Heavy Oil Processing Research Articles

Governing chemical reactions and mechanisms of hydrogen generation during in-situ combustion gasification of heavy oil

The global push for sustainable energy solutions has highlighted the importance of producing carbon-zero hydrogen (H2) directly from petroleum reservoirs. In-situ combustion gasification (ISCG) presents a groundbreaking method to harness the potential of heavy oil reserves for clean hydrogen production. Although simulations have demonstrated the considerable promise of ISCG, the key reactions controlling hydrogen generation require experimental validation, and the underlying mechanisms remain largely unexplored. This research aims to describe the chemical reactions and mechanisms responsible for hydrogen generation during the ISCG of heavy oil. Using a specially designed kinetic cell, we conducted combustion and gasification experiments with heavy oil and coke. The findings revealed that clay minerals in the reservoir sand act as catalysts in the oxidation reactions of heavy oil by shifting reactions to lower temperatures by approximately 20 °C. Hydrogen production began at 450 °C and peaked at 900 °C, with coke gasification and the water-gas shift reaction being the primary mechanisms. Additionally, methane was produced due to hydrogen consumption via methanation reactions, and minerals in the reservoir sands were found to inhibit hydrogen production by increasing hydrogen consumption and methane generation at temperatures above 800 °C. Controlling the reservoir temperature within an optimal range between 450 and 800 °C can enhance hydrogen generation by managing the process mechanisms. This study provides a detailed examination of the ISCG process for heavy oil, paving the way for future development of kinetic models to simulate hydrogen production through ISCG. It also emphasizes the significance of mechanistic control in enhancing hydrogen generation and suppressing hydrogen consumption reactions.

Viscosity Reduction of Heavy Oil Based on Rice Husk Char-Based Nanocatalysts of NiO/Fe2O3

In recent years, catalytic hydrothermal cracking has gained significant attention as an effective technology for reducing the viscosity of heavy oil in the field of heavy oil recovery. However, the current catalyst temperature window is relatively high, leading to high energy consumption in heavy oil extraction. The development of catalysts that can effectively reduce the viscosity of heavy oil at low temperatures is important to reduce energy consumption in the thermal recovery process of heavy oil. Biochar-based catalysts exhibit good low-temperature activity. Therefore, this study used modified rice husk char as a carrier to develop NiO-RHC, Fe2O3-RHC, and NiO/Fe2O3-RHC catalysts, and investigated their performance in low-temperature catalytic viscosity reduction. Various methods were used to characterize the physical and chemical properties of the catalysts, and the effects of catalyst type and addition amounts on the catalytic viscosity reduction reaction were examined. The results showed that the catalytic performance of the dual-active component catalyst was better than that of NiO-RHC and Fe2O3-RHC. Under the catalysis of NiO/Fe2O3-RHC, the viscosity of heavy oil decreased by 81.81%. As the catalyst addition amounts increased, the viscosity reduction rate of heavy oil also increased. The optimal catalyst addition amount was 1.00wt.%, and the heavy component content in the oil sample was reduced by 4.14% after the catalytic reaction. Finally, the mechanism of heavy oil viscosity reduction was analyzed. It was found that the breaking of C-S bonds was a significant factor in reducing heavy oil viscosity, and the S in H2S mainly came from thioether and sulfoxide sulfur. This study provides valuable references for further research on low-temperature viscosity reduction in heavy oil.

Investigating the principle and application of high-frequency and high-voltage pulse AC equipment for oil–water separation of heavy crude oil

To address the challenges of oil–water separation encountered during the processing of heavy crude oil, this study meticulously examines the kinetics of demulsification under an electric field. Consequently, a cutting-edge high-frequency/high-voltage AC pulsed power supply has been innovatively developed. This device boasts a flexible voltage-adjustment mechanism, strategically enhancing the inverter output voltage incrementally throughout the pulse’s duration. This method effectively reduces the negative impact of current surges on the operational stability of crude oil desalination plants, especially during the commutation periods of the switching devices. Furthermore, it resolves the issue of premature power supply shutdowns to the desalination plant, caused by peak currents misinterpreted as critical short-circuit currents leading to pole plate breakdowns. An industrial application study conducted at Shandong Chambroad Petrochemicals Co., Ltd. Under identical operational conditions, the power supply designed in this research outperforms traditional electrical desalting transformers in several key aspects. These include a notably enhanced oil–water separation capability and significantly more stable performance. Remarkably, the desalting efficiency shows substantial improvement even at increased feed rates, under constant other conditions. The experimental findings indicate that the average rates of desalination and dehydration achieved by this power supply exceed 90%. Moreover, even when the feed rate is augmented by approximately 75% under constant operating conditions, the desalination efficiency remains 78.49% higher than that achieved by standard industrial frequency electric desalination transformers. Additionally, the desalting outcomes are predominantly unaffected by fluctuations in the initial salt content of the feedstock, demonstrating the robustness of the developed solution.

Synergistic Catalysis of Water-Soluble Exogenous Catalysts and Reservoir Minerals during the Aquathermolysis of Heavy Oil.

Oil serves as the essential fuel and economic foundation of contemporary industry. However, the use of traditional light crude oil has exceeded its supply, making it challenging to meet the energy needs of humanity. Consequently, the extraction of heavy oil has become crucial in addressing this demand. This research focuses on the synthesis of several water-soluble catalysts that can work along with reservoir minerals to catalyze the hydrothermal cracking process of heavy oil. The goal is to effectively reduce the viscosity of heavy oil and lower the cost of its extraction. Based on the experimental findings, it was observed that when oil sample 1 underwent hydrothermal cracking at a temperature of 180 °C for a duration of 4 h, the amount of water added and catalyst used were 30% and 0.2% of the oil sample dosage, respectively. It was further discovered that the synthesized Mn(II)C was able to reduce the viscosity of oil sample 1 by 50.38%. The investigation revealed that the combination of Mn(II)C + K exhibited a significant synergistic catalytic impact on reducing viscosity. Initially, the viscosity reduction rate was 50.38%, which climbed to 61.02%. Subsequently, when catalyzed by the hydrogen supply agent isopropanol, the rate of viscosity reduction rose further to 91.22%. Several methods, such as freezing point analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, DSC analysis, component analysis, gas chromatography, wax crystal morphology analysis, and GC-MS analysis, were conducted on aqueous organic matter derived from heavy oil after undergoing different reaction systems. These analyses confirmed that the viscosity of the heavy oil was decreased. By studying the reaction mechanism of the model compound and analyzing the aqueous phase, the reaction largely involves depolymerization between macromolecules, breakdown of heteroatom chains, hydrogenation, ring opening, and other related consequences. These actions diminish the strength of the van der Waals force and hydrogen bond in the recombinant interval, impede the creation of a grid-like structure in heavy oil, and efficiently decrease its viscosity.

Processing and Recovery of Heavy Crude Oil Using an HPA-Ni Catalyst and Natural Gas.

To maintain economic profitability and stabilize fuel prices, refineries actively explore alternatives for efficiently processing (extra) heavy crude oils. These oils are challenging to process due to their complex composition, which includes significant quantities of asphaltenes, resins, and sulfur and nitrogen heteroatoms. A critical initial step in upgrading these oils is the hydrogenation of polyaromatic compounds, requiring substantial hydrogen sources. Methane from natural gas streams is known to act as an effective hydrogen donor. This study investigates the use of a heteropolyacid (HPA) catalyst modified with nickel and methane to enhance the quality of heavy crude oil with an initial 8.0°API (at 15.5 °C) and 2200 cSt viscosity (at 37.5 °C). After treatment in a batch reactor at 380 °C and 4.4 MPa for 2 h, the oil properties markedly improved: API gravity increased from 8.0 to 16.0 (at 15.5 °C), and kinematic viscosity reduced from 2200 to 125 cSt (at 37.5 °C). Additionally, there was a significant decrease in asphaltenes (from 38.7 to 16.4% by weight), sulfur (from 5.9 to 4.0% by weight), and nitrogen (from 971 to 695 ppm). This was accompanied by an increase in the volume of light distillates from 1.3 to 4.9%, and middle distillates from 8.8 to 21.0%. These results suggest that nickel-modified HPA catalysts, combined with methane as a hydrogen donor, are a promising option for upgrading heavy crude oils.

Enhancing refinery heavy oil fractions analytical performance through real-time predicative modeling.

This study introduces a suite of robust models aimed to advance the determination of physiochemical properties in heavy oil refinery fractions. By integrating real-time analytical technique inside the refinery analysis, we have developed a single analyzer capable of employing six partial least square regression equations. These designed models enable to provide real-time prediction of critical petroleum properties, such as sulfur content, micro carbon residues (MCR), asphaltene content, heating value, and the concentrations of nickel and vanadium metals. Specifically tailored for heavy oil in refinery feeds with an American petroleum institute (API) gravity range of 3° to 32° and sulfur content of 2.8 to 5.5 wt%, the models streamline the analysis process within refinery operations, bridging the gap between catalytic and non-catalytic processes across refinery units. The accuracy of our physiochemical prediction models has been validated against American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards, demonstrating their capability to deliver precise real-time property values. This approach not only enhances the efficiency of refinery analysis but also sets a new standard for the monitoring and optimization of heavy oil processing in real-time approach.

Supercritical water upgrading of heavy oil: Effects of reservoir minerals on pyrolysis product distribution

Supercritical water upgrading (SCWU) is a promising technology for heavy oil recovery and refining, in which minerals could act as catalysts, but the effect on the upgraded product distribution remains unclear. In this study, heavy oil upgrading experiments in supercritical water (SCW) were carried out at 400°C and 25 MPa to investigate the effects of reservoir minerals such as quartz, carbonate, feldspar and clay minerals on the upgrading process. The result indicated that carbonate minerals and clay-bearing minerals produced noticeable benefits to the SCWU of heavy oil process. In carbonate minerals, dolomite showed the strongest catalytic effect in promoting hydrothermal cracking of hydrocarbon macromolecules, with a 5.6 % reduction in heavy fraction and a 12.2 % increase in light fraction of the upgraded oil. Clay-bearing minerals mainly exhibited oil-enhancing and coking-inhibiting benefits, calcium montmorillonite exhibited the most significant increase in oil production of 9 %, while zeolite most significantly reduced the coke activation energy by 62 %. Regarding the catalytic mechanism, the catalytic effect of carbonates originated from the MgO and CaO sites on the surface. For clay minerals, the acidic catalytic sites exist in the interlayer domains of montmorillonite and in the pores of zeolite provided higher catalytic efficiencies in oil production. This study demonstrated the feasibility of using natural minerals as inexpensive catalysts for supercritical water upgrading of heavy oil.

Characteristics of hydrogen abstraction involved in thermal processing of heavy oil

The characteristics of H-abstraction during thermal processing of heavy oil were studied through density functional theory calculations. Homolysis of alkanes produces two alkyl primary C radicals. They can all effectively participate in the H-abstraction from alkanes, alkyl substituents and cycloalkanes, with activation energies ranging from 42 to 52 kJ.mol−1. The homolysis of alkyl substituents of aromatics occurs preferentially at the Cα-Cβ position, with bond energy as low as 317 kJ.mol−1. In the temperature range involved in thermal processing, homolysis of alkyl substituents mainly produces benzylic radicals rather than phenylethyl and phenylpropyl radicals. Except for abstracting tertiary H from branched alkanes, the abstraction of other types of H by benzylic radicals is not feasible in terms of reaction kinetics and reaction thermodynamics. Paraffinic heavy oil has higher thermal processing activity than naphthenic heavy oil due to differences in the number of radicals that can effectively participate in H-abstraction.

Quantification of Methane Emissions from Cold Heavy Oil Production with Sand Extraction in Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada.

Cold heavy oil production with sand (CHOPS) is an extraction process for heavy oil in Canada, with the potential to lead to higher CH4 venting than conventional oil sites, that have not been adequately characterized. In order to quantify CH4 emissions from CHOPS activities, a focused aerial measurement campaign was conducted in the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan in June 2018. Total CH4 emissions from each of 10 clusters of CHOPS wells (containing 22-167 well sites per cluster) were derived using a mass balance computation algorithm that uses in situ wind data measurement on board aircraft. Results show that there is no statistically significant difference in CH4 emissions from CHOPS wells between the two provinces. Cluster-aggregated emission factors (EF) were determined using correspondingly aggregated production volumes. The average CH4 EF was 70.4 ± 36.9 kg/m3 produced oil for the Alberta wells and 55.1 ± 13.7 kg/m3 produced oil for the Saskatchewan wells. Using these EF and heavy oil production volumes reported to provincial regulators, the annual CH4 emissions from CHOPS were estimated to be 121% larger than CHOPS emissions extracted from Canada's National Inventory Report (NIR) for Saskatchewan. The EF were found to be positively correlated with the percentage of nonpiped production volumes in each cluster, indicating higher emissions for nonpiped wells while suggesting an avenue for methane emission reductions. A comparison with recent measurements indicates relatively limited effectiveness of regulations for Saskatchewan compared to those in Alberta. The results of this study indicate the substantial contribution of CHOPS operations to the underreporting observed in the NIR and provide measurement-based EF that can be used to develop improved emissions inventories for this sector and mitigate CH4 emissions from CHOPS operations.

Fluidized catalytic cracking with novel emulsified feeding for increasing light oil yield and reducing additional CO2 emission

The fluid catalytic cracking unit (FCCU) is widely used in the processing of heavy oil. Fast and sufficient vaporization of heavy oil can maximize the light oil yield and reduce the coke yield. However, the inferior quality generally makes the heavy oil difficult to be vaporized. Unvaporized oil remaining on the catalyst surface will lead to high coke yield and subsequently high carbon dioxide emissions in the regenerator. The novel emulsified feeding technique can achieve secondary atomization of oil droplet through micro-explosion, which can reduce the droplet diameter and enhance the droplet vaporization. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation was performed to investigate the effect of emulsified feeding on the droplet vaporization and cracking reaction in the FCC riser reactor. It was found that when the reaction temperature is constant, the emulsified feeding can promote the droplet vaporization and cracking reaction. The average vaporization ratio can be improved by 1.2%-1.7%, and the light oil yield can be improved by 0.6%-0.8% compared to the conventional atomized feeding. The volume fraction of droplet near the side wall is largely reduced. The additional carbon emissions produced by unvaporized oil can therefore be reduced in the regenerator. In addition, the emulsified feeding technique will not have great impact on solids fluidization and pressure balance in the riser. The probability of micro-explosion of emulsion droplets is further discussed with respect to its effect on the vaporization and cracking reaction. The maximum light oil yield can be obtained with micro-explosion probability of 85%.

Water-Soluble Fe(III) Complex Catalyzed Coupling Aquathermolysis of Water-Heavy Oil-Methanol

In this experimental study, diverse water-soluble Fe(III) complexes were synthesized and employed to catalyze the aquathermolysis of heavy oil. A ternary reaction system comprising heavy oil, water, and methanol was established to facilitate the process. Viscometry, thermogravimetric analysis, DSC, and elemental analysis were utilized to thoroughly investigate the treated heavy oil. The findings reveal that, under optimal conditions of water, catalyst, and methanol dosage, the viscosity of heavy oil can be significantly reduced by up to 88.22% after reacting at 250 °C for 12 h. Notably, apart from viscosity reduction, the catalytic aquathermolysis also effectively removes heteroatoms such as sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen, enabling in situ modification and viscosity reduction of heavy oil. This study demonstrates the potential of water-soluble Fe(III) complexes in enhancing the efficiency of heavy oil extraction and processing.

Combined use of mullite and basalt fiber to inhibit the strength decline of oil well cement stone under alternating conditions of temperature rise and fall

During the development process of heavy oil with steam huff and puff, the wellbore undergoes alternating conditions of temperature rise and fall, leading to a significant decline in the strength of the cement sheath. This work studied the inhibition effect and mechanism of the composite material composed of mullite and basalt fiber on the strength decline of cement stone (the hardened body of cement slurry) under simulated wellbore temperature alternating conditions from 80 °C to 260 °C. The pore structure distribution of cement stone was investigated by mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), the microstructure and phase composition of cement stone was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), together with quantitative X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. After 4 rounds of curing under alternating temperature conditions, the compressive strength of cement stone containing mullite and basalt fiber composite material was 28.6 MPa at 260 °C, which was only 9.2 % lower than that at 80 °C. However, the compressive strength of the blank cement stone without composite materials decreased to 22.5 MPa at 260 °C, which was 20 % lower than that at 80 °C. After 4 rounds of alternating temperature cured, the harmful pores of the cement stone without composite materials increase, and the xonotlite flakes and stacks together. The cement stone added with mullite has a finer pore structure after 4 rounds of alternating temperature cured because mullite reacts with portlandite to form C-A-S-H gel. The xonotlite remains fibrous, and a small amount of new phase hibschite is formed. Furthermore, basalt fiber can react with C-A-S-H gel at high temperatures, and the two phases are closely combined to further improve the high-temperature resistance of cement stone.

Investigating the catalytic effect of rock minerals during the aquathermolysis process of heavy oil in the presence of oil-soluble catalyst precursors

In this investigation, we explored the impact of thermal steam treatment (TST) on Yarega bituminous rock samples, with and without catalyst precursor compounds based on transition metals. After subjecting the materials to TST at 300°C in the presence of iron thallate, there was a notable 21% increase in the proportion of saturated hydrocarbons compared to the control experiment, and a substantial 27% increase compared to the original bituminoid composition. Simultaneously, the resin fraction witnessed a reduction of 25% against the control and a significant 50% decrease compared to the original oil. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed that post-TST at 250 °C, the catalyst was composed of nanodispersed particles approximately sized between ≈20–50 nm. However, following TST at 300 °C, the catalyst particle size expanded to an estimated range of ≈60–90 nm. Furthermore, this study introduced a technology utilizing a commercial form of the catalyst precursor for application at the Yarega deposit.

Co and Ni-containing catalysts for heavy oil refining: the effect of ethanol on the composition and structure of catalytic cracking products

The study deals with the products of thermal processing of heavy oil in the presence of Ni- and Co-containing catalysts that are formed in situ from the mixture of corresponding salts with ethanol. In comparison with thermal cracking, in the catalytic process the yield of bright fractions increases from 51 to 63 % and the yield of coke decreases from 3 to 2 wt.%. In the case of mixed Ni and Сo catalyst, the least yields of gas (5 wt.%) and coke (0.1 wt.%) are observed. A decrease in the sulfur content occurs in the products of both thermal (by 17 %) and catalytic cracking (from 12 to 32 rel.%) predominantly due to its removal as gaseous products. The structuralgroup characteristics of the averaged asphaltene molecules were studied before and after heavy oil cracking. XRD of solid cracking products was used to identify Ni0.96S, Ni9S8 and Co9S8 phases.

In-situ prepared dispersed Co and Ni catalysts for heavy oil upgrading: effect of Ni, Co, and acetone on product composition

Over the past decade, much attention has been paid to oil refining using various in-situ catalysts to increase the efficiency of the process. However, the influence of the solvent in the solvent-precursor (metal salt) system on the transformation of oil components has not been studied enough. In this study, acetone was used as an environmentally friendly and cheap solvent for the preparation of catalyst precursors based on Ni and Co. The presence of acetone in the system helps to reduce the amount of introduced metal in 5 times precursors due to the uniform distribution of active components. It has been established that a mixture of Ni in acetone has the most effective catalytic activity for accelerating the process of heavy oil refining. In this experiment, the yield of light fractions increases by 2 times compared to the original oil and reaches 63 wt. %. Using by XRD and SEM were found/determine formation catalytic active Ni9S8, Ni0.96S and Co9S8 with the sulfur-containing components of heavy oil, the content of which decreases by 1.5 wt. %.

Isothermal low-temperature oxidation behavior and kinetics of heavy oil

In this study, the isothermal low-temperature oxidation (LTO) behavior of heavy oil was investigated by thermogravimetry combined with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Furthermore, the kinetics analysis was conducted using general reaction rate models. The findings revealed that the LTO process of heavy oil could be divided into three distinct phases. The first phase, occurring between 50 and 100 °C, exhibited minimal mass loss and low absorbance of gas-phase products. In the second phase (100–250 °C) the produced gas predominantly consisted of saturated hydrocarbons and substances containing C=O groups. Lastly, in the third phase (250–300 °C), the signals of CO2 and CO in the produced gas were significantly higher compared to the 50–250 °C range, indicating a shift in the oxidation mode of heavy oil from oxygenation to bond cleavage for temperatures higher than 250 °C. Kinetics analysis demonstrated an initial increase in reaction order and reaction rate from 50 to 100 °C, followed by a decrease from 100 to 250 °C, and a final increase from 250 to 300 °C. The negative activation energy observed in the second temperature interval was attributed to the negative temperature coefficient effect. This study provided valuable insights into the isothermal LTO reactions of heavy oil.

From bench to industry, the application of all-inorganic solid base materials in traditional heterogeneous catalysis: a mini review.

Acids and bases generally occur in pairs as concepts, and a large number of catalytic reactions can be considered as interactions between acids and bases. Many chemical reactions are a combination of acid-catalyzed processes and base-catalyzed processes, and thus it is particularly important to study and explain the mechanisms of acid-base synergy or acid-base interactions. However, compared to the in-depth research on acid catalysts, there is a lack of research on solid bases. In addition to the application of basic materials to non-petroleum processes, recent studies have also applied basic materials to the catalytic cracking reaction process of heavy oils, providing new ideas for the processing of heavy oils. The formation of carbanions with the contribution of basicity is a critical stage in many fine chemical reactions, as well as in the hydrocarbon cracking reactions promoted by a base. Thus, herein, we summarize the research progress on the main types of all-inorganic solid base catalysts, including the types of catalysts used in non-petroleum processes and petroleum processes, their preparation, the properties of their basic sites, and their structure-performance correlation in the reactions. Also, we provide an outlook on the future research directions of all-inorganic solid base materials.

Dissolution Behavior of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Heavy Oil in the Presence of Supercritical Cyclohexane.

Supercritical cyclohexane (SC-cyclohexane) shows significant advantages in mild operating conditions and the modulation of product distribution. To gain insights into the upgrading process of heavy oil in SC-cyclohexane, the dissolution process of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contained in heavy oil was simulated based on molecular dynamics with the use of naphthalene, benzopyrene, and mixtures of naphthalene and benzopyrene as the model compounds. As indicated by the radial distribution function results, in SC-cyclohexane exhibiting low density, cyclohexane formed a solvent shell around PAHs such that the local concentration was reduced and the aggregation of PAHs was inhibited. The results of the solvation free energy suggested that van der Waals forces between PAHs and cyclohexane were mainly dominant. As revealed by the dissolution process of the model compounds in SC-cyclohexane, a low density and a suitable temperature contributed to the solubilization of PAHs. An appropriate temperature and a low density can be selected for the upgrading reaction to limit coke formation.

Experimental investigation of in situ combustion (ISC) in heavy oil thermal recovery

With the intensification of global climate change, there is an urgent need to change the energy structure of oil and gas to reduce the impact on the environment. As a thermally enhanced oil recovery technique, in situ combustion (ISC) is very important for reducing carbon emissions in the petroleum industry through the comprehensive utilization of oil displacement and storage in reservoirs. In this paper, the similarity parameters of a three-dimensional (3D) physical simulation of ISC were determined, the temperature field changes in the combustion process were monitored in real time, and a 3D field map was obtained. The oxidation characteristics of heavy oil were examined via thermogravimetry (TG), and the results showed that the oxidation process of heavy oil had three stages. The experimental results indicated that ISC could greatly increase the reservoir temperature, improve the quality of crude oil through high-temperature cracking, reduce the viscosity of crude oil and enhance the oil fluidity. The recovery factor from the ISC reached 53.27%. The formation of the coking zone was caused by various chemical and physical changes that occurred at high temperatures. Moreover, the formation process led to a concentration of the remaining oil in the small-aperture channels in the coking zone; this reduced the fluidity and increased the production difficulty. This study could provide guidance for the development of heavy oil reservoirs.

Self-catalysed hydrogenation of heavy oil and coal mixtures

Abstract Coal liquefaction and heavy oil processing have become the urgent need for national energy strategic technology reserves in China. However, the inactivation of solid catalysts in these processes is an inevitable problem. Therefore, a self-catalysed method was proposed. The properties of raw oil could be changed by adding a modifier, as it has the function of self-catalysis, and the additional catalyst is no longer needed. The effect of 200 ppm modifier on the hydrogenation of heavy oil and 500 ppm on the hydrogenation of coal and oil were investigated. The results showed that modifiers could be miscible with heavy oil at 50~100 °C and could change the properties of oil. When the temperature exceeded 250 °C, the sulfur element in the heavy oil combined with the metal element brought in by the modifier to form a particle with the size of 2–8 nm, which could interact with the hydrogen molecule to activate the hydrogen molecule. Activated hydrogen atoms further formed the complexes with nickel, vanadium, calcium, iron, and other elements in heavy oil to achieve the purpose of purifying and lightening the oil phase. Therefore, the self-catalysed method could be widely used in oil refining and would greatly promote the development of the oil refining and catalysis industry.