Transportation of heavy and extra-heavy crude oil by pipeline: A review

Asphaltene adsorption at solid surfaces is a ubiquitous phenomenon that begins within the production well and continues through the entire production chain. It is generally an undesirable phenomenon that causes damage within reservoirs, fouling of pipelines and transportation equipment, and fouling of refining and upgrading equipment. However, by virtue of this phenomenon, problematic asphaltenes may also be selectively removed from petroleum streams to produce partially upgraded petroleum, which has significantly improved handling, processing, and upgrading qualities. This review covers many basic aspects regarding the chemical and physical nature of asphaltenes and sorbents related to asphaltene adsorption.

Asphaltene Adsorption, a Literature Review

Catalysts generated by the addition of carbon, nitrogen or phosphorus to transition metals have interesting properties and potential applications. The addition of carbon, nitrogen or phosphorus can lead to substantial modification of the catalytic efficacy of the parent metal and some carbides and nitrides are claimed to be comparable to noble metals in their behaviour. Amorphous boron transition metal alloys are also a class of interesting catalyst, although their structures and phase composition are more difficult to define. In this critical review, the preparation of these catalysts is described and brief details of their application given. To date, attention has largely centred upon the application of these materials as alternatives for existing catalysts. However, novel approaches towards their utilisation can be envisaged. For example, the extent to which it is possible to utilise the “activated” carbon and nitrogen species within the host lattices of carbides and nitrides, respectively, as a reactant remains largely unexplored (195 references).

Alternative catalytic materials: carbides, nitrides, phosphides and amorphous boron alloys

Unconventional oils - mainly heavy oils, extra heavy oils and bitumens - represent a significant share of the total oil world reserves. Oil companies have expressed interest in unconventional oil as alternative resources for the energy supply. These resources are composed usually of viscous oils and, for this reason, their use requires additional efforts to guarantee the viability of the oil recovery from the reservoir and its subsequent transportation to production wells and to ports and refineries. This review describes the main properties of high-viscosity crude oils, as well as compares traditional and emergent methods for their recovery and transportation. The main characteristics of viscous oils are discussed to highlight the oil properties that affect their flowability in the processes of recovery and pipeline transportation. Chemical composition is the starting point for the oil characterization and it has major impact on other properties, including key properties for their dynamics, such as density and viscosity. Next, enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods are presented, followed by a discussion about pipeline and transportation methods. In addition, the main challenges to achieve viable recovery and transportation of unconventional oils are compared for the different alternatives proposed. The work is especially focused on the heavy oils, while other hydrocarbon solid sources, such as oil sands and shale oil, are outside of the scope of this review.

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An overview of heavy oil properties and its recovery and transportation methods

Increased demand for liquid transportation fuels coupled with gradual depletion of oil reserves and volatile petroleum prices have recently renewed interest in coal-to-liquids (CTL) technologies. Large recoverable global coal reserves can provide liquid fuels and significantly reduce dependence on oil imports. Direct coal liquefaction (DCL) converts solid coal (H/C ratio ≈ 0.8) to liquid fuels (H/C ratio ≈ 2) by adding hydrogen at high temperature and pressures in the presence or absence of catalyst. This review provides a comprehensive literature survey of the coal structure, chemistry and catalysis involved in direct liquefaction of coal. This report also touches briefly on the historical development and current status of DCL technologies. Key issues, challenges involved in DCL process and directions for the future research are also addressed.

Clean liquid fuels from direct coal liquefaction: chemistry, catalysis, technological status and challenges

A review of recent advances on process technologies for upgrading of heavy oils and residua

https://www.repositoriodigital.ipn.mx/bitstream/123456789/10691/1/art%206.pdf

Pyrolysis kinetics of atmospheric residue and its SARA fractions

On the effect of reaction conditions on liquid phase sulfiding of a NiMo HDS catalyst

https://www.repositoriodigital.ipn.mx/bitstream/123456789/10689/1/art%204.pdf

José A.I. Díaz

Papers

A review of recent advances on process technologies for upgrading of heavy oils and residua

Pyrolysis kinetics of atmospheric residue and its SARA fractions

On the effect of reaction conditions on liquid phase sulfiding of a NiMo HDS catalyst

A batch reactor study of the effect of deasphalting on hydrotreating of heavy oil