In-situ oil upgrading via deasphalting
AssigneeCenovus Energy Inc.
InventorsAmos BEN-ZVI, Nashaat NASSAR, Paulina MORASSE, Lukemon ADETUNJI
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Abstract
A method for producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir, the method comprising the steps of: injecting steam and injecting a silica-based asphaltene-sorbent into the subterranean reservoir; allowing the silica-based asphaltene-sorbent to adsorb asphaltenes from the hydrocarbons, thereby producing upgraded hydrocarbons and asphaltenes adsorbed to the silica-based asphaltene-sorbent in the subterranean reservoir; and producing the upgraded hydrocarbons, without producing the asphaltenes adsorbed to the silica-based asphaltene-sorbent.
Claims22
A method for producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) injecting steam and injecting a silica-based asphaltene-sorbent into the subterranean reservoir;
- (b) allowing the silica-based asphaltene-sorbent to adsorb asphaltenes from the hydrocarbons, thereby producing upgraded hydrocarbons and asphaltenes adsorbed to the silica-based asphaltene-sorbent in the subterranean reservoir;
- and
- (c) producing the upgraded hydrocarbons, without producing the asphaltenes adsorbed to the silica-based asphaltene-sorbent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.