Hydrogen Donor Catalytic Aquathermolysis Upgrading for Heavy Oil: A Laboratory Study

Abstract

Heavy oil pyrolysis reaction was studied with formic acid as a body for hydrogen donor and homemade of oil-soluble organic nickel salt as a catalyst, by high-temperature and high-pressure Reactor simulating Thermal Recovery conditions. Explore the influence of the addition of hydrogen donor on heavy oil viscosity, group composition and sulfur contents before and after the catalytic aquathermolysis reaction. The results show that catalytic aquathermolysis of heavy oil leads to a percentage viscosity reduction of 64.69%, to an increase in saturates and aromatics contents from 24.32% and 36.89% to 26.12% and 38.08%, and to a decrease in resins, asphaltenes, and sulfur contents from 30.27%, 8.52%, and 0.5650% to 28.27%, 7.53%, and 0.3365%,respectively; when formic acid is introduced at dosage of 1-7% heavy oil mass, the percentage viscosity reductio is continuously raised to 69.16-87.02%, the saturates and aromatics contents-increased to 27.73-31.12% and 39.68-41.26% and the resins, asphaltenes, and sulfur contents-decreased to 26.29-24.12%, 6.66-3.50%, and 0.3095-0.0742%, respectively. The role of hydrogen donor formic acid and the functioning mechanisms involved in catalytic aquathermolysis of heavy oil are discussed.