Bitumen Residue Research Articles

Numerical Insights from a Population Balance Model into the Distribution of Bitumen Residues in Industrial Horizontal Pipes During the Hydrotransport of Oil Sands Tailings

Numerical Insights from a Population Balance Model into the Distribution of Bitumen Residues in Industrial Horizontal Pipes During the Hydrotransport of Oil Sands Tailings

Enhanced accumulation of bitumen residue in a highly concentrated tailings flow by microbubbles from in-situ catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide

The massive volume of oil sands tailings has been one of the most challenging environmental issues. In this work, we experimentally explore a simple and effective approach to bitumen residue separation from a highly concentrated slurry flow of the artificial oil sands tailings. By utilizing microbubbles from in-situ catalytic decomposition of H2O2 at low concentrations, bitumen aggregation is enhanced on the top part of the hydrotransport pipeline. The microscopic image analysis revealed the in-situ formation of microbubbles and confirmed that magnetic particles present in the slurries contributed to the fast release of the gas products and bubble formation from hydrogen peroxide decomposition. A high-speed camera was applied to capture images of the tailings flow in the pipeline through a transparent view window. A large number of tiny bubbles were identified post to the injection of H2O2 to the slurry flow. More than 70 % bitumen could be recovered from a lab-scale pipeline loop within 30 mins after H2O2 injection. The bitumen recovery efficiency from the collected froth was quantitatively compared under seven conditions with varied dosages, the concentration of H2O2, and the amount of magnetic solids in the slurries. Our results confirmed that the total dosage of H2O2 is the dominant factor in in-situ microbubble formation for enhanced bitumen aggregation in the flow. Importantly, microbubbles were generated rapidly in the real mature fine tailings. The results from our study provide insights into the preferential distribution of oil residue in the flow during hydrotransport without the requirement for an additional device. Removal of oily residues from concentrated slurries may bring economical and environmental advantages.

Computational fluid dynamics investigation of bitumen residues in oil sands tailings transport in an industrial horizontal pipe

Pipeline transport is commonly used in the oil sand industry to convey crushed oil sand ores and tailings. Bitumen residues in the oil sand tailings can be a threat to the environment that separating them from tailings before disposal is crucial. However, low bitumen concentration in the tailing slurry and the complex transport characteristics of the four-phase mixture make the process difficult. This study establishes an Eulerian–Eulerian (E–E) computational fluid dynamics model for an industrial-scale oil sand tailings pipeline. A comprehensive sensitivity analysis was conducted on the selection of carrier-solid and solid-bitumen drag models. The combination of small and large particle sizes (i.e., 75 and 700 μm) and bitumen droplet size (i.e., 400 μm) provided good agreement with field data in velocity profiles and pressure drop. The validated model was subsequently extended to investigate the influence of the secondary phase (i.e., bitumen droplets and bubbles) on flow characteristics in a tailing pipeline. The investigation covered a range of bitumen droplet size (100–400 μm), bitumen fraction (0.0025–0.1), bubble size (5–1000 μm), and bubble fraction (0.0025–0.3) and their influences on the velocity, solids, and bitumen distribution are revealed. For an optimum bubble size of 500 μm, a maximum recovery of 59% from the top 50% and 83% from the top 75% of the pipe cross section was obtained. The present study demonstrates the preferential distribution of bitumen and provides valuable insight into bitumen recovery from an industrial-scale tailing pipeline.

Evaluating aromatization of solid bitumen generated in the presence and absence of water: Implications for solid bitumen reflectance as a thermal proxy

Geological models for petroleum generation suggest thermal conversion of oil-prone sedimentary organic matter in the presence of water promotes increased liquid saturate yield, whereas absence of water causes formation of an aromatic, cross-linked solid bitumen residue. To test the influence of hydrogen from water, organic-rich (22 wt% total organic carbon, TOC) mudrock samples from the Eocene lacustrine Green River Formation Mahogany zone oil shale were pyrolyzed under hydrous and anhydrous conditions in closed system batch reactors at temperatures between 300 and 370 °C for 72 h. Pre- and post-pyrolysis samples were characterized using petrographic approaches including optical microscopy, reflectance, Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron and transmission electron microscopy to quantify differences in relative appearance, abundance, and composition of solid bitumen newly generated during the pyrolysis experiments. Petrographic analyses were supplemented by geochemical screening measurements (TOC content and programmed temperature pyrolysis). Results show post-hydrous pyrolysis residues contain lower TOC, are comprised of solid bitumen with greater aromaticity, and have textures indicative of lower viscosities, relative to anhydrous residues from the same temperature pyrolysis conditions. These observations suggest solid bitumen forming from thermal conversion of oil-prone sedimentary organic matter under anhydrous conditions may be less aromatic, although more cross-linked, than solid bitumen forming under hydrous conditions at the same time-temperature combination. To explain these results, we suggest that a radical disproportionation mechanism is favored in the presence of hydrogen donated from water, and that this disproportionation promotes aromatization in the solid residue with concomitant expulsion of saturated hydrocarbons.

Effect of emulsifier on physical properties of cup lump modified emulsified bitumen residues

The improvement of physical properties of emulsified bitumen residues is the prime concern for researchers to improve the performance of cold mix asphalt and different types of polymers are incorporated in emulsified bitumen for this purpose. However, the bitumen emulsion is usually prepared with the help of emulsifier and the function of emulsifier in the emulsions is to reduce the interfacial tension on the surfaces of bitumen and water droplets which results in a stable droplets suspension system for a sufficient period of time. Despite using it as an emulsifying agent, the impact of emulsifier on physical and rheological properties of bitumen emulsion’s residues is never studied before. In this study, different types of bitumen with pen 80/100, 60/70 and Cup lump rubber (CLR) modified bitumen were emulsified at 0.5%, 1% and 6.5% emulsifier (Redicote-EM44) content respectively. Physical tests such as penetration, softening point and viscosity were carried out on bitumen residues to investigate the effect of emulsifier. The results indicate that the emulsifier enhances the physical properties of bitumen emulsion residues. The resistance to penetration was improved up to 20% and 16% for the bitumen emulsion residues of 80/100 and 60/70 respectively while it had adverse effect on penetration value of CLR residue resulting in a decreased performance up to 19%. The effect of emulsifier on softening point was not remarkable but has improved SPV of 80/100 and 60/70 bitumen residues whereas the values decreased for CLR bitumen residue. The viscosity results were with better agreement of penetration and softening point results.

Enhanced Accumulation of Bitumen Residue in a Highly Concentrated Tailings Flow by Microbubbles from In-Situ Catalytic Decomposition of Hydrogen Peroxide

Enhanced Accumulation of Bitumen Residue in a Highly Concentrated Tailings Flow by Microbubbles from In-Situ Catalytic Decomposition of Hydrogen Peroxide

Development of Technology for Processing Oil Sludge with Application of Super High Frequency Electromagnetic Fields


 
 
 This article considers the problem of processing and disposing of oil sludge of various origins. Large oil companies are concerned about the problem of incomplete processing of oil sludge. The most hazardous from an environmental point of view include oil sludge formed at all stages of oil production, transportation and refining. In recent years, oil-producing enterprises have introduced various technological solutions aimed at waste management into production, but there is no single method for processing oil sludge for the purpose of neutralization and disposal. All known oil sludge processing technologies by processing methods can be divided into the following groups: thermal - burning in open barns, furnaces of various types, obtaining bitumen residues; physical - burial in special cemeteries, separation in a centrifugal field, vacuum filtration and filtration under pressure; physical and chemical - the use of specially selected reagents that change the physical and chemical properties, followed by processing on special equipment; and biological - microbiological decomposition in the soil directly in storage, biothermal decomposition. Each of them, while having certain advantages, also has its drawbacks. For over 50 years, microwave heating technology has been used in industry. To present the advantages of this method, one needs to turn to the theory of microwave heating.
 Keywords: oil sludge, oil waste, influence of electromagnetic fields, water-in-oil emulsions
 
 

Novel magnetic carbon supported molybdenum disulfide catalyst and its application in residue upgrading

A novel hybrid material consisted of carbon covered Fe3O4 nanoparticles and MoS2 nanoflower (FCM) was designed and prepared by micelle-assisted hydrothermal methods. Multiple techniques, including X-Ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were employed to characterize it. The results show that FCM has a flower-like morphology with a 330 nm Fe3O4 core as well as 70 nm highly crystalline MoS2 shell. FCM is superparamagnetic with a saturation magnetization of 35 emu g−1. Then hydrocracking of Canadian bitumen residue (CBR) was applied to estimate its catalytic activity. The results show that FCM exhibits superior catalytic hydrocracking activity compared to bulk MoS2 and commercial oil-dispersed Mo(CO)6 by the same Mo loading. Further measurement by elemental analysis, XPS and XRD reveals that the MoS2 nanoflower with abundant catalytic active sites and covered carbon layer with anti-coke ability donate to the superior upgrading performance. Besides, the catalysts can be easily recovered by the external magnetic field. This work provides a novel kind magnetic nanocatalyst which is potential for slurry-phase hydrocracking applications.

The Paleozoic petroleum system in the north of Scotland – outcrop analogues

Abstract All of the components of an exhumed Devonian petroleum system occur in Orkney. These include a good quality mature source rock to bitumen-bearing sandstone reservoirs, with several separate accumulations that could have held about 1.88 billion barrels of oil. The exhumed system presents an excellent analogue for deeply buried petroleum systems offshore. Whilst lighter oils are now absent, reported oil shows occur, commonly associated with faults cutting the Eday Group. On Orkney, Middle Devonian source rocks (750 m thick) were thick lacustrine laminites (fish beds) representing some 30% of the sequence. RockEval and vitrinite analyses show the organic matter is good quality Type I and II and within the early oil window. These source rocks underwent burial until Permian inversion. Several exhumed reservoirs occur on Orkney in aeolian and fluvial sandstones with porosities from 15 to 25%. These reservoirs have been ‘breached’, losing the light-end hydrocarbons, leaving pore space oil stain and bitumen residues. Thin fluvial and sheet-floods sands found within the lake cycles have bitumen residues and provided connectivity between the thicker reservoir units. All types of trap are found including a major, broad anticline running north–south on Mainland Orkney and an unconformity with fault traps and pinchouts.

Bitumen residue on a Late Ceramic Age three-pointer from Marie-Galante, Guadeloupe: Chemical characterization and ligature evidence

Among the most recognizable and enigmatic artefacts found in pre-Columbian archaeological contexts of the Ceramic Age in the Greater and Lesser Antilles is the three-pointer, a triangular shaped object made of various mineral and organic materials. Despite a few ethno-historic mentions and abundant academic speculations, little is known about the social and spiritual dimensions these once animate objects had in the Amerindian Antillean communities. Furthermore, very little can be empirically verified. The wide array of known specimens shows many variations, including the presence/absence of usually poorly preserved traces of black residue, often described as plant tars, resins or gums, or as inorganic bitumen. Well preserved residues of this type have been observed on a three-pointer specimen recently discovered in a Late Ceramic Age context (Troumassoid series, 10th–11th century AD) of the Tourlourous site on the island of Marie-Galante (Guadeloupe, French Lesser Antilles). They have been physico-chemically characterized as bitumen, and they preserve evidence of a specific tying system. These data raise considerations on two points: the necessity to better document these sometimes tenuous clues of tying and adhesion systems implying bitumen (and other glues), and the need to consider that three-pointers (and other artefacts), while actively used in the mediation between social and spiritual dimensions, also have a practical side which should be addressed in technological terms in order to better understand all their dimensions.

Pore space characteristics of the Upper Visean ‘Rudov Beds’: insights from broad ion beam scanning electron microscopy and organic geochemical investigations

Abstract This study gives valuable insights into the microstructure and pore space characteristics of 17 compositionally variable Visean shale samples from the Ukrainian Dniepr-Donets Basin (the ‘Rudov Beds’). The representative imaging area varies considerably (from 10 000 to >300 000 µm 2 ) as a function of the mineralogy and diagenetic overprinting. The pores hosted in organic matter (OM) are restricted to secondary solid bitumen. Based on high-resolution maps from broad ion beam scanning electron microscopy combined with organic geochemical and bulk mineralogical data, we propose that the amount of OM-hosted porosity responds to the availability of pore space, enabling the accumulation of an early oil phase, which is then progressively transformed to a porous solid bitumen residue. The type of OM porosity (pendular/interface v. spongy) is reflected in the individual pore size distributions: the spongy pores are usually smaller (<50 nm) than the pendular or OM–mineral interface pores. The OM-hosted porosity coincides with differences in the composition of the extract, with high amounts of extractable OM and saturated/aromatic compound ratios indicative of abundant porous solid bitumen. The average circularity and aspect ratio of the mineral matrix pores correlate with the corresponding values for the OM-hosted pores, which show a preferred bedding-parallel orientation, suggesting that compaction influenced both types of pore.

Enhanced product quality in lubricant type vacuum distillation unit by implementing dividing wall column

Lubricants are highly value-add petroleum refinery products fabricated from lube base oils, the side cuts from lube-type vacuum towers of crude distillation units. In such a popular lubricant type vacuum distillation unit (LTVDU), the 4th lube side cut, nearby the feeding stage, is normally designed to control the 3rd lube cut end boiling point and the bitumen residue flash point temperature. With useless wider boiling point range than the other lube side cuts, its fate is to discharge as fuel or circulate back to the vacuum furnace for limited higher yield at the cost of more energy. This situation triggered our work to reduce boiling point overlap between the 3rd and 4th lube cuts by implementing dividing wall column (DWC) into LTVDU. This novel design is verified to benefit through an industrial case study. Namely, the 4th lube cut boiling point range is so dramatically narrowed as to be a new lube product, without adding extra heat loads. This way the lube base oil product yield can be greatly improved. Industrially, this DWC designed at LTVDU washing zone can deliver excellent hydraulics and carbon residual controlling performance for larger specific liquid flow by section crossing off for DWC.

A geochemical study of bitumen residues on ceramics excavated from Early Bronze age graves (3000–2900 BCE) at Başur Höyük in SE Turkey

Eight black residues, scraped from outer surfaces of painted ceramics, unearthed from graves 1–3 at Başur Höyük (SE Turkey), were analysed by geochemical techniques in order to characterize bitumens and to try to identify their source. Ceramics are dated from the Early Bronze period (3100–2900 BCE). The black organic matter was indeed identified as bitumen, but its source has not been discovered despite its comparison with several oil seeps from the area. The bitumen at Başur Höyük does not match the bitumens analyzed at Kavuşan Höyük, Salat Höyük, Hakemi Use and Kuriki Höyük which are Cretaceous in origin and likely imported from the Eruh tars deposit. The stable carbon isotope values of their asphaltene fraction suggest a Silurian origin, however the occurrence of the 18α(H)-oleanane emphasized a younger source, i.e. Tertiary or Cretaceous. Our interpretation favours the mixture of two oils, a Silurian age and a Tertiary-Cretaceous age. This mixture may occur geologically, due to the uptake of a Tertiary signal by a Silurian oil along its migration route to the surface. It may also be a consequence of human activity carried out by the inhabitants at the mortuary ceremony where the bituminous mixture has been applied to ceramics, prior to their deposit in the graves. The oil seep character of the archaeological bitumen at Başur Höyük and the lack of obvious oxidation suggest the following explanation: freshly collected oil seeps were splashed on ceramics as ritual practices and the tarry potteries were then buried and therefore sealed. The fast burial prevented the bitumen from any oxidative alteration.

Assessment of modified lignin cationic emulsifier for bitumen emulsions used in road paving

The utilization of Kraft lignin as cationic emulsifier in the preparation of bitumen emulsions has been assessed in this work. Thus, Kraft lignin was previously modified in alkaline medium in presence of tetraethylene pentamine (TEPA) and formaldehyde, according to the Mannich reaction. Solubility in water phase as a function of pH demonstrated the amphoteric nature of the reaction product, which enables its potential application in cationic bitumen emulsions. Bitumen emulsions stabilized by modified Kraft lignin (MKL) were further studied. Different B/W ratios, which mainly affected the high-shear-rate-limiting viscosities, yielded more similar mean droplet diameters than different pHs, whose effect on viscosity was mainly at low shear rates. Moreover, viscous flow and linear viscoelasticity tests revealed enhanced rheological performance of the MKL bitumen residue if compared to the parent base bitumen. Finally, half warm mix asphalt (HWMA) specimens containing reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) were studied, and the results compared with those corresponding to virgin aggregate. In both cases, the preparation of HWMA with a selected 60/40 MKL bitumen emulsion at 80°C by gyratory compaction was successful. Compared to the virgin aggregate, the specimen derived from 100% RAP showed much higher mechanical resistance due to a partial blending of fresh binder with RAP aged binder.

The rheological properties of a bitumen emulsion modified with two types of SBR latex

ABSTRACTBitumen emulsions have recently been taken as one of the most frequently used binders for asphalt surface treatments (AST). Making use of modified bitumen emulsion is necessary to improve AST. Styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) is one of the most commonly used modifiers. The present research study tested the residue of normal and modified bitumen emulsion with different percentages of SBR and X-SBR using ordinary and dynamic shear rheometer methods. The findings revealed that increasing latex SBR led to increasing softening point and needle penetration, so that temperature sensitivity of bitumen residue is reduced. The stiffness of modified bitumen emulsion residue improved significantly by increasing the percentage of SBR. Furthermore, comparing the effect of SBR and X-SBR on bitumen emulsion uncovered that in equal polymer percentage of 6%, X-SBR promoted performance graded for at least one performance grade. Finally, the study is innovative as it dealt with the comparison of high-temperature performance analysis of the impact of polymer percentage simultaneous with that of SBR structure on improving bitumen emulsion.

Obtaining of Bitumen Emulsions using Nonionic Surface-Active Substances

Background: One of the trends concerning an effective use of large-tonnage and yet scarce binder as bitumen is a considerable introduction of bitumen emulsions in water into the practice of road and civil construction. Methods: The paper presents the experimental data on the research of bituminous emulsions, the physical-chemical properties of an original BND bitumen 60/90 from Zyuzeevsky NBZ and the bitumen residue there of. Results: The resulting emulsions were highly stable and were referred to slowly structured (slowly decomposing) ones, which may be used in the preparation of cold bituminous mineral mixtures of different density used for storage, the strengthening of soils, dust removal from roads. These emulsions had a viscous consistency that may be used for solving the problem of bitumen emulsions application to an inclined surface. Bituminous residues differ by the improvement of a film binder adhesion performance with mineral material (adhesion) without the use of additional adhesion additives. Conclusion: The use of such a component, which also has an emulsifying ability and an adhesion effect, an increased resistance to delamination and coalescence of an emulsion during storage, bitumen saving and the environmental rate.

Effects of different pretreatments on the performance of ceramic ultrafiltration membrane during the treatment of oil sands tailings pond recycle water: A pilot-scale study

Membrane filtration is an effective treatment method for oil sands tailings pond recycle water (RCW); however, membrane fouling and rapid decrease in permeate flux caused by colloids, organic matter, and bitumen residues present in the RCW hinder its successful application. This pilot-scale study investigated the impact of different pretreatment steps on the performance of a ceramic ultrafiltration (CUF) membrane used for the treatment of RCW. Two treatment trains were examined: treatment train 1 consisted of coagulant followed by a CUF system, while treatment train 2 included softening (Multiflo™ system) and coagulant addition, followed by a CUF system. The results indicated that minimum pretreatment (train 1) was required for almost complete solids removal. The addition of a softening step (train 2) provided an additional barrier to membrane fouling by reducing hardness-causing ions to negligible levels. More than 99% removal of turbidity and less than 20% removal of total organic carbon were achieved regardless of the treatment train used. Permeate fluxes normalized at 20 °C of 127–130 L/m2 h and 111–118 L/m2 h, with permeate recoveries of 90–93% and 90–94% were observed for the treatment trains 1 and 2, respectively. It was also found that materials deposited onto the membrane surface had an impact on trans-membrane pressure and influenced the required frequencies of chemically enhanced backwashes (CEBs) and clean-in-place (CIP) procedures. The CIP performed was successful in removing fouling and scaling materials such that the CUF performance was restored to baseline levels. The results also demonstrated that due to their low turbidity and silt density index values, permeates produced in this pilot study were suitable for further treatment by high pressure membrane processes.

Effect of temperature on bitumen conversion in a supercritical water flow

This article deals with a study of bitumen conversion (the gross-formula CH1.47N0.01S0.007) in a supercritical water (SCW) flow continuously supplied at the bottom of the vertically located tubular reactor. At the first stage, bitumen was continuously supplied from the top of the reactor into a counter-current SCW flow (400°C, 30MPa) for 60min. At the second stage (after ceasing the supply of bitumen into the reactor), SCW was pumped through the layer of bitumen residue at uniform (2.5°C/min) temperature increase from 400 to 700°C at 30MPa. The amount and composition of the liquid and volatile conversion products were measured. It is revealed that during bitumen supply into the reactor and subsequent pumping of SCW through the layer of bitumen residue in the temperature increasing mode from 400 to 500°C, the yields of liquid conversion products are equal to 26.9 and 45.4%, respectively, relative to the weight of bitumen supplied into the reactor. Oils are the major components of these liquid products. Participation of H2O molecules in redox reactions became evident due to the formation of CO and CO2 even at 400°C. A significant increase in the yields of H2, CH4, and CO2 are detected at T>600°C. Based on the sulfur balance, it can be stated that the degree of bitumen desulfurization at 400–700°C due to sulphur removal in form of H2S accounts for 21.6wt.% A solid carbonaceous bitumen residue, obtained after SCW conversion, is characterized by high specific surface (224m2/g).

The characteristics of the biomarkers and δ13C of n-alkanes released from thermally altered solid bitumens at various maturities by catalytic hydropyrolysis

Solid bitumen occurs extensively in the paleo-reservoirs of marine sequences in southern China. The fluids in these paleo-reservoirs have usually experienced severe secondary alteration such as biodegradation and/or thermal maturation. The concentrations of extractable organic matter (EOM) in the resulting solid bitumens are too low to satisfy the amount required for instrumental analysis such as GC–MS and GC–IRMS. It is also difficult to get enough biomarkers and n-alkanes by dry pyrolysis or hydrous pyrolysis directly because such solid bitumens are hydrogen poor due to high maturities. Catalytic hydropyrolysis (HyPy) can release much more EOM from solid bitumen at mature to highly over-mature stages than Soxhlet extraction, dry pyrolysis and hydrous pyrolysis. However, whether the biomarkers in hydropyrolysates can be used for bitumen-source or bitumen–bitumen correlations has been questionable. In this study, a soft biodegraded solid bitumen sample of low maturity was thermally altered to various maturities in a closed system. HyPy was then employed to release bound biomarkers and n-alkanes. Our results show that the geochemical parameters for source and maturity based on biomarkers released from these thermally altered bitumen residues by HyPy are insensitive to the degree of thermal alteration. Furthermore, the maturity parameters are indicative of lower maturity than bitumen maturation products at a corresponding temperature. This suggests that biomarker source and maturity parameters, based on the products of HyPy, remain valid for bitumens which have suffered both biodegradation and severe thermal maturation. The distributions of δ13C of n-alkanes in hydropyrolysates are also insensitive to the temperature used for bitumen artificial maturation. Hence, the δ13C values of n-alkanes in hydropyrolysates may also provide useful information in bitumen–bitumen correlation for paleo-reservoir solid bitumens.

Influence of the interfacial composition on the adhesion between aggregates and bitumen: Investigations by EDX, XPS and peel tests

The study of the adhesion between aggregates and bitumen is necessary to enhance the lifetime of the roads. The purpose of this work concerns the interaction between the mineralogy of the aggregates and the adhesion force measured at the interface between bitumen and aggregate. The adhesion of bitumen was studied according to the mineralogy of the aggregates, which were made of dolomite rock or granite. A method was developed to measure the fracture energy during the peeling of the bitumen layer from the aggregate surface. The specific manufacturing of the samples ensured reproducible measurements using a constant thickness of the bitumen layer and by introducing a strengthened and flexible membrane into the bulk of bitumen. The peeling results demonstrated that the locus of the failure varied according to the mineralogy of the aggregate. The failure was cohesive during the peeling of the dolomite/bitumen system while the failure was partly interfacial concerning the granite/bitumen system. The interface between bitumen and minerals was characterized, before and after peeling. In case of the granite, the detection of sulfur by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) highlighted only the bitumen residues and allowed identifying the mineral compounds that weaken the interface between bitumen and granite. Finally, XPS analyses showed that the alkali feldspars of the granite induced a weak interface with bitumen.