Journal of Canadian Petroleum Technology
Volume 49, Number 11, November 2010, pp. 43-48

SPE-141302-PA

Use of Biodiesel as an Additive in Thermal Recovery of Heavy Oil and Bitumen

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DOI  More information 10.2118/141302-PA http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/141302-PA

Citation

  • Babadagli, T., Er, V., Naderi, K., Burkus, A., and Ozum, B. 2010. Use of Biodiesel as an Additive in Thermal Recovery of Heavy Oil and Bitumen. J Can Pet Technol  49 (11): 43–48. SPE-141302-PA. doi: 10.2118/141302-PA.

Discipline Categories

  • 6.4.5 Thermal Methods (e.g.,Steamflood, Cyclic Steam, THAI, Combustion)
  • 6.9.4 Oil Sand/Shale/Bitumen
  • 5.5.3 Chemical Treatments

Keywords

  • biodiesel additives, bitumen recovery

Summary

Bitumen extraction in oil sands-ore water slurry systems was studied by using lipids and lipid derivatives such as biodiesel (BD) as surfactant additive to promote bitumen recovery efficiency. Performance of BDs (i.e., canola and tall oil, a by-product of pulp mills using the bleached Kraft process) fatty acids methyl ester and food-grade fatty acids monoglycerides were evaluated as surfactant additives. Experimental findings suggest that BDs such as fatty acids methyl esters could also be used as surfactant additives to increase the efficiency of bitumen recovery in thermal in-situ processes such as steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) and cyclic steam stimulation (CSS) processes. The required dosage for the surfactant additive is about 0.1% of bitumen by mass. Also, interfacial tension measurements between bitumen and process water (YB,W) and BD and process water (YBD,W) support the surfactant behavior of BD.

© 2010. Society of Petroleum Engineers

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History

  • Original manuscript received: 21 July 2009
  • Meeting paper published: 17 June 2009
  • Revised manuscript received: 17 August 2010
  • Manuscript approved: 19 August 2010
  • Published online: 1 November 2010
  • Version of record: 1 November 2010