Chevron U.s.a. Inc.

Chevron Oronite Company LLC

Cesar Ovalles

Estrella Rogel

Gunther Hans Dieckmann

Michael Moir

Donald Kuehne

Thomas Hoelen

John A Segerstrom

James Dunlavey

Deyuan Kong

Ian Phillip Benson

Dennis John O'Rear

Curtis Bay Campbell

Curt B Campbell

Michal Mieczyslaw Okoniewski

Russell Evan Cooper

Pedro Vaca

Pak C Leung

Thomas Michael Rea

Hariprasad Janakiram Subramani

Varut Komalarajun

Vasudevan Sampath

Kaustav Chaudhuri

Carl W Lam

Paul E Hajdu

Roopa Kamath

Schaun Malcolm Smith

Nan Chen

Michael John Campbell

Kathleen Judith Miller

Ronald A Behrens

Adam J Dassey

Janelle L Lewis

Donald Leroy Kuehne

James Thomas Dunlavey

The present invention is directed to a method for the prediction of coke morphology from feed characteristics using cross-polarized light optical microscopy, image segmentation, and statistical analysis.

Coke morphology by image segmentation

Disclosed are systems and methods for treating contaminated material. The material is heated by nonconductive and nonconvective heating in a vacuum chamber such that the surface of the material is heated without significant heating of the air within the chamber. The surface of the material is heated to at least a volatilization temperature of the contaminants or to a decomposition temperature of one or more compounds in intimate contact with the contaminants, so that the concentration of contaminants in the material is reduced. Exhaust is removed from the chamber and cooled. A solids and/or liquids collector removes condensed solids and/or liquids and has a gas outlet connected to a vacuum pump.

Systems and methods for treating contaminated solid material

In-situ upgrading of heavy hydrocarbons includes injecting into a reservoir solvent, an asphaltene precipitant additive and optionally steam, at a ratio of solvent to heavy hydrocarbon between 0.1:1 and 20:1 under reservoir conditions. The additive has C&#x2014;H, C&#x2014;C and/or C&#x2014;O bonds that thermally crack to generate free radicals in the vapor phase after injection. Formed downhole are a blend containing an upgraded hydrocarbon, and precipitated asphaltenes. The upgraded hydrocarbon is produced such that the precipitated asphaltenes remain in the reservoir. The upgraded hydrocarbon has a greater API gravity, lower asphaltene content, and lower viscosity than the heavy hydrocarbon. The precipitated asphaltenes are present in a higher amount than a similar blend not containing the additive. A method for selecting the additive includes identifying candidate additives having bonds that crack to generate free radicals in the vapor phase at the operating temperature, and calculating percent increase of asphaltenes precipitated for each.

Method of selection of asphaltene precipitant additives and process for subsurface upgrading therewith

A method includes analyzing a carbonaceous deposit for an asphaltene content from a hydrocarbon-containing fluid located in a well, a wellhead or a production line proximate the wellhead, and applying one or more preventative measures to the hydrocarbon-containing fluid located in the well, the wellhead or the production line proximate the wellhead based on the asphaltene content.

Low volume in-line filtration methods for analyzing hydrocarbon-containing fluid to evaluate asphaltene content and behavior during production operations

Systems and methods are provided for maintaining the performance and operational stability of an RF (radio frequency) antenna that is positioned in a hydrocarbon-bearing formation, for heating the formation using electromagnetic energy in the radio frequency range. Contaminants such as water or brine, metallic particulates and ionic or organic materials frequently occur in a wellbore being prepared for RF heating, or in an RF antenna installed in the wellbore. Prior to applying RF electrical energy to the formation, the antenna is decontaminated by circulating a preconditioning fluid through the antenna and recovering a spent fluid for treating and recycle. Decontamination is continued while the spent fluid from the antenna includes, but not limited to, water, metallic particles, ionic species, organic compounds contaminants, etc. An operational power level of radio frequency electrical energy is then applied to the decontaminated antenna for providing thermal energy to the hydrocarbon-bearing formation.

Antenna operation for reservoir heating

Embodiments include drilling a wellbore in a hydrocarbon-bearing formation, and the wellbore includes a radio frequency antenna destination portion that is configured to receive a radio frequency antenna; forming a low dielectric zone in the hydrocarbon-bearing formation proximate to the radio frequency antenna destination portion with a cavity based process or a squeezing based process; positioning the radio frequency antenna into the radio frequency antenna destination portion such that the radio frequency antenna is proximate to the low dielectric zone; dielectric heating the hydrocarbon-bearing formation with the radio frequency antenna such that the low dielectric zone increases dissipation of energy from the radio frequency antenna into the hydrocarbon-bearing formation; and extracting hydrocarbons from the heated hydrocarbon-bearing formation. The material has a dielectric constant of less than or equal to 20, a loss tangent of less than or equal to 0.4, and a porosity of less than or equal to 5%.

Low dielectric zone for hydrocarbon recovery by dielectric heating

Contaminant-containing soil can be remediated by subjecting the soil to microwave irradiation to heat the soil to a combustion temperature of from 150&#xb0; C. to 1200&#xb0; C. to initiate combustion. A target amount of the contaminant in the soil is destroyed. An oxidizer gas can be flowed through the soil using a gas blower and at least one gas injection line and controlled at a rate such that a self-sustaining smoldering combustion front is formed that moves through the soil. A microwave absorber additive can be added to the soil to accelerate the heating of the soil. At least one waveguide connected to a source of microwave energy directs microwaves into the soil.

Systems and methods for thermal treatment of contaminated material

Disclosed herein is a method for determining the effectiveness of one or more asphaltene dispersant additives for inhibiting or preventing asphaltene precipitation in a hydrocarbon-containing material subjected to elevated temperature and pressure conditions.

Method for determining the effectiveness of asphaltene dispersant additives for inhibiting or preventing asphaltene precipitation in a hydrocarbon-containing material subjected to elevated temperature and presssure conditions

Disclosed herein is a method of predicting sediment content of a hydroprocessed hydrocarbon product. The method involves: (a) precipitating an amount of asphaltenes from a liquid sample of a first hydrocarbon-containing feedstock having solvated asphaltenes therein with one or more first solvents; (b) determining one or more solubility characteristics of the precipitated asphaltenes; (c) analyzing the one or more solubility characteristics; (d) determining asphaltene content of the liquid sample from the results of analyzing the one or more solubility characteristics; (e) determining one or more asphaltene stability parameters of the liquid sample from the results of analyzing the one or more solubility characteristics; and (f) correlating the asphaltene content and one of the asphaltene stability parameters of the liquid sample with at least two operation conditions associated with a refinery to predict sediment content.

Method for predicting sediment content of a hydroprocessed hydrocarbon product

A method is provided for producing upgraded heavy oil from a subterranean reservoir by producing a steam chamber within the reservoir by the action of steam and flowing a liquid phase additive into a near wellbore region of the steam chamber to control asphaltenes mobility within the near wellbore region. Build-up of asphaltenes, which derive from the heavy oil, in the near wellbore region has the potential of affecting heavy oil production rates from the reservoir. The additive is formulated to mobilize the asphaltenes within this region.

Method for upgrading in situ heavy oil

Disclosed herein is a method involving the steps of method for determining asphaltene stability in a hydrocarbon-containing sample having solvated asphaltenes therein, the method comprising the steps of: (a) precipitating an amount of asphaltenes from a liquid sample of the hydrocarbon-containing sample having solvated asphaltenes therein with one or more first solvents and capturing the precipitated asphaltenes in one or more low volume filters comprising a porous filter element comprising an area through which a fluid may flow; (b) determining one or more solubility characteristics of the precipitated asphaltenes; and (c) analyzing the one or more solubility characteristics of the precipitated asphaltenes.

Low volume in-line filtration method for evaluation of asphaltenes for hydrocarbon-containing feedstock

A process for in-situ upgrading of a heavy hydrocarbon includes positioning a well in a reservoir containing a heavy hydrocarbon having an initial API gravity no greater than about 20, an n-heptane asphaltene content at least about 1 wt. %, and a viscosity at 35&#xb0; C. greater than about 350 centistokes; injecting hydrocarbon solvent(s) and asphaltene precipitant additive(s) into the well at a ratio by volume of the solvent to the heavy hydrocarbon of about 0.1:1 to about 20:1 under reservoir conditions so as to provide an upgraded hydrocarbon in the reservoir having an improved API gravity, a reduced asphaltene content, and a lower viscosity; and producing the upgraded hydrocarbon from the well. The process of the present invention can be also carried out at higher temperatures such as by injecting steam with the one or more hydrocarbon solvents and the one or more asphaltene precipitant additives into the well.

Process for in situ upgrading of a heavy hydrocarbon using asphaltene precipitant additives

The present invention is directed to a method for irradiating of solids containing petroleum or petroleum derived compounds (PPDCs), such as soils, oily sludge, drill cuttings, sediments, and non-commercial petroleum industry products, with electron beams in order to physically and/or chemically alter the composition of the PPDCs. The method includes the step of separating PPDC gas and liquids in the presence of a gas driver. Optionally, the method includes the steps of treating off-gases and applying one or more amendments to PPCD-impacted solid material pre-irradiation, post-irradiation, or during electron beam irradiation.

Growing community of inventors

Walnut Creek, CA, United States of America

Cesar Ovalles