Process for simultaneously extracting and upgrading by controlled extraction a heavy hydrocarbon mixture

摘要

The present invention provides a process for simultaneously extracting and upgrading a heavy hydrocarbon mixture, said process comprising: i) injecting supercritical or near-supercritical CO2 at a temperature of around the critical temperature and a pressure of from around the critical pressure into a heavy hydrocarbon deposit; and ii) removing a stream of CO2 from the deposit, which stream is charged with a hydrocarbon mixture having a lower average molecular weight than that of the heavy hydrocarbon deposit, wherein the removed CO2 is optionally recovered and either recycled for subsequent re-injection or injected for long-term sub-surface storage.

主权项

1. A process for simultaneously extracting and upgrading by controlled extraction a heavy hydrocarbon mixture, said process comprising:
i) injecting supercritical or near-supercritical CO2, in the absence of H2, at a temperature of around the critical temperature and a pressure of around the critical pressure into an initial heavy hydrocarbon deposit; ii) removing a stream of CO2 from the deposit, said stream being charged with a recovered hydrocarbon mixture, which is separated from said initial heavy hydrocarbon deposit, having a lower average molecular weight than that of the initial heavy hydrocarbon deposit and leaving a residual hydrocarbon mixture in said deposit having a higher average molecular weight than that of the initial heavy hydrocarbon deposit; and iii) separating the recovered hydrocarbon mixture from the CO2 stream, wherein said recovered hydrocarbon mixture is separated in essentially a single fraction, and wherein the removed CO2 is optionally recovered and either recycled for subsequent re-injection or injected for long-term sub-surface storage.