PROCESS OF REDUCING VISCOSITY OF HEAVY CRUDE OIL BY REMOVAL OF ASPHALTENE USING A PRECIPITATING AGENT.

摘要

A process and system for reducing the viscosity of heavy and extra heavy crude oils, and more particularly to a process for reducing the viscosity of heavy and extra heavy crude oils by means of total or partial oil deasphalting using a precipitating agent in order to obtain an upgraded crude oil of lower viscosity that can be pumped without the use of diluents. The upgrading also includes a reduction in metals and sulfur associated with asphaltene removal. The process consists of relatively simple equipment such as static mixers and stirred tanks and operation temperature is low and pressure is moderate.