Enhanced Heavy Oil Recovery Using Heavy Naphtha During Steam-Based Injection: Environmental-Economic Method

Abstract

Abstract This study investigated the enhancement of in-situ heavy crude in the presence of heavy naphtha as a multicomponent hydrogen-donor solvent oil during steam stimulation as an enhanced oil recovery (EOR) technique. The focus was on the influence of temperature and a hydrogen-donor on the upgrading performance of heavy crude oil. Experiments were conducted at 250 and 300 °C in a 300 ml high temperature/pressure reactor, under a nitrogen environment over a 24-hour period. The experimental factors’ efficacy has been evaluated by comparing the enhanced oils’ before- and after-upgrading conditions with respect to important characteristics like viscosity, elemental composition, and SARA fractions. Results indicated that employing heavy naphtha as a hydrogen-donor under steam injection conditions led to a viscosity reduction, attributed to an increase in saturated hydrocarbons and aromatics, and a decrease in resins and asphalts. The study concluded that a hydrogen-donor, specifically heavy naphtha, is a promising additive for enhancing in-situ heavy oil upgrading, effectively converting heavy oil to lighter forms. Furthermore, the advancement of enhanced oil recovery techniques and the environmental-economic sustainability of heavy oil reservoirs can be achieved through further exploration and field-scale deployment of this strategy.