Aryanzadeh Arman, Jafari Arezou, Abdi-Khanghah Mahdi
Chemical Engineering Department, Tarbiat Modarres University, Tehran, Iran.
Sci Rep. 2025 Apr 21;15(1):13667. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-98494-y.
The depletion of conventional oil reserves and rising global energy demand necessitate efficient extraction methods for unconventional resources like heavy oil. This study successfully applies the coupling of chemical reaction kinetics with fluid dynamics in porous media for in-situ heavy oil upgrading, extending existing models to dynamic conditions. Using advanced kinetic modeling and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), catalytic reactions are analyzed employing a Ni-W-Mo catalyst. The primary aim of this study is to investigate the effects of temperature, oil composition, and residence time on the upgrading process and the resulting product distribution. Simulations were first performed in a non-porous batch reactor to identify optimal reaction conditions, followed by modeling reactive flow in porous media to better simulate real-world reservoir conditions. The results show that temperature and residence time significantly influence conversion rates and product yields, with a 30% increase in lighter hydrocarbon production as the reaction temperature is raised from 575 to 700 K. These findings emphasize the importance of dynamic modeling in optimizing in-situ upgrading processes and provide insights into improving unconventional oil recovery techniques. This research provides a comprehensive framework to enhance the understanding of complex chemical and hydrodynamic interactions in porous media, contributing to the development of more effective oil recovery strategies for unconventional resources.
常规石油储量的枯竭以及全球能源需求的不断增长，使得高效开采重油等非常规资源的方法成为必要。本研究成功地将化学反应动力学与多孔介质中的流体动力学相结合，用于原位重油升级，将现有模型扩展到动态条件。使用先进的动力学建模和计算流体动力学（CFD），采用Ni-W-Mo催化剂分析催化反应。本研究的主要目的是研究温度、油组成和停留时间对升级过程及所得产物分布的影响。首先在无孔间歇反应器中进行模拟以确定最佳反应条件，然后对多孔介质中的反应流进行建模，以更好地模拟实际储层条件。结果表明，温度和停留时间对转化率和产物产率有显著影响，当反应温度从575 K升高到700 K时，轻质烃产量增加30%。这些发现强调了动态建模在优化原位升级过程中的重要性，并为改进非常规石油开采技术提供了见解。本研究提供了一个全面的框架，以增强对多孔介质中复杂化学和流体动力学相互作用的理解，有助于开发更有效的非常规资源石油开采策略。
