Characteristic curves correlations to predict SARA composition and gas yields during heavy crude oil non-catalytic aquathermolysis

Abstract

Characteristic curve equations are used to calculate the products distribution during the non-catalytic aquathermolysis of Ashal'cha heavy crude oil at different reaction times (12, 24, 48, and 72 h) and temperatures (250 and 300 ?C) with a 3:7 water-to-oil weight ratio. The developed equations accurately estimate the experimental information at different time of reaction and temperature with average absolute error lower than 5%. Unstable primary and secondary (UPS) products equations predicted the experimental results for aromatics and saturate fractions better than stable primary and secondary (SPS) products equations. On the contrary, the gas fraction was well calculated with the SPS products correlation.