Unconventional reservoirs of oil and gas represent a huge additional global source of fossil fuels. However, there is much still to be done to improve techniques for their processing to make recovery and refining of these particular energy sources more cost-effective. Brief but readable, Heavy and Extra-heavy Oil Upgrading Technologies provide readers with a strategy for future production (the up-stream) and upgrading (the down-stream). The book provides the reader with an understandable overview of the chemistry and engineering behind the latest developments and technologies in the industry as well as the various environmental regulations.Clear and rigorous, Heavy and Extra-heavy Oil Upgrading Technologies will prove tool for those scientists and engineers already engaged in fossil fuel science and technology as well as scientists, non-scientists, engineers, and non-engineers who wish to gain a general overview or update of the science and technology of unconventional fossil fuels in general and upgrading technologies in particular. The use of microorganisms and a number of physical methods, such as ultrasound, median microwave, cold plasma, electrokinetic and monocrystalline intermetallics, etc., will be discussed for the first time. - Overview of the chemistry, engineering, and technology of oil sands - Microorganisms and a number of physical methods such as ultrasound, median microwave, cold plasma, electrokinetic and monocrystalline intermetallics - Evolving and new environmental regulations regarding oil sands production processes

Unconventional heavy crude oils are replacing the conventional light crude oils slowly but steadily as a major energy source. Heavy crude oils are cheaper and present an opportunity to the refiners to process them with higher profit margins. However, the unfavourable characteristics of heavy crude oils such as high viscosity, low API gravity, low H/C ratio, chemical complexity with high asphaltenes content, high acidity, high sulfur and increased level of metal and heteroatom impurities impede extraction, pumping, transportation and processing. Very poor mobility of the heavy oils, due to very high viscosities, significantly affects production and transportation. Techniques for viscosity reduction, drag reduction and in-situ upgrading of the crude oil to improve the flow characteristics in pipelines are presented in this book. The heavier and complex molecules of asphaltenes with low H/C ratios present many technological challenges during the refining of the crude oil, such as heavy coking on catalysts. Hydrogen addition and carbon removal are the two approaches used to improve the recovery of value-added products such as gasoline and diesel. In addition, the heavy crude oil needs pre-treatment to remove the high levels of impurities before the crude oil can be refined. This book introduces the major challenges and some of the methods to overcome them.

This book explores the common approaches to upgrade heavy and extra-heavy crude oils by means of catalytic hydrotreating, emphasizing hydrogen addition technology as well as carbon rejection alternatives. Kinetic and reactor models are combined with experimental data to simulate and optimize commercial-scale reactor performance. Key Features • Focuses on fixed-bed catalytic hydrotreating and catalysts and process scheme characteristics for commercial application. • Guides readers on hydrotreating process technology development from batch reactor experiments to semi-commercial test. • Describes step-by-step methodologies for development of kinetic models based on experimental data generated at different reaction scales. • Provides detailed explanation on how to formulate a reactor model for the simulation of catalytic hydrotreating of heavy oils. A comprehensive guide to the upgrading of crude oils, this book has particular appeal for petroleum refining industry professionals, catalyst developers, workshop instructors, professors, and their graduate and postgraduate students.

Heavy crude oils and bitumen represent more than 50% of all hydrocarbons available on the planet. These feedstocks have a low amount of distillable material and high level of contaminants that make their production, transportation, and refining difficult and costly by conventional technologies. Subsurface Upgrading of Heavy Crude Oils and Bitumen is of interest to the petroleum industry mainly because of the advantages compared to aboveground counterparts. The author presents an in-depth account and a critical review of the progress of industry and academia in underground or In-Situ upgrading of heavy, extra-heavy oils and bitumen, as reported in the patent and open literature. This work is aimed to be a standalone monograph, so three chapters are dedicated to the composition of petroleum and fundamentals of crude oil production and refining. Key Features: Offers a multidisciplinary scope that will appeal to chemists, geologists, biologists, chemical engineers, and petroleum engineers Presents the advantages and disadvantages of the technologies considered Discusses economic and environmental considerations for all the routes evaluated and offers perspectives from experts in the field working with highlighted technologies

Heavy oils, extra-heavy oils and tar sands are major players for the future of energy.They represent a massive world resource, at least the size of conventional oils. They are found all over the world but Canada and Venezuela together account, by themselves, for more than half of world deposits. They share the same origin as the lighter conventional oils, but their geological fate drove them into thick, viscous tar-like crude oils. Most of them result from alteration processes mediated by microbial degradation. They are characterized by a low content of lighter cuts and a high content of impurities such as sulfur and nitrogen compounds and metals ; so, their production is difficult and deployment of specific processes is required in order to enhance their transportability and to upgrade them into valuable products meeting market needs, and honouring environmental requirements.Although these resources are increasingly becoming commercially producible, less than 1% of total heavy crude oil deposits worldwide are under active development. The voluntarily wide scope of this volume encompasses geology, production, transportation, upgrading, economics and environmental issues of heavy oils. It does not pretend to be exhaustive, but to provide an authoritative view of this very important energy resource.

Catalytic In-Situ Upgrading of Heavy and Extra-Heavy Crude Oils A comprehensive guide to a cutting-edge and cost-effective refinement process for heavy oil Oil sufficiently viscous that it cannot flow normally from production wells is called heavy oil and constitutes as much as 70% of global oil reserves. Extracting and refining this oil can pose significant challenges, including very high transportation costs. As a result, processes which produce and partially refine heavy oil in situ, known as catalytic upgrading, are an increasingly important part of the heavy oil extraction process, and the reduced carbon footprint associated with these methods promises to make them even more significant in the coming years. Catalytic In-Situ Upgrading of Heavy and Extra-Heavy Crude Oils provides a comprehensive introduction to these processes. It introduces the properties and characteristics of heavy and extra-heavy oil before discussing different catalysts and catalyzing processes, their mechanisms and underlying physics, and more. It offers the full sweep of description and analysis required for petroleum and chemical engineers to understand this vital aspect of the modern oil industry. Readers will also find: Detailed discussion of subjects including electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and more Analysis of both liquid catalysts and nanoparticle catalysts A numerical simulation of the catalytic in-situ oil upgrading process Catalytic In-Situ Upgrading of Heavy and Extra-Heavy Crude Oils is a valuable reference for petroleum and chemical engineers as well as advanced undergraduate and graduate students in related fields.

As conventional-oil resources are depleted worldwide, vast heavy oil reserves available in various parts of the world become increasingly important as a secure future energy source. Brief but readable, Heavy Oil Production Processes discusses the latest improvements in production processes including; thermal methods (steam floods, cyclic steam stimulation, SAGD) as well as non-thermal methods (cold flow with sand production, cyclic solvent process, VAPEX). The book begins with an overview of the chemistry, engineering, and technology of heavy oil as they evolve into the twenty-first century. The preceding chapters are written to provide a basic understanding of each technology, evolving processes and new processes as well as the various environmental regulations. Clear and rigorous, Heavy Oil Production Processes will prove useful for those scientists and engineers already engaged in fossil fuel science and technology as well as scientists, non-scientists, engineers, and non-engineers who wish to gain a general overview or update of the science and technology of fossil fuels. The not only does the book discuss the production processes but also provides methods which should reduce environmental footprint and improve profitability. - Overview of the chemistry, engineering, and technology of oil sands - Updates on the evolving processes and new processes - Evolving and new environmental regulations regarding oil sands production

As feedstocks to refineries change, there must be an accompanying change in refinery technology. This means a movement from conventional means of refining heavy feedstocks using (typically) coking technologies to more innovative processes that will coax the last drips of liquid fuels from the feedstock. This book presents the evolution of refinery processes during the last century and as well as the means by which refinery processes will evolve during the next three-to-five decades. Chapters contain material relevant to (1) comparisons of current feedstocks with heavy oil and bio-feedstocks; (2) evolution of refineries since the 1950s, (3) properties and refinability of heavy oil and bio-feedstocks, (4) thermal processes vs. hydroprocesses, and (5) evolution of products to match the environmental market. Process innovations that have influenced refinery processing over the past three decades are presented, as well as the relevant patents that have the potential for incorporation into future refineries.• Comparison of current feedstocks with heavy oil and bio-feedstocks. • Evolution of refineries over the past three decades. • Properties and refinability of heavy oil and bio-feedstocks. • Thermal processes vs. Hydroprocesses. • Evolution of products to match the environmental market. - Investigates the engineering and plant design challenges presented by heavy oil and bio-feedstocks - Explores the legislatory and regulatory climate, including increasingly stringent environmental requirements - Examines the trade-offs of thermal processes vs. hydroprocesses

Includes topics not found together in books on petroleum processing: economics, automation, process modeling, online optimization, safety, environmental protection Combines overviews of petroleum composition, refinery processes, process automation, and environmental protection with comprehensive chapters on recent advances in hydroprocessing, FCC, lubricants, hydrogen management Gives diverse perspectives, both geographic and topical, because contributors include experts from eight different countries in North America, Europe and Asia, representing oil companies, universities, catalyst vendors, process licensors, consultants and engineering contractors

Written by an industry expert with over 50 years of experience, this book details the various solvent processes that are used in crude oil refineries. Providing an in-depth exploration of the different types of processes, as well as the types of feedstocks that can be used with them, this book prepares readers for changes as the industry evolves. Key Features: Describes feedstock evaluation and the effects of elemental, chemical, and fractional composition. Contains an extensive glossary of all related concepts in hydrotreating and hydrocracking processes. Considers next-generation processes and developments. This book is an essential guide for engineers, scientists, and students in the field of petroleum processing and refining technology, including professionals, technicians, management personnel, and academics.