A Way Has Been Found to Improve the Oil Recovery of the Bazhenov Formation
To do this, KFU has created a model that allows evaluating the effectiveness of catalysis.
Scientists at Kazan Federal University are optimizing the technology of using supercritical water to increase oil recovery using a kinetic model. The proposed model makes it possible to evaluate the effectiveness of catalytic additives. The Devon News Agency learned about this from a message from the Institute of Geology and Oil and Gas Technologies of KFU.
Kinetic data show that the catalyst intensifies the reactions of conversion of organic matter from the Bazhenov formation into synthetic oil. It also reduces the contribution of condensation reactions.
The researchers presented the results of creating a kinetic model to describe the conversion processes of organic shales under thermochemical action in the presence of various catalysts.
“Oil—soluble catalysts increase the efficiency of the generation of synthetic oil from the Bazhenov formation shale in subcritical and supercritical water conditions,“ explained researcher Felix Lugo Jose GUILLERMO.
The presence of ligands (chemical bonds) based on natural oils in the composition of catalyst precursors, it has a positive economic and environmental effect when used in oil fields.
The simulation results demonstrated that tallow oil–based catalysts increase the conversion of shale. At the same time, the secondary cracking reactions of synthetic oil are suppressed to a greater extent than with the help of other studied catalysts.
The revealed selectivity makes it possible to increase the production of synthetic oil and reduce the production of undesirable by–products.
“The kinetic model is necessary for numerical modeling of the application of technology in reservoir conditions and determining the optimal injection strategies for the development of shale deposits,“ says the head of the world—class Scientific Center for Enhanced Oil Recovery (NCMU KFU) Mikhail VARFOLOMEEV.
The results of the study also provide a deeper understanding of the processes occurring at a depth of several kilometers under thermochemical influence.
“The kinetic model will allow you to select the necessary catalysts, predict the nature of reactions and the consumption of reagents,“ adds Guillermo.
The developed model will solve the scientific and practical problems of pumping supercritical water to produce synthetic oil.
