Journal of Canadian Petroleum Technology
Volume 48, Number 11, November 2009, 16-20

Abstract

Both gravity-based and cyclic processes for heavy oil/bitumen recovery may involve the use of hydrocarbon (n-alkane) solvent at relatively high solvent/oil ratios. Previous work at ARC has shown that at high solvent loadings, the oil/solvent mixture partitions into a solvent-rich oil phase and a heavy-ends-rich (mostly asphaltene) oil phase. The liquid phases have significantly different densities and viscosities. The partitioning phenomenon could have a significant impact on the performance of gravity-based processes such as Vapex involving solvents, where the low-viscosity liquid phase carries the bulk of the oil production, and the heavier liquid phase consisting of mostly asphaltene is essentially immobile. The solvent-rich phase will consist of the upgraded (de-asphalted) oil. Production of upgraded oil thus would not only enhance the production rate, but also have both economic and pipelining advantages. Data on the physical properties (viscosity and density) and the composition of both the partitioned phases are needed to design and optimize solvent-based processes in reservoir engineering calculations.

Phase partitioning experiments conducted at the Alberta Research Council Laboratories along with the experimental data are presented in this paper.

Introduction

Both gravity-based and cyclic processes for heavy oil recovery may involve the use of solvent which dissolves in heavy oil or bitumen at relatively high solvent/oil ratios. Earlier works at ARC, and recent work in the Thermal Gravity Strategic area, have shown that at high loadings the oil/solvent mixture partitions into a solvent- rich oil phase and a heavy-ends-rich oil phase. The two liquid oleic phases have significantly different densities and viscosities. The phase partitioning may have significant impact on the performance of a solvent-based heavy oil recovery process. In particular, VAPEX and other gravity-based processes involving solvents may have their performance enhanced if the low-viscosity phase carries the bulk of the oil production, and the heavy-ends-rich phase contains most of the asphaltene and is essentially immobile.

© 2009. Society of Petroleum Engineers

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History

• Original manuscript received: 28 March 2008
• Meeting paper published: 17 June 2008
• Revised manuscript received: 5 August 2009
• Manuscript approved: 15 September 2009