Microwave Radiation Induced Visbreaking of Heavy Crude Oil

Abstract

Microwave energy is slowly becoming the most diverse form of energy transfer and has been used in the petroleum industry for inspecting coiled tubing and line pipe, measuring multiphase flow, and the mobilization of asphaltic crude oil. In Canada, efforts have been intensified to develop microwave irradiation technology for in-situ enhanced oil recovery of the country’s large deposits of bitumen and heavy oil. The new technology employs specific frequency microwaves targeted into the formation containing heavy hydrocarbons to initiate conversion of the hydrocarbon into synthetic crude. The results of work presented in this report showed strong indications for the microwave technology to be employed not only for hydrocarbon extractions but also for in-situ induced visbreaking of heavy oil and bitumen (to drastically reduce oil viscosity for pipeline transportation without the use of diluents). Overall, the microwave technology presents the best alternative, economically and environmentally, to the existing visbreaking technologies for upgrading of heavy crude oil and bitumen.