In- Situ Heavy Oil Upgrading through Ultra-Dispersed Nano-Catalyst Injection in Naturally Fractured Reservoirs: Experimental Section

Abstract

Abstract Conventional reserves in Mexico are nowadays in depletion, unconventional or not straight forward reservoirs are the next challenge for maintaining the oil production plateau of the Mexican industry. Several EOR processes are under study in order to deal with this situation, one promising process for naturally fracture reservoirs is the "In Situ Upgrading" which produces EOR and Upgrading by injection of a hot fluid, proposedly vacuum residue from the heavy oil produced, with suspended nano-catalytic particles flowing down-hole along with dissolved hydrogen as precursor of partial Hydroprocessing of the residue. The combination of thermal and chemical reactions with a catalyst leads to In-Situ Upgrading (ISU) of the residue injected and the in situ oil at the conditions created in the reservoir near the surroundings of the injection well bore, while the heat carried to the reservoir, the diluents produced by upgrading processes, the steam and hot water generated warm up progressively the rock and the heavy oil in the porous media, enhancing oil extraction. Testing the reactivity of the oil from a particular field has to be assessed at temperatures, pressures and residence time characteristics for the targeted reservoir in order to determine the suitability of this EOR process in that environment.