Upgrading Oilsands Bitumen and Heavy Oil

"The emphasis throughout is to link the fundamentals of the molecules through to the economic drivers for the industry, because this combination determines the technology used for processing."-From the Introduction The high demand for quality petroleum products necessitates ongoing innovation in the science and engineering underlying oilsands extraction and upgrading. Beginning with a thorough grounding in the composition, fluid properties, reaction behaviour, and economics of bitumen and heavy oil, Murray Gray then delves into current processing technologies, particularly those used at full commercial scale. The tables of data on composition, yield, and behaviour of oilsands bitumen and heavy oil fractions are extensive. Though the focus is on bitumen from Alberta's oilsands-the largest resource in the world-the science applies to upgrading of heavy oil and petroleum residue feeds worldwide. Upgrading Oilsands Bitumen and Heavy Oil lays out the current best practice for engineers and scientists in the oilsands and refining industries, government personnel, academics, and students. State-of-the-art oilsands processing technologies, from laboratory to full commercial scale. Hundreds of figures, tables, equations and reactions; appendices, bibliography, notes, index "Appropriate for graduate students and practicing engineers, this handbook defines the fluid properties of bitumen, identifies the components of bitumen, and introduces cracking reactions driven by temperature and catalytic reactions with hydrogen gas for upgrading bitumen and heavy oil fractions. The second half of the book delves into the technical details of separation processes, thermal cracking and coking, residue hydroconversion, hydrotreating reactions, hydrogen production, and gas purification. A marketing chapter explains the economics of Canadian oilsands production, transport, processing, and export." Acknowledgements
Introduction

I.1 Crude Oil and Bitumen Definitions
I.2 Canadian Oilsands Resources
I.3 International Bitumen and Heavy Oil Reserves
I.4 Upgrading Bitumen and Heavy Oil
I.5 Economic Incentives for Upgrading
I.6 Outline of This Book
References

1. Density and Phase Behaviour
1.1 Density and API Gravity
1.2 Distillation Curves and Boiling Ranges
1.3 Average Molar Mass and Molar Mass Distribution
1.4 Vapour–Liquid Equilibrium
1.5 Solids in Crude and Processed Oils
1.6 Density and Average Molar Mass of Asphaltenes
1.7 Solubility Parameters of the Petroleum, Bitumen and Asphaltene Fractions
1.8 Water in Hydrocarbons
Abbreviations
Notation
References

2. Transport and Thermal Properties
2.1 Liquid Viscosity
2.2 Thermal Conductivity
2.3 Diffusion Coefficient
2.4 Surface Tension
2.5 Melting Point of Vacuum Residues and Asphaltenes
2.6 Thermal Properties of Bitumen Fractions
2.7 Heats of Combustion
Notation
References

3. Chemical Composition
3.1 Origins of Alberta Bitumens
3.2 Elemental Composition
3.3 Class Fractionation
3.4 Coke-Forming Tendency
3.5 Chemical Structures in Bitumen
3.6 Asphaltene Composition and Structure
3.7 Quality Issues with Bitumen, Heavy Oils and Oilsands Products
Abbreviations
References

4. Upgrading Reactions and Kinetics
4.1 Thermodynamics of Cracking
4.2 Mechanisms of Cracking Hydrocarbons
4.3 Overall Kinetics of Bitumen Cracking
4.4 Liquid- versus Vapour-Phase Cracking of Bitumen Components
4.5 Catalytic Reactions in Upgrading
4.6 Formation of Solids and Coke
4.7 Basic Equations for Reactor Analysis at Steady State
Abbreviations
Notation
References

5. Marketing of Bitumen Products
5.1 Crude Oil Exports
5.2 Crude Oil Pricing
5.3 Transportation of Bitumen and Upgraded Products
5.4 Trade-Offs Between Upgrading Cost and Product Quality
5.5 Natural Gas Supply and Properties
5.6 Natural Gas Condensate
5.7 Sulfur Transport and Marketing
References

6. Production of Bitumen and Heavy Oil
6.1 Mineable Oilsands
6.2 In Situ Production of Oilsands Bitumen
6.3 Improvements to In Situ Production
6.4 In Situ Upgrading Schemes
Refere