Abstract: Catalysis plays a very important role in the creation of environmentally sustainable technologies in variety industries at present stage of human development. We present herein the study of intrinsic catalytic properties of the mineral matrices of various natures (basalts, clays, sandstones) for heavy oil upgrading in situ (i.e., underground) which of interest to create advanced technologies for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). The catalytic and physical-chemical properties of natural inorganic matrices, which contained the heavier hydrocarbon compounds, have been studied. Free of heavy hydrocarbons mineral matrices as in the original form and after thermal treatment and calcinations in the atmosphere of corresponding gases (Ar, H2) have been studied using elementary analysis, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy of high resolution, IR spectroscopy, methods of adsorption and desorption of nitrogen and ammonia. The results of measurements of catalytic activity of inorganic matrices in the reactions of ammonium nitrate decomposition (reaction with a large gassing), oxidation of hydrocarbons and CO, and hydrocracking of asphaltenes into maltenes (conversion of heavy hydrocarbons into more valuable light hydrocarbons) are compared with physic-chemical properties and discussed. Thus, matrices samples from basalt and clays are characterized by the presence in their composition of significant amounts of oxides of transition and alkaline earth elements: Fe (2,75- 3,3% wt.), Ti (0,3-0,4% mass.), Mg (7,2- 1,4% wt.) and specific surface (25-15 m2/g), sufficient to effect catalytic reactions on a solid surface. Characterized mineral matrices were used to prepare samples of effective catalysts for asphaltenes hydrocracking by introducing additional components. The catalytic activity of the matrices of different nature (basalt, clay, sandstone) have been observed in the reactions of decomposition ammonium nitrate, oxidation of hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide, and hydrocracking of asphaltenes for the first time. The matrices of basalt and clay natures have been used as a supports for preparation of the catalysts Fe/basalt, Ni/basalt, Fe/clay as examples of the creation of new efficient catalytic systems for conversion of hydrocarbon components. Thus, it is experimentally demonstrated the possibility of carrying out catalytic reactions in situ in petroleum reservoirs using the matrices of oil-bearing rocks as catalysts in order to create advanced EOR technology. The authors gratefully thank the Russian Scientific Foundation for funding this work under the project # 15-13-00057.

Cite: Dobrynkin N.M. , Batygina M.V. , Noskov A.S.
Study of Catalytic Properties of Inorganic Rock Matrices in Redox Reactions
10th Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems 27 Sep - 3 Oct 2015