Solvent Selection Criteria Based on Diffusion Rate and Mixing Quality for Different Temperature Steam/Solvent Applications in Heavy-Oil and Bitumen Recovery

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Marciales ◽  
Tayfun Babadagli
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Oil ◽  
Selection Criteria ◽  
Diffusion Rate ◽  
Solvent Selection ◽  
Mixing Quality ◽  
Bitumen Recovery

Solvent-Selection Criteria Based on Diffusion Rate and Mixing Quality for Steam/Solvent Applications in Heavy-Oil and Bitumen Recovery

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (04) ◽  
pp. 620-632 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.. Marciales ◽  
T.. Babadagli
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Oil ◽  
Selection Criteria ◽  
Diffusion Rate ◽  
Asphaltene Precipitation ◽  
Solvent Selection ◽  
Solvent Injection ◽  
Mixing Quality ◽  
Bitumen Recovery ◽  
Static Conditions

Summary Heavy-oil and bitumen recovery requires high recovery factors to offset the extreme high cost of investments and operations. Attention has been given to solvent injection for this purpose, and it has been observed that high recoveries are achievable when it is combined with steam injection. Heavier (“liquid”) solvents (liquid at ambient conditions) are especially becoming more popular because of availability and transportation. High oil prices will allow the application of this kind of technique if a proper design is made to retrieve the injected solvent efficiently. “Liquid” solvents are advantageous because they yield a better-quality mixing (especially with very heavy oils and bitumen) but a lower diffusion rate than lighter solvents such as propane or butane. Despite this understanding, there still is not a clear screening criterion for solvent selection to mitigate both diffusion rate and the quality of the mixture. In this study, two main solvent-selection-criteria parameters—diffusion rate and mixing quality—were considered to evaluate solvent-injection efficiency at different temperatures. An optical method under static conditions and image-processing techniques were proposed to determine 1D diffusivity of liquid solvent into a wide range of oil samples in a capillary tube. This sampling range varies from 40-cp oil to 250-cp oil, for which digital-image treatment was developed. X-ray computerized tomography (CT) was applied for heavier (and darker) oils (viscosity range of 20,000 cp to 400,000 cp). The diffusion coefficients were then computed through nonlinear curve fitting on the basis of an optimization algorithm to ensure that the obtained values were in agreement with available analytical solutions. Next, viscosity measurements and asphaltene precipitation for the same heavy-oil/solvent mixtures were performed to determine the mixing quality. The ideal solvent types for different oil types were determined by using the results from the diffusion-rate and mixing-quality experiments. The experimental and semianalytical outcome of this research would be useful in the determination of the best solvent type for a given oil and in understanding the key factors that influence the quality of mixtures including viscosity reduction and probable asphaltene precipitation.

Electroplated Overlays for Crankshaft Bearings

1993 ◽  
Vol 115 (4) ◽  
pp. 706-710 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. R. Eastham
Keyword(s):  
Fatigue Strength ◽  
Selection Criteria ◽  
Diffusion Rate ◽  
Diffusion Control ◽  
Wear Properties ◽  
Wear Rates ◽  
Lead Alloys ◽  
Copper Interlayer ◽  
Thin Nickel ◽  
Composite Bearing

Overlays of either lead-indium or lead-tin-copper are electroplated onto both lead-bronze and aluminum alloy crankshaft bearings to improve seizure resistance and conformability during the initial running-in period. In addition, both the corrosion resistance, particularly of lead-bronze, and the effective fatigue strength of the composite bearing are improved by this layer. The life of the overlay is largely dependent upon the diffusion rate of the low melting point species to the substrate. Thus, migration of either the indium or the tin will determine both the corrosion and wear rates of the overlay. Owing to the processing requirements, aluminum bearings require a nickel or copper interlayer prior to final overlaying with either of the lead alloys. For diffusion control reasons, when depositing lead-tin-copper onto lead-bronze it is usual to have a thin nickel dam to retard the formation of copper-tin intermetallics, which under given conditions may reduce the overall strength and adhesion; lead-indium does not require such a dam on lead-bronze. The principal differences between the two overlays lie in their respective fatigue and wear properties. Thus, lead-indium has a higher fatigue strength but lower wear resistance than lead-tin-copper. This paper compares these two major overlays and considers the selection criteria for the overlay employed.

Solvent Selection Criteria and Optimal Application Conditions for Heavy-Oil/Bitumen Recovery at Elevated Temperatures: A Review and Comparative Analysis

2015 ◽  
Vol 138 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Khosrow Naderi ◽  
Tayfun Babadagli
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Oil Recovery ◽  
Heavy Oil ◽  
Selection Criteria ◽  
Elevated Temperatures ◽  
Fractured Reservoirs ◽  
Solvent Type ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Cost Efficient ◽  
Fractured Carbonates

Sole thermal or solvent methods for heavy-oil recovery are not effective enough to deliver cost efficient processes. Hybrid applications of those two techniques have been proposed to take advantage of each and a wide range of investigations have been recently performed focusing on extreme conditions such as bitumen containing sands and carbonates, deep reservoirs, and oil-wet fractured carbonates. What is critically important in these applications is to determine the best performing solvent for a particular application and optimal application conditions for a given solvent at high temperature conditions. In this study, the results from various reported works on the hybrid applications of thermal (mainly steam) and solvent methods were complied, analyzed, and compared. Attention was given to a comparative analysis of steam-over-solvent injection in fractured reservoirs (SOS-FR) method. Steam/solvent methods show a promising outcome in general, while specific modifications must be taken into account for different application situations. These were discussed and specified, especially from proper solvent type and optimal application conditions for alternate injection of steam and solvent in different reservoir types.

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