Modeling the Kinetics of Heavy Crude Oil Cu-Oleate Aquathermolysis

During steam injection processes, oil-soluble catalysts have demonstrated high efficiency by improving the flow properties of heavy crude oil into the reservoir. In order to gain a deeper understanding of the effect of this catalyst type and its reaction mechanism, further studies based on complex kinetic models are required. The catalytic effect of copper oleate on aquathermolysis of heavy crude oil was studied using experimental data obtained with a water/oil ratio of 3:7, a temperature range of 250 to 300 °C, and up to 72 h of reaction time. A kinetic model was developed to predict the yield of the SARA fractions and gases. The calculated kinetic parameters presented a proper fit concerning experimental data with average absolute error values lower than 4%. Results showed that copper oleate reduces the polyaddition reactions of heavy fractions, favoring the production of lighter compounds. A set of in-series and parallel reactions indicate that the reaction gas and aromatic compounds are mainly produced from the asphaltene fraction, where aromatic fractions subsequently generate saturates hydrocarbons.