Abstract
Air injection is a promising method to enhance light crude oil recovery. To effectively utilize this technology, understanding the oxidation behaviour and interactions of SARA components during low-temperature oxidation (LTO) is crucial. In this study, the SARA components of two light crude oils from the Xinjiang oilfield were characterized during LTO under air and nitrogen atmospheres, respectively. Firstly, our results revealed that the oxidation behaviour under air significantly affected crude oil stability at temperatures above 150 °C. Secondly, asphaltene component exhibited the highest oxidative activity, leading to the introduction of more oxygen and further oxidation of C–O groups and sulphoxides on the asphaltene surface. This resulted in stronger intermolecular forces among asphaltene molecules. Furthermore, the polarity characterization showed increased polarity difference between asphaltenes and resins. Structural parameters changes were observed in asphaltene aggregates, with enhanced aromaticity and accumulation of aromatic sheets after LTO reactions. Finally, these findings contribute to a deeper understanding of SARA component oxidation and interactions during LTO process, which is valuable for future air injection applications.
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