Method of selection of asphaltene precipitant additives and process for subsurface upgrading therewith
申请人:Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
公开号:US10975291B2
公开(公告)日:2021-04-13
In-situ upgrading of heavy hydrocarbons includes injecting into a reservoir solvent, an asphaltene precipitant additive and optionally steam, at a ratio of solvent to heavy hydrocarbon between 0.1:1 and 20:1 under reservoir conditions. The additive has C—H, C—C and/or C—O bonds that thermally crack to generate free radicals in the vapor phase after injection. Formed downhole are a blend containing an upgraded hydrocarbon, and precipitated asphaltenes. The upgraded hydrocarbon is produced such that the precipitated asphaltenes remain in the reservoir. The upgraded hydrocarbon has a greater API gravity, lower asphaltene content, and lower viscosity than the heavy hydrocarbon. The precipitated asphaltenes are present in a higher amount than a similar blend not containing the additive. A method for selecting the additive includes identifying candidate additives having bonds that crack to generate free radicals in the vapor phase at the operating temperature, and calculating percent increase of asphaltenes precipitated for each.
重碳氢化合物的原位升级包括向储层注入溶剂、沥青质沉淀剂添加剂和蒸汽,在储层条件下,溶剂与重碳氢化合物的比例在 0.1:1 到 20:1 之间。添加剂中的 C-H、C-C 和/或 C-O 键在注入后会发生热裂解,在气相中产生自由基。在井下形成的混合物含有升级的碳氢化合物和沉淀的沥青质。在生产升级碳氢化合物时,沉淀沥青质会留在储层中。与重质碳氢化合物相比,升级碳氢化合物的 API 重力更大,沥青质含量更低,粘度更低。与不含添加剂的类似混合物相比,沉淀沥青质的含量更高。选择添加剂的方法包括确定候选添加剂,这些添加剂的键在工作温度下会裂解,从而在气相中产生自由基,并计算每种添加剂析出的沥青质的增加百分比。