Effect of hydrotreatment process on the physicochemical properties of a Colombian heavy crude oil post-catalytic aquathermolysis

Steam injection with catalysts is a method with high potential for heavy crude oil recovery and the fulfillment of fuel demand. This investigation aims to evaluate dispersed catalysts, produced in catalytic aquathermolysis, under hydrotreating conditions to improve the properties of heavy crude oils. The hydrotreating process of the improved crudes obtained in the catalytic aquathermolysis on a Colombian heavy crude of 12.8°API was analyzed. The aquathermolysis tests were conducted under conditions typical of steam injection, a widely used technology for enhanced oil recovery. Iron and molybdenum naphthenates were used as precursors. The upgraded crude oils showed a decrease in viscosity up to 90 % in comparison to non-catalytic aquathermolysis crude oil, and the conversion of 540 °C+ fractions with simulated distillation analysis was in the range of 10–20 % at 410 °C. The hydrotreating results showed that the activation of iron and molybdenum catalysts reduced the viscosity and increased the conversion of the 540 °C+ fraction by about 80 % and 30 %. Simulated distillation findings indicate that the conversion of heavy fractions contributes to the formation of lighter fractions such as naphtha, distillates, and VGO. As a result, the generation of these lighter fractions leads to viscosity reduction.