Improved Analysis of the Kinetics of Crude-Oil In-Situ Combustion

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Murat Cinar ◽  
Louis Castanier ◽  
Anthony Robert Kovscek
Keyword(s):  
Crude Oil ◽  
In Situ Combustion ◽  
Kinetics Of

Kinetics of Wet In-Situ Combustion: A Review of Kinetic Models

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. A. Cavanzo ◽  
S. F. Muñoz ◽  
A.. Ordoñez ◽  
H.. Bottia
Keyword(s):  
Kinetic Model ◽  
Crude Oil ◽  
Kinetic Models ◽  
Combustion Front ◽  
Chemical Interaction ◽  
Combustion Process ◽  
Oxidation Reactions ◽  
In Situ Combustion ◽  
Temperature Oxidation

Abstract In Situ Combustion is an enhanced oil recovery method which consists on injecting air to the reservoir, generating a series of oxidation reactions at different temperature ranges by chemical interaction between oil and oxygen, the high temperature oxidation reactions are highly exothermic; the oxygen reacts with a coke like material formed by thermal cracking, they are responsible of generating the heat necessary to sustain and propagate the combustion front, sweeping the heavy oil and upgrading it due to the high temperatures. Wet in situ combustion is variant of the process, in which water is injected simultaneously or alternated with air, taking advantage of its high heat capacity, so the steam can transport heat more efficiently forward the combustion front due to the latent heat of vaporization. A representative model of the in situ combustion process is constituted by a static model, a dynamic model and a kinetic model. The kinetic model represents the oxidative behavior and the compositional changes of the crude oil; it is integrated by the most representative reactions of the process and the corresponding kinetic parameters of each reaction. Frequently, the kinetic model for a dry combustion process has Low Temperature Oxidation reactions (LTO), thermal cracking reactions and the combustion reaction. For the case of wet combustion, additional aquathermolysis reactions take place. This article presents a full review of the kinetic models of the wet in situ combustion process taking into account aquathermolysis reactions. These are hydrogen addition reactions due to the chemical interaction between crude oil and steam. The mechanism begins with desulphurization reactions and subsequent decarboxylation reactions, which are responsible of carbon monoxide production, which reacts with steam producing carbon dioxide and hydrogen; this is the water and gas shift reaction. Finally, during hydrocracking and hydrodesulphurization reactions, hydrogen sulfide is generated and the crude oil is upgraded. An additional upgrading mechanism during the wet in situ combustion process can be explained by the aquathermolysis theory, also hydrogen sulphide and hydrogen production can be estimated by a suitable kinetic model that takes into account the most representative reactions involved during the combustion process.

Controlled Burning of Crude Oil on Water Following the Grounding Of the Exxon Valdez

1991 ◽  
Vol 1991 (1) ◽  
pp. 213-216
Author(s):  
Alan A. Allen
Keyword(s):  
Crude Oil ◽  
Oil Spill ◽  
North Slope ◽  
Exxon Valdez ◽  
In Situ Combustion ◽  
Entire Area ◽  
Exxon Valdez Oil Spill ◽  
Original Volume ◽  
Controlled Burning

ABSTRACT During the evening of the second day following the Exxon Valdez oil spill, an estimated 15,000 to 30,000 gallons (57,000 to 114,000 L) of North Slope crude oil were eliminated using in-situ combustion techniques. The oil was collected with the 3M Company's Fire Boom, towed in a U-shaped configuration behind two fishing boats. Working with 500-foot (152-m) tow lines, a 450-foot (137-m) boom was moved at about one-half to one knot (0.26 to 0.52 m/s) through slightly emulsified oil patches downwind of the spill. Once oil had filled the downstream portion of the U-shaped boom and the boats were clear of any surrounding slicks, a gelled-fuel igniter was released from one of the tow boats. Shortly after ignition, flames gradually spread out over the entire area of the contained oil. As flames reached 200 to 300 feet (61 to 91 m) into the air, the area of the contained oil layer (and therefore the size and intensity of the fire) could be controlled by adjusting the speed of the vessels. The total burn time was approximately 75 minutes; however, the intense part of the burn lasted for about 45 minutes. The original volume of oil, likely between 15,000 and 30,000 gallons, was reduced to approximately 300 gallons (1,136 L) of stiff, taffy-like burn residue that could be picked up easily upon completion of the burn. The controlled elimination of crude oil therefore resulted in an estimated 98 percent or better efficiency of burn.

An experimental investigation of the in-situ combustion behavior of Karamay crude oil

2015 ◽  
Vol 127 ◽  
pp. 82-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renbao Zhao ◽  
Yixiu Chen ◽  
Rongping Huan ◽  
Louis M. Castanier ◽  
Anthony R. Kovscek
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Investigation ◽  
Crude Oil ◽  
In Situ Combustion ◽  
Combustion Behavior

Numerical Simulation of Combustion Tube Experiments and the Associated Kinetics of In-Situ Combustion Processes

1984 ◽  
Vol 24 (06) ◽  
pp. 657-666 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.Y. Lin ◽  
W.H. Chen ◽  
S.T. Lee ◽  
W.E. Culham
Keyword(s):  
Crude Oil ◽  
Combustion Front ◽  
Combustion Zone ◽  
Combustion Tube ◽  
Cracking Reaction ◽  
Oil Components ◽  
Combustion Processes ◽  
Kinetics Of ◽  
Fuel Deposition

Abstract This paper presents the results of numerical simulation of dry, forward combustion tube experiments. The kinetic aspects of in-situ combustion processes also are discussed. The goals of the study are to investigate processes also are discussed. The goals of the study are to investigate the fuel deposition mechanism and to identify the key parameters affecting the performance of in-situ combustion processes. The thermal simulator developed at Gulf R and D Co. was used in the study. It was modified to include the capillary outlet effects for a more realistic description of the oil and water productions. The following experimental data were matched: cumulative water and oil productions, position of the combustion front as a function of time, fuel consumption, position of the combustion front as a function of time, fuel consumption, temperature as a function of time and position, and the pressure drop across the tube. History matches were performed for two crude oils with distinctly different physical properties (gravities of 26.5 and 13 API [0. 896 and 0. 979 g/cm3]). The agreements between experimental data and simulation results were excellent. Results indicate that the component equilibrium K-values and the kinetics of cracking reactions are the most important parameters affecting the fuel deposition, and that the fuel deposition mechanism, the fuel composition, and the locations and sizes of the transient zones depend on the crude oil and reservoir rock properties. Simulation results are always sensitive to the K-values of the light oil component but insensitive to the K-values of the heavy oil component. Results are sensitive to the kinetics of cracking reaction only if the cracking reaction is catalytic or the peak temperature and the fuel consumption are sufficiently high. Furthermore, the fuel available may or may not be solely in the form of coke. Our study suggests that further investigations of the catalytic effect of reservoir rocks and reaction kinetics of the cracking reaction are needed. Also, more than two crude oil components may be required to simulate the evaporation effect of crude oil accurately. Introduction In in-situ combustion processes, many physical changes as well as chemical reactions take place simultaneously or sequentially in the vicinity of the combustion front. It is generally believed that the combustion zone is preceded by a cracking or superheated steam zone, where coke is formed and preceded by a cracking or superheated steam zone, where coke is formed and deposited on the sand grains, and some lighter crude oil components evaporate and move forward with the flowing gas phase. The kinetics of combustion and cracking reactions in the combustion zone and the cracking zone has been discussed widely in the literature. The mechanisms of the physical changes and chemical reactions occurring around the combustion zone can be studied effectively through numerical simulation by using a thermal simulator. Although a number of numerical simulations of combustion tube experiments have been performed with different thermal simulators, no conclusions regarding the mechanism of fuel deposition can be drawn from these studies. The mentioned simulations either neglect the formation of coke from cracking reaction or use a high cracking rate so that no residual oil will be present in the combustion zone. The mechanism of fuel deposition is controlled by two important processes: the evaporation of crude oil components and the kinetics of the processes: the evaporation of crude oil components and the kinetics of the cracking reaction. These two processes determine how much fuel eventually will be burned and how much fuel will be in the form of coke. It has been reported, that low-temperature oxidation can have a significant effect on the fuel deposition and fuel characteristics. However, this reaction is important only when oxygen is available downstream of the combustion front. If oxygen is used completely in a combustion tube experiment, low-temperature oxidation will not play an important role in the fuel deposition mechanism. For a system with a high cracking reaction rate, it is likely that all of the crude oil in the cracking zone will be either evaporated or coked so that coke is the sole source of fuel. However, if the cracking rate is so low that only a portion of crude oil in the cracking zone is evaporated or coked, then some residual crude oil also will be burned in the combustion zone. This is supported strongly by the experimental data of Hildebrand who conducted a number of combustion tube experiments using clean, crushed Berea sandpacks with a variety of crude oils. SPEJ p. 657

Estimation of the kinetic triplet for in-situ combustion of crude oil in the presence of limestone matrix

Fuel ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 209 ◽  
pp. 203-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milad Karimian ◽  
Mahin Schaffie ◽  
Mohammad Hassan Fazaelipoor
Keyword(s):  
Crude Oil ◽  
In Situ Combustion ◽  
Kinetic Triplet

Automation of an In-Situ Combustion Tube and Study of the Effect of Clay on the In-Situ Combustion Process

1982 ◽  
Vol 22 (04) ◽  
pp. 493-502 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shapour Vossoughi ◽  
G. Paul Willhite ◽  
William P. Kritikos ◽  
Ibrahim M. Guvenir ◽  
Youssef El Shoubary
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Analysis ◽  
Crude Oil ◽  
Combustion Process ◽  
Combustion Tube ◽  
Oxygen Utilization ◽  
Kaolinite Clay ◽  
In Situ Combustion ◽  
Adiabatic Conditions ◽  
Dsc Thermograms

Abstract A fully automated in-situ combustion apparatus supported by a minicomputer was designed, constructed, and tested.Results obtained from four adiabatic dry combustion runs to investigate the effect on clay on crude oil combustion are reported. Sand mixtures of varying clay (kaolinite) content were saturated with crude oil and water. The fourth run was performed with amorphous silica powder in the sand mixture for comparison with clay results.We concluded that the large surface area of the clays was a major contributor to the fuel deposition process. However, different oxygen utilization efficiencies obtained from both types of sand mixtures indicated that mechanisms controlling the combustion reaction also depended on the composition of the porous matrix.A thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) and a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) were used to obtain kinetic data on the effects of kaolinite type clay on crude oil combustion. The addition of kaolinite clay or silica powder changed the shape of the crude oil TGA/DSC thermograms significantly, but sand had no effect. The major effect on DSC thermograms was a shifting of the large amount of heat produced from a higher to lower temperature range. Reduction of activation energy caused by the addition of kaolinite clay to the crude oil indicates both catalytic and surface area effects on combustion/cracking reactions. Introduction In-situ combustion is a thermal recovery process in which a portion of the crude oil is coked and burned in situ to recover the remaining oil. Design of the process involves experimental evaluation of process variables in laboratory experiments. Variables sought experimentally for the design of the process are usually fuel availability, air requirement, oxygen utilization efficiency, combustion peak temperature, combustion front velocity, effect of porous matrix, and kinetic parameters. Four methods have been used to obtain design data for in-situ combustion projects. These include (1) adiabatic in-situ combustion tube runs, (2) isothermal reactors, (3) flood pot tests, and (4) thermal analysis techniques.This paper describes an investigation of the effect of clay on in-situ combustion involving results from adiabatic combustion tube runs and thermal analysis methods. Part 1 describes the minicomputer-based insitu combustion system developed as part of the research program. Part 2 demonstrates application of the system to study the effect of clays on the in-situ combustion process. Combustion tube runs described in Part 2 are supplemented with thermal analysis methods to evaluate the effect of clay on in-situ combustion of a Kansas crude oil. Part 1-Development of an Automated In-Situ Combustion Tube Adiabatic tube runs have been the most commonly used approach for studying in-situ combustion. Since heat loss is small to nil in thick reservoirs, in-situ combustion is assumed to occur under adiabatic conditions. Adiabatic conditions in tube runs can be achieved either by insulating the tube or by reducing the temperature gradient between the sandpack and the environment surrounding the tube, or both. To attain adiabatic conditions in a partially or noninsulated tube, the temperature of the surroundings must be raised to that of the sandpack as the combustion front moves along the tube. Heater bands with proportional heat loads controlled by individual controllers are used. This requires a large number of controllers to control the temperature of the outside SPEJ P. 493^

An Experimental Investigation of the In-Situ Combustion Behavior of Karamay Crude Oil

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yixiu Chen ◽  
Anthony Robert Kovscek ◽  
Louis Marie Castanier ◽  
Renbao Zhao ◽  
Rongping Huang
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Investigation ◽  
Crude Oil ◽  
In Situ Combustion ◽  
Combustion Behavior
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