods,including X-ray diffraction,NH3-temperature programmed desorption,and pyridine infrared spectroscopy.The WO_(3) content of the WO_(3)/ZrO_(2) catalysts had an important impact on the structure and property of the catalysts.When the WO_(3) mass fraction was 20%,it facilitated the formation of tetragonal zirconia,thereby enhancing the creation of robust acidic sites.Acidity is considered to have a strong impact on the catalytic performance of the aquathermolysis of heavy oil.When the catalyst containing 20%WO_(3) was used to catalyze the aquathermolysis of heavy oil under conditions of 14.5 MPa,340℃,and 24 h,the viscosity of heavy oil decreased from 47266 to 5398 mPa·s and the viscosity reduction rate reached 88.6%.The physicochemical properties of heavy oil before and after the aquathermolysis were analyzed using a saturates,aromatics,resins,and asphaltenes analysis,gas chromatography,elemental analysis,densimeter etc.After the aquathermolysis,the saturate and aromatic contents significantly increased from 43.3%to 48.35%and 19.47%to 21.88%,respectively,with large reductions in the content of resin and asphaltene from 28.22%to 25.06%and 5.36%to 2.03%,respectively.The sulfur and nitrogen contents,and the density of the oil were significantly decreased.These factors were likely the main reasons for promoting the viscosity reduction of heavy oil during the aquathermolysis over the WO_(3)/ZrO_(2) solid acid catalysts.

An Integrated Optimization Method for CO_(2) Pre-Injection during Hydraulic Fracturing in Heavy Oil Reservoirs

CO_(2) pre-injection during hydraulic fracturing is an important method for the development of medium to deep heavy oil reservoirs.It reduces the interfacial tension and viscosity of crude oil,enhances its flowability,maintains reservoir pressure,and increases reservoir drainage capacity.Taking the Badaowan Formation as an example,in this study a detailed three-dimensional geomechanical model based on static data from well logging interpretations is elaborated,which can take into account both vertical and horizontal geological variations and mechanical characteristics.A comprehensive analysis of the impact of key construction parameters on Pre-CO_(2) based fracturing(such as cluster spacing and injection volume),is therefore conducted.Thereafter,using optimized construction parameters,a non-structured grid for dynamic development prediction is introduced,and the capacity variations of different production scenarios are assessed.On the basis of the simulation results,reasonable fracturing parameters are finally determined,including cluster spacing,fracturing fluid volume,proppant concentration,and well spacing.

Heavy Metal Levels and Ecological Risk in Crude Oil-Contaminated Soils from Okpare-Olomu, Niger Delta, Nigeria

Crude oil spills have inflicted extensive disruption upon the Niger Delta ecosystem, resulting in crop loss and severe environmental damage. Such spills exacerbate heavy metal concentration within soil due to the presence of metallic ions. The Okpare-Olomu community has borne the brunt of crude oil pollution from illicit bunkering, sabotage, and equipment malfunction. This study targets an evaluation of ecological hazards linked to heavy metals (HMs) in crude oil impacted agriculturally soils within Okpare-Olomu in Ughelli South LGA of Delta State. In this study, 24 topsoil samples were obtained from areas affected by crude oil pollution;the heavy metal content was evaluated through atomic absorption spectrometry. The concentration ranges for HMs (mg/kg) in soil were: 24.1 - 23,174 (Cu);0.54 - 37.1 (Cd);9.05 - 54 (Cr);12 - 174 (Ni);18.5 - 8611 (Pb);and 148 - 9078 (Zn) at a soil depth of 0 - 15 cm. Notably, metal concentrations were recorded to be above permissible World Health Organization limits. Predominantly, Zn and Pb recorded higher heavy metal concentration when compared to other heavy metals analysed, notably at sampling points PT7 through PT24. Zinc and Pb contamination exhibited highly significant contamination factors, and contamination severity was evidenced across all sample points, signifying a grave risk level. Pollution load indices indicated pervasive extreme pollution levels. Geoaccumulation indices signaled moderate to strong pollution, mainly by Pb and Zn. Ecological risk assessments revealed variable levels of heavy metal contamination, from low to very high, with potential ecological risk reflecting markedly elevated levels. This study underscores the imperative for soil remediation to rectify ecological imbalances in agriculturally affected soil constituents.

Study of steam heat transfer enhanced by CO_(2) and chemical agents: In heavy oil production

Steam flooding with the assistance of carbon dioxide (CO_(2)) and chemicals is an effective approach for enhancing super heavy oil recovery. However, the promotion and application of CO_(2) and chemical agent-assisted steam flooding technology have been restricted by the current lack of research on the synergistic effect of CO_(2) and chemical agents on enhanced steam flooding heat transfer. The novel experiments on CO_(2)–chemicals cooperate affected steam condensation and seepage were conducted by adding CO_(2) and two chemicals (sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and the betaine temperature-salt resistant foaming agent ZK-05200).According to the experimental findings, a “film” formed on the heat-transfer medium surface following the co-injection of CO_(2) and the chemical to impede the steam heat transfer, reducing the heat transfer efficiency of steam, heat flux and condensation heat transfer coefficient. The steam seepage experiment revealed that the temperature at the back end of the sandpack model was dramatically raised by 3.5–12.8 °C by adding CO_(2) and chemical agents, achieving the goal of driving deep-formation heavy oil. The combined effect of CO_(2) and SDS was the most effective for improving steam heat transfer, the steam heat loss was reduced by 6.2%, the steam condensation cycle was prolonged by 1.3 times, the condensation heat transfer coefficient was decreased by 15.5%, and the heavy oil recovery was enhanced by 9.82%. Theoretical recommendations are offered in this study for improving the CO_(2)–chemical-assisted steam flooding technique.

Petrophysical parameters inversion for heavy oil reservoir based on a laboratory-calibrated frequency-variant rock-physics model

Heavy oil has high density and viscosity, and exhibits viscoelasticity. Gassmann's theory is not suitable for materials saturated with viscoelastic fluids. Directly applying such model leads to unreliable results for seismic inversion of heavy oil reservoir. To describe the viscoelastic behavior of heavy oil, we modeled the elastic properties of heavy oil with varying viscosity and frequency using the Cole-Cole-Maxwell (CCM) model. Then, we used a CCoherent Potential Approximation (CPA) instead of the Gassmann equations to account for the fluid effect, by extending the single-phase fluid condition to two-phase fluid (heavy oil and water) condition, so that partial saturation of heavy oil can be considered. This rock physics model establishes the relationship between the elastic modulus of reservoir rock and viscosity, frequency and saturation. The viscosity of the heavy oil and the elastic moduli and porosity of typical reservoir rock samples were measured in laboratory, which were used for calibration of the rock physics model. The well-calibrated frequency-variant CPA model was applied to the prediction of the P- and S-wave velocities in the seismic frequency range (1–100 Hz) and the inversion of petrophysical parameters for a heavy oil reservoir. The pre-stack inversion results of elastic parameters are improved compared with those results using the CPA model in the sonic logging frequency (∼10 kHz), or conventional rock physics model such as the Xu-Payne model. In addition, the inversion of the porosity of the reservoir was conducted with the simulated annealing method, and the result fits reasonably well with the logging curve and depicts the location of the heavy oil reservoir on the time slice. The application of the laboratory-calibrated CPA model provides better results with the velocity dispersion correction, suggesting the important role of accurate frequency dependent rock physics models in the seismic prediction of heavy oil reservoirs.

Molecular composition of naphthenic acids in a Chinese heavy crude oil and their impacts on oil viscosity

Most heavy crude oils underwent biodegradation and generated a significant amount of naphthenic acids. Naphthenic acids are polar compounds with the carboxylic group and are considered as a major factor affecting the oil viscosity. However, the relationship between the molecular composition of naphthenic acids and oil viscosity is not well understood. This study examined a “clean” heavy oil with low contents of heteroatoms but had a high content of naphthenic acids. Naphthenic acids were fractionated by distillation and caustic extraction. The molecular composition was characterized by high-resolution Orbitrap mass spectrometry. It was found that the 2- and 3-ring naphthenic monoacids with 15–35 carbon atoms are dominant components of the acid fractions;the caustic extraction is capable of isolating naphthenic acids with less than 35 carbons, which is equivalent to the upper limit of the distillable components, but not those in the residue fraction;the total acid number of the heavy distillates is higher than that of the residue fraction;the viscosity of the distillation fraction increases exponentially with an increased boiling point of the distillates. Blending experiments indicates that there is a strong correlation between the oil viscosity and acids content, although the acid content is only a few percent of the total oil.

Distribution and treatment of harmful gas from heavy oil production in the Liaohe Oilfield, Northeast China

The distribution and treatment of harmful gas （H2S） in the Liaohe Oilfield, Northeast China, were investigated in this study. It was found that abundant toxic gas （H2S） is generated in thermal recovery of heavy oil. The H2S gas is mainly formed during thermochemical sulfate reduction （TSR） occurring in oil reservoirs or the thermal decomposition of sulfocompounds （TDS） in crude oil. H2S generation is controlled by thermal recovery time, temperature and the injected chemical compounds. The quantity of SO4^2- in the injected compounds is the most influencing factor for the rate of TSR reaction. Therefore, for prevention of H2S formation, periodic and effective monitoring should be undertaken and adequate H2S absorbent should also be provided during thermal recovery of heavy oil. The result suggests that great efforts should be made to reduce the SO4^2- source in heavy oil recovery, so as to restrain H2S generation in reservoirs. In situ burning or desulfurizer adsorption are suggested to reduce H2S levels. Prediction and prevention of H2S are important in heavy oil production. This will minimize environmental and human health risks, as well as equipment corrosion.

FCC Study of Canadian Heavy Gas Oils—Comparisons of Product Yields and Qualities between Reactors

Several series of cracking tests in a comprehensive study were conducted on separate occasions involving all or parts of ten Canadian vacuum gas oils (VGOs) and two catalysts with bottoms-cracking or octane-barrel capability. VGOs were cracked in fixed- and/or fluid-bed microactivity test (MAT) units, in an Advanced Cracking Evaluation (ACE) unit, and in a modified ARCO riser reactor. Individual yields of gas, liquid, and coke from the MATs at 55, 65, 70, and 81 wt% conversion levels were compared with their respective pilot plant data. Good linear correlations could be established between MAT and riser yields except for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and light cycle oil (LCO). At a given conversion, correlations existed among the fixed- and fluid-bed MAT units and the ACE for each product yield. Liquid products from the fixed or fluid-bed MAT were analyzed for hydrocarbon types, sulfur, nitrogen and density, most of which showed good agreement with those obtained from the riser study. When cracking Canadian oil-sands-derived VGOs, the bottoms-cracking catalyst containing a large-pore active matrix was found to be more suitable than the octane-barrel catalyst with smaller pores to produce higher yields of valuable distillates, but with less superior qualities (in terms of sulfur and nitrogen contents). The advantages of hydrotreating some poor feeds to improve product yields and qualities were demonstrated and discussed.

Rapid accuracy determining DNA purity and concentration in heavy oils by spectrophotometry methods

DNA analysis is the core of biotechnology applied in petroleum resources and engineering. Traditionally accurate determination of DNA purity and concentration by spectrometer is the first and critical step for downstream molecular biology research. In this study, three different spectrophotometry methods, BPM, NDTT and NPMTTZ were compared for their performance in determining DNA concentration and purity in 32 oil samples, and molecule methods like quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and high-throughput sequence were also performed to help assess the accuracy of the three methods in determining DNA concentration and purity. For ordinary heavy oil (OHO), extra heavy oil (EHO) and super heavy oil (SHO), the characteristics of high viscosity (η), density (ρ) and resin plus asphaltene content will affect the DNA extraction and UV determination. The DNA concentration was decreased as density increased: OHO (11.46 ± 18.34 ng/μL), EHO (6.68 ± 9.67 ng/μL) and SHO (6.20 ± 7.83 ng/μL), and the DNA purity was on the reverse: OHO (1.31 ± 0.27), EHO (1.54 ± 0.20), and SHO (1.83 ± 0.32). The results suggest that spectrophotometry such as BPM and NPMTTZ are qualitatively favorite methods as the quick non-consumable methods in determining DNA concentration and purity of medium oil and heavy oil.

Mechanism investigation of steam flooding heavy oil by comprehensive molecular characterization

Steam flooding is a widely used technique to enhance oil recovery of heavy oil.Thermal viscosity reduction and distillation effect are considered as two main displacement mechanisms in steam flooding process.However,the molecular composition understanding and contribution for oil production are still unclear.In this study,the composition analysis of the heavy oil was investigated in the core scale steam flooding process with the temperature from 120 to 280℃.The crude oil,produced oils and residual oils were characterized comprehensively by gas chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry.It is found that steam flooding preferentially extracts aromatics and remains more resins in the residual oil.Viscosity reduction is the dominant mechanism when steam is injected at a low temperature.Large molecular heteroatoms with high carbon number and high double bond equivalent(DBE)are eluted into the produced oil,while compounds with low carbon number and low DBE are remained in the residual oil.As the steam temperature rises,the increased distillation effect results in the extraction of light hydrocarbons from the residual oil to the produced oil.More small heteroatoms with low carbon number and low DBE enter into the produced oil,especially in the none water cut stage.The compositional difference of produced oils is characterized in DBE versus carbon number distribution of the N and O containing compound classes.This work uses a variety of composition analysis methods to clarify the steam flooding mechanism and provides a novel understanding of steam flooding mechanisms with various temperatures and production stages from the molecular perspective.

Investigation of feasibility of alkali-cosolvent flooding in heavy oil reservoirs

Cold production is a challenge in the case of heavy oil because of its high viscosity and poor fluidity in reservoir conditions.Alkali-cosolvent-polymer flooding is a type of microemulsion flooding with low costs and possible potential for heavy oil reservoirs.However,the addition of polymer may cause problems with injection in the case of highly viscous oil.Hence,in this study the feasibility of alkali-cosolvent(AC)flooding in heavy oil reservoirs was investigated via several groups of experiments.The interfacial tension between various AC formulations and heavy crude oil was measured to select appropriate formulations.Phase behavior tests were performed to determine the most appropriate formulation and conditions for the generation of a microemulsion.Sandpack flooding experiments were carried out to investigate the displacement efficiency of the selected Ac formulation.The results showed that the interfacial tension between an AC formulation and heavy oil could be reduced to below 1o-3 mN/m but differed greatly between different types of cosolvent.A butanol random polyether series displayed good performance in reducing the water-oil interfacial tension,which made it possible to form a Type Il microemulsion in reservoir conditions.According to the results of the phase behavior tests,the optimal salinity for different formulations with four cosolvent concentrations(0.5 wt%,1 wt%,2 wt%,and 3 wt%)was 4000,8000,14000,and 20000 ppm,respectively.The results of rheological measurements showed that Type Ill microemulsion had a viscosity that was ten times that of water.The results of sandpack flooding experiments showed that,in comparison with waterflooding,the injection of a certain Ac formulation slug could reduce the injection pressure.The pressure gradient during waterflooding and AC flooding was around 870 and 30-57 kPa/m,respectively.With the addition of an AC slug,the displacement efficiency was 30%-50%higher than in the case of waterflooding.

Comparative pyrolysis kinetics of heavy oil and its SARA fractions using distributed activation energy model

The pyrolysis behaviors of Qingdao vacuum residue(QD-VR)and its SARA(saturates,aromatics,reins,and asphaltenes)fractions were evaluated by thermo-gravimetric with mass spectrometer(TG-MS).The pyrolysis kinetics were determined by Friedman,one-parallel and four-parallel distributed activation energy model(DAEM),respectively.The results indicated that the pyrolysis behavior of QD-VR was similar to that of aromatics.For saturates,the release of H_(2),CH_(4),CO,and CO_(2) occurred in 80-400℃,while the temperature range for QD-VR and other fractions is 200-800℃.The average activation energy(Ea)via Friedman method was 179.72 kJ/mol and increased with the conversion ratio.One-parallel Gaussian DAEM was more suitable to describe the pyrolysis process of the single SARA fractions,while four-parallel Gaussian DAEM was more suitable to describe the pyrolysis process of heavy oil.Furthermore,comparing the weighted E_(a) from one-parallel(227.64 kJ/mol)and four-parallel Gaussian DAEM(204.63 kJ/mol),the results suggested that during pyrolysis process of heavy oil,there was an interaction between the SARA fractions,which could reduce the E_(a) of heavy oil pyrolysis.Specifically,during heavy oil pyrolysis,resins and asphaltenes could increase the E_(a) of saturates and aromatics,while saturates and aromatics could decrease the E_(a) of resins and asphaltenes.

Molecular composition of low-temperature oxidation products of the heavy oil

Low-temperature oxidation(LTO)is the main reaction that affects fuel formation in the in-situ combustion process,which has important significance for the subsequent combustion propulsion and the successful extraction of crude oil.In this study,heavy oil was subjected to LTO reactions at different temperatures.Three types of reaction products with varying oxidation depths were characterized in terms of the number of oxygen atoms and the polarity of the molecule to reveal the low-temperature oxidation process of the heavy oil.Ketone compounds and acid polyoxides in the oil phase and deep oxidation products with a higher number of oxygen atoms in the coke were identified with increasing oxidation depth.The experimental results showed that the oxidation reaction of the heavy oil changed from kinetic-controlled to diffusion-controlled in the open oxidation system of the heavy oil as the oxidation depth increased.The oxidation reaction of the oil phase reached a maximum and stable value in oxygen content.The molecular compositions of the ketone compound and acid polyoxide did not change significantly with further increase in reaction temperature.The molecular compositions of the deep oxidation products with a higher number of oxygen atoms in the coke phase changed significantly.The coke precursor molecules with a lower oxygen content and condensation degree participated in the coke formation,and the oxidation reaction pathway and the complexity of the oxidation product component also increased.

Study on the Catalytic Reforming Law of Solid-Phase Carbon and Nitrogen Sources Loaded with MnO_(2)at Low Temperatures in Tahe Heavy Oil

MnO_(2)/Melem composites were synthesized with MnO_(2)nanoparticles loaded onto the Melem using the hydrothermal method.As raw materials for C and N carriers,Melem was prepared from melamine roasted at 354℃,and KMnO_(4)as a raw material for Mn,MnO_(2)nanoparticles were prepared using the hydrothermal synthesis of KMnO_(4).Scanning electron microscopy(SEM),transmission electron microscopy(TEM),X-ray diffraction(XRD),and a laser particle size analyzer were used for structural characterization,and the catalytic oxidation performance of the heavy oil was investigated at different reaction temperatures(100℃to 180℃)using MnO_(2)/Melem with an oxidant and donor protonic acid.The results showed that the synthesizedβ-MnO_(2)nanoparticles were successfully loaded onto the Melem surface;the oil samples before and after the reaction at different temperatures were subjected to SARA analysis using Fourier transform infrared(FT-IR),elemental analysis,gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS)and viscosity tests,respectively.It was determined that the hydrocarbons in the crude oil were converted to heavy mass by oxidation reactions with the oxidant mainly through a low-temperature oxidation process below 140℃in the heavy oil when the temperature exceeds 140℃,in addition to the oxidation reaction with the oxidant,a cleavage reaction in the carbon chain occurs to form hydrocarbon substances with lower molecular weights.

Enhancing Heavy Crude Oil Flow in Pipelines through Heating-Induced Viscosity Reduction in the Petroleum Industry

The process of transporting crude oil across pipelines is one of the most critical aspects of the midstream petroleum industry.In the present experimental work,the effect of temperature,pressure drop,and pipe diameter on the flow rate of heavy crude oil have been assessed.Moreover,the total discharge and energy losses have been evaluated in order to demonstrate the improvements potentially achievable by using solar heating method replacing pipe,and adjusting the value of the initial pressure difference.Crude oil of API=20 has been used for the experiments,with the studied pipelines sections connecting the separator unit to the storage tank operating at a temperature of 25℃-100℃,pressure drop of 3,4,5,and 6 kg/cm^(2),and with pipe diameter of 4,6,and 8 in.The results show that on increasing the temperature and/or the pressure drop,the flow rate through the pipeline becomes higher,thus raising the total pumping energy(as the pipe diameter increase),while energy losses increase from the last separator to the storage tank in the field.A pipe diameter increase can also produce a growth of the total pumping energy(i.e.,energy losses increase).The results of the present analysis suggest that employing an optimal temperature(50℃)is needed to ensure good performance.