Laboratory Experiments on the In Situ Upgrading of Heavy Crude Oil Using Catalytic Aquathermolysis by Acidic Ionic Liquid

Heavy and extra heavy oil exploitation has attracted attention in the last few years because of the decline in the production of conventional crude oil. The high viscosity of heavy crude oil is the main challenge that obstructs its extraction. Consequently, catalytic aquathermolysis may be an effective solution to upgrade heavy crude oil to decrease its viscosity in reservoir conditions. In this regard, a series of acidic ionic liquids, 1-butyl-1H-imidazol-3-ium 4-dodecylbenzenesulfonate (IL-4), 1-decyl-1H-imidazol-3-ium 4-dodecylbenzenesulfonate (IL-10), and 1-hexadecyl-1H-imidazol-3-ium 4-dodecylbenzenesulfonate (IL-16), were utilized in the aquathermolysis of heavy crude oil. Of each IL, 0.09 wt % reduced the viscosity of the crude oil by 89%, 93.7%, and 94.3%, respectively, after the addition of 30% water at 175 °C. ILs with alkyl chains equal to 10 carbon atoms or more displayed greater activity in viscosity reduction than that of ILs with alkyl chains lower than 10 carbon atoms. The molecular weight and asphaltene content of the crude oil were decreased after catalytic aquathermolysis. The compositional analysis of the crude oil before and after catalytic aquathermolysis showed that the molar percentage of lighter molecules from tridecanes to isosanes was increased by 26–45%, while heavier molecules such as heptatriacontanes, octatriacontanes, nonatriacontanes, and tetracontanes disappeared. The rheological behavior of the crude oil before and after the catalytic aquathermolytic process was studied, and the viscosity of the crude oil sample was reduced strongly from 678, 29.7, and 23.4 cp to 71.8, 16.9, and 2.7 cp at 25, 50, and 75 °C, respectively. The used ILs upgraded the heavy crude oil at a relatively low temperature.