Study of heavy crude oil composition after a hydrothermal treatment in presence of nanoparticles

Abstract

© 2020. The communication presents the results of a study on the hydrothermal conversion of heavy super-viscous crude oil in presence of Al2O3, Fe2O3, NiCO3, and ZnO nanoparticles at temperatures in the range of 350°S-375°S and pressure varying from 5.2 MPa to 21 MPa. The general pattern of the super-viscous crude oil hydrothermal conversion refers to an increase of the content of low-boiling compounds and saturated hydrocarbons due to the destruction of the tar-asphaltene substances and the polyaromatic compounds present in the initial oil leading to a decrease of its viscosity. The lowest viscosity of 2.81 Paxs observed at 10°C is achieved in the presence of Fe2O3 nanoparticles at a temperature of 375°C and pressure of 18 MPa.