METHOD FOR IMPROVING THE TRANSPORTABILITY OF HEAVY CRUDE OIL

摘要

The invention relates to a method for improving the transportability of heavy crude oil. Proceeding from the disadvantages of the known prior art, a method should be created in which an additive can be used, it being possible to produce said additive from a by-product arising in the production of mineral oil. The intention is for it to be possible to perform the method at little cost and without particular safety-specific provisions. In addition, the additive should lead to an increased yield of conventional petroleum in subsequent refining of the crude oil. According to the invention, an aqueous mixture of hydrocarbons with a chain length of predominantly C4 to C12, which contains no hydrocarbon compounds containing oxygen, is used as the additive. The mixture is produced in the area of a mineral oil field from the natural gas and/or associated gas arising and is added to the heavy crude oil either in untreated form or after degassing and/or dewatering. In this way, a light, transportable crude oil is obtained from the heavy crude oil. During the subsequent refining of the light crude oil into conventional petroleum, the volume of petroleum produced is increased by the hydrocarbons contained in the aqueous hydrocarbon mixture.