The Use of Propane as an Additive During Oil Distillation

摘要

In previous experimental works related to steam injection, propane has been used as an additive with the objective of improving the yield of heavy oils. The following phenomena have been observed: (1) the oil production is accelerated, (2) the steam injectivity is incremented, and (3) the steam front velocity is higher. These results indicate an improvement of oil properties; however, with such experiments it is not possible to explain the origin of these phenomena. In order to explain these phenomena in this work, a synthetic oil, consisting of equal weights of alkanes, was used in experiments of oil distillation. Dry, steam, and steam-propane distillations were investigated. It was found that the alkanes boiling temperature is smaller for steam-propane distillation than for dry and steam distillations. This may be the cause of such phenomena.