Treatment and Upgrading for Heavy-Sour Crude
Heavy-sour crude oils often face substantial pricing discounts due to their high impurity content and the limited availability of environmentally responsible and economically viable treatment methods. A new approach addresses these challenges through a process designed for improved efficiency and reduced emissions.
On-Site Treatment Without Diluent Requirements
In conventional scenarios, transporting heavy-sour crude typically requires the addition of diluent to reduce viscosity. However, the alternative treatment method eliminates this need by upgrading crude oil directly at the production site. This not only reduces associated transport expenses but also mitigates environmental impact from diluent production and recovery processes.
Sulfur and Impurity Reduction
The treatment process effectively removes large amounts of sulfur, nitrogen, and metals from heavy sour crudes. Through a chemically driven mechanism, large hydrocarbons and asphaltenes are broken into smaller chains. This results in a product with lower density and higher volume, commonly referred to as syn-crude. The upgraded product exhibits reduced impurity content, making it more suitable for downstream use.
Generation of Native Diluent
A distinctive feature of the process is the generation of a native diluent during treatment. This is achieved by leveraging the natural oxidation tendencies of impurities in the crude. The result is a self-diluting effect that improves flow characteristics and eliminates the need for external diluent sources.
Increased Crude Value
Through the removal of sulfur and associated impurities and the conversion to a lighter hydrocarbon product, the treated crude increases in API gravity. This change directly affects market valuation and enhances the usability of the oil in various refining environments.
Flexible Deployment Options
The treatment process can be applied both at the field level and at centralized upgrading facilities. This flexibility supports diverse operational strategies and infrastructure setups, meeting the needs of varied production environments.
Efficient and Scalable Technology
The system uses conventional equipment such as reactors and distillation towers, supporting easy integration into existing setups. Its compact physical footprint and lower energy demands result in reduced capital and operational expenditures when compared to traditional hydroprocessing methods.