Oil & Gas Science and Technology – Revue d’IFP Energies nouvelles 

About: Oil & Gas Science and Technology – Revue d’IFP Energies nouvelles is an academic journal. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Combustion & Enhanced oil recovery. It has an ISSN identifier of 1294-4475. It is also open access. Over the lifetime, 915 publications have been published receiving 11555 citations. The journal is also known as: oils.

Enhanced Oil Recovery - An Overview

Abstract: Nearly 2.0 × 1012 barrels (0.3 × 1012 m3 ) of conventional oil and 5.0 × 1012 barrels (0.8 × 1012 m3 ) of heavy oil will remain in reservoirs worldwide after conventional recovery methods have been exhausted. Much of this oil would be recovered by Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) methods, which are part of the general scheme of Improved Oil Recovery (IOR). The choice of the method and the expected recovery depends on many considerations, economic as well as technological. This paper examines the EOR methods that have been tested in the field. Some of these have been commercially successful, while others are largely of academic interest. The reasons for the same are discussed. The paper examines thermal and non-thermal oil recovery methods. These are presented in a balanced fashion, with regard to commercial success in the field. Only a few recovery methods have been commercially successful, such as steam injection based processes in heavy oils and tar sands (if the reservoir offers favourable conditions for such applications) and miscible carbon dioxide for light oil reservoirs. Other recovery methods have been tested, and even produced incremental oil, but they have inherent limitations. The current EOR technologies are presented in a proper perspective, pointing out the technical reasons for the lack of success. Methods for improving oil recovery, in particular those concerned with lowering the interstitial oil saturation, have received a great deal of attention both in the laboratory and in the field. From the vast amount of literature on the subject, one gets the impression that it is relatively simple to increase oil recovery beyond secondary (assuming that the reservoir lends itself to primary and secondary recovery). It is shown that this is not the case. Many reservoirs suitable for steam injection and carbon dioxide have already been exploited and are approaching maturity. Other EOR methods suffer from limitations that have little to do with economics. Recovering incremental oil is complex and costly, and has been successful only for a few processes under exacting conditions. Nevertheless, EOR will continue to have an important place in oil production, in view of the escalating energy demand and the tight supply. It is suggested that much research is needed to develop technologies for recovering over two-thirds of the oil that will remain unrecovered in reservoirs. Key references are indicated.

Oxygen Carriers for Chemical Looping Combustion-4000 h of Operational Experience

Abstract: Oxygen Carriers for Chemical Looping Combustion - 4000 h of Operational Experience - Chemical Looping Combustion (CLC) is a new combustion technology with inherent separation of the greenhouse gas CO(2). The technology involves the use of a metal oxide as an oxygen carrier which transfers oxygen from combustion air to the fuel, and hence a direct contact between air and fuel is avoided. Two interconnected fluidized beds, a fuel reactor and an air reactor, are used in the process. The outlet gas from the fuel reactor consists of CO(2) and H(2)O, and the latter is easily removed by condensation. Considerable research has been conducted on CLC in the last years with respect to oxygen carrier development, reactor design system efficiencies and prototype testing. Today, more than 700 materials have been tested and the technology has been successfully demonstrated in chemical looping combustors in the size range 0.3-140 kW, using different types of oxygen carriers based on oxides of the metals Ni, Co, Fe, Cu and Mn. The total time of operational experience is more than 4000 hours. From these tests, it can be established that almost complete conversion of the fuel can be obtained and 100% CO(2) capture is possible. Most work so far has been focused on gaseous fuels, but the direct application to solid fuels is also being studied. This paper presents an overview of operational experience with oxygen carriers in chemical looping combustors.

Oligomerization of Monoolefins by Homogeneous Catalysts

Abstract: In this article are summarized the different mechanistic pathways for the oligomerization of monoolefins by homogeneous catalysts, particularly for ethylene and alpha olefins. The major topics are: the production of non regioselective and also regioselective olefin dimers, the production of linear alpha olefins by ethylene oligomerization as well as the selective dimerization of ethylene and its selective trimerization. Several industrial developments initiated by IFP are presented to illustrate this topic.

Promotion of Cobalt Fischer-Tropsch Catalysts with Noble Metals: a Review

Abstract: Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is a major part of XTL (X-To-Liquids, with X = Gas, Biomass or Coal) technologies, which converts syngas into clean hydrocarbon fuels. Cobalt catalysts supported by inorganic oxides appear to be a reasonable compromise for the synthesis of long-chain paraffins and waxes. The efficiency of Fischer-Tropsch technology strongly depends on the performance of cobalt catalysts. Promotion of cobalt catalysts with noble metals results in a significant increase in Fischer-Tropsch catalytic activity. This paper reviews different effects on the structure and catalytic performance of cobalt supported Fischer-Tropsch catalysts which arise from the promotion with noble metals. Both catalytic performance and catalyst cost seem to be major criteria in the design of efficient cobalt Fischer-Tropsch catalysts.

Microstructure of Supported Cobalt Fischer-Tropsch Catalysts

Abstract: Microstructure of Supported Cobalt Fischer-Tropsch Catalysts — The structures of metallic cobalt particles supported on silica (with and without Ru promoter) and on alumina have been investigated in-situ by conventional and anomalous X-ray diffraction. Comparison with simulated XRD patterns shows the structure to consist of a defect phase characterised by the presence of stacking faults, the density of which is directly related to the temperature at which the cobalt oxide is reduced. Controlled modification of the cobalt microstructure, while maintaining the same support and promoter has been achieved with limited variation of the particle size, notably via CO - H2 treatment leading to the formation and decomposition of cobalt carbide. Independently of the support or the presence of a promoter, low reduction temperatures increase the tendency to form hexagonal close packed (hcp) structure whilst at high reduction temperatures face centred cubic (fcc) stacking is preferentially formed. The catalytic activity for CO conversion in Fischer-Tropsch conditions is greatly increased for catalysts with a majority of hcp stacking compared to those containing predominantly fcc phase particles.