Upgrading of Athabasca Bitumen Using Supported Catalyst in Conjunction With In-Situ Combustion

Abstract

Summary Dry and normal wet combustion-tube tests were examined to study the upgrading potential of Athabasca bitumen supplied by Japan Canada Oil Sand Limited, using supported catalyst in conjunction with in-situ combustion. These tests were part of a larger program of combustion-tube tests performed by the In Situ Combustion Research Group under the auspices of the Alberta Innovates Centre for In Situ Energy (AICISE). The tests were premixed and carried out at the same pressure, 1,500 psig, preheat temperature, 95C, and ignition temperature, 350C. The catalysts bed for the dry combustion was heated externally to 325C while that of the normal wet combustion was not heated externally. Water was coinjected to achieve a stabilized water/air ratio of 1.8 kg water/m3 (ST) air injected for the normal wet combustion. Significant hydrodenitrogenation coupled with decreased viscosity and increased gravity in API was observed for both tests, indicating upgrading of the original Athabasca bitumen.