The Phase Behavior of Heavy Oil and Propane Mixtures

The phase behavior of propane diluted bitumen was mapped from temperatures between 20 and 180°C and pressures up to 10 MPa. Both vapor-liquid (VL) and liquid-liquid (LL) regions were observed. High pressure micrographs demonstrated that the heavy phase (a pitch phase) transitioned from a glass to a liquid state with increased temperature and feed propane content. Pressure-temperature and pressure-composition phase diagrams were constructed from saturation pressure and pitch phase onset data. The amount and composition of the heavy phase was also measured. Solvent-free pitch yields as high as 70 wt% of the bitumen were observed. Pseudo-ternary diagrams were also constructed to observe the partitioning of the species between the phases. Finally, the ability of a cubic equation-of-state with two forms of mixing rules were explored to model the data. The results can be used in the design of in situ and surface processes involving the addition of propane to bitumen.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MSc)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Chemical and Petroleum Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Graduate Studies

Year dc:date.issued

2017

Author dc:creator

• Mancilla Polanco, Adel Alberto

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Yarranton, Harvey

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Moore, Robert Gordon
• Ponnurangam, Sathish

• Engineering--Chemical
• Engineering--Petroleum

Statement dc:rights

• University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/28272

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ucalgary.scholaris.ca:11023/4239