Unlocking Natural Catalysis in Oilsands for Effective Oil Upgrading.

Oil sands have vast potential as a future fossil fuel source (~1.6 trillion barrels of oil), but their recovery and upgrading remains challenging and demanding of additional energy. We propose to study the upstream exploitation and production of the oil using in-situ combustion combined with catalytic upgrading, by utilising the clay minerals occurring naturally in these geological formations, 'unlocking' their potential as catalysts. These include deposits such as oxides of iron and vanadium. Producing these resources effectively and with minimal environmental impact requires innovative science and technology. We seek to utilise chemical and biochemical methods of releasing and transforming these species to make active catalyst particles which will be applied down-hole in the reservoir to aid the recovery of oil and greatly reduce the environmental impact associated with alternative techniques such as mining and steam injection. For example, Fe-based catalysts could have high potential 'in the well' as they can function in steam reforming in the combustion step, in sulphide removal and hydrocarbon hydrogenation. E.g. Bacteria can be used to produce magnetite (Fe3O4) which can be 'doped' with additional metals. We propose to apply and adapt previously developed upstream engineering techniques including Toe-to-Heel Air Injection (THAI) and catalytic upgrading process in-situ (CAPRI). These are based upon in-situ combustion in a horizontal well incorporating thermal upgrading. We also seek to utilise these natural catalysts to decrease the coke deposition and deactivation associated with refinery type catalysts, which can otherwise greatly limit the process lifetime and to decrease the environmental impact of the process by using naturally occurring metals. Specific aims are to:
- Produce oil with increased API gravity and lowered viscosity from partially upgraded heavy oil.
- Reduce the need for additional surface upgrading at the refinery and thus energy use.
- Utilise particles as catalysts such as iron oxide, representative of metals naturally occurring in the geological formation as models for fines from past natural formation damage/erosion of an iron rich mineralogy which can augment upstream upgrading and reduce the requirement for refining.The THAI-CAPRI process is a novel oil recovery method. Operating the well with dispersed nanoparticulate catalysts brings new challenges of how to convey the catalyst in to the mobile oil zone (Rigby), as well as understanding the fate of such nano-materials in the environment. The student will participate in a comprehensive training programme and will be comfortable working at the interface between Geoscience and Engineering.