Abstract
In this paper, we investigated the influence of steam treatment on structural group composition of resins and asphaltenes of heavy oil. The object of investigation was oil-saturated rocks from Riphean-Vendian complex. The extracted crude oil was determined as a high-viscous fluid. The resins and asphaltenes destructed in a small extent due to thermal treatment. The oil-soluble iron-based catalyst intensified the destructive processes. The content of sulfur compounds (-SO) in resins and asphaltenes drastically decreased due to reduction reaction of sulfoxide to sulfide and hydrogen sulfide. The results showed that catalytic aquathermolysis, even at low temperature ranges, promoted the cracking reaction of most macromolecular components and increased the content of light fractions of heavy oil. Consequently, it reduced its viscosity.
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