Hydrous pyrolysis of heavy oil using solid acid minerals for viscosity reduction

Hydrous pyrolysis, also known as aquathermolysis, has been explored intensively as one of the technologies to reduce the viscosity of heavy oil. The hydrous pyrolysis was also proposed as one of the processes in the formation of crude oil from kerogen through catagenesis. There is a connection between hydrous pyrolysis in crude oil formation with hydrous pyrolysis in heavy oil processing. In both reactions, minerals and sub- and supercritical waters were important parts. Strong-acid minerals, especially induce the breakage of the CC, CO and CS bonds in heavy oil. There are several classes of materials for hydrous pyrolysis of heavy oil, namely (i) metal-based nanoparticles such as Ni+, Cu+, etc. (ii) solid acid minerals and oxides and (iii) microporous zeolites. The challenges are mostly with the stability of the materials. Stable oxides such as zirconia, iron oxide, and hydrophobic zeolites are targeted for hydrous pyrolysis in the presence of hot water and steam. The paper emphasizes the importance of the chemical composition of heavy oil and how heavy oil is altered by natural minerals, including microporous zeolites. Transferable knowledge on the formation of petroleum was used to screen minerals for hydrous pyrolysis of heavy oil to light oil.