Correlation of crude oil steam distillation yields with basic crude oil properties

Journal Article · Thu Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1983 · SPEJ, Soc. Pet. Eng. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/9943-PA· OSTI ID:7151647

Wu, C H; Elder, R B

Steam distillation can occur in reservoirs during steam injection and in-situ combustion processes. To estimate the amount of vaporized oil caused by steam distillation, we established correlations of steam distillation yields with the basic crude oil properties. These correlations were based on steam distillation tests performed on 16 crude oils from various parts of the U.S. The gravity of oils varied from 12 to 40/sup 0/API (0.99 to 0.83 g/cm/sup 3/). The viscosity of oil ranged from 5 to 4,085 cSt (5 to 4085 mm/sup 2//s) at 100/sup 0/F (38/sup 0/C). The steam distillations were performed at a saturated steam pressure of 220 psia (1.5 MPa). One oil sample was used in experiments to investigate the effect of steam pressure (220 to 500 psia (1.5 to 3.4 MPa)) on the steam distillation yield. The experiments were carried out to a steam distillation factor (V /SUB w/ /V /SUB oi/ ) of 20, with the factor defined as the cumulative volume of condensed steam used in distillation, V /SUB w/ , divided by the initial volume of oil, V /SUB oi/ . At a steam distillation factor of 20, the distillation yields ranged from 13 to 57% of the initial oil volume. Several basic crude oil properties can be used to predict steam distillation yields reasonably well. A correlation using oil viscosity in centistokes at 100/sup 0/F (38/sup 0/C) can be used to predict the steam distillation yield within a standard error of 4.3%. The API gravity can be used to estimate yields within 5.6%. A gas chromatographic analysis was made for each crude oil to obtain the component boiling points (simulated distillation temperatures). A correlation parameter was selected from the simulated distillation results that can be used to estimate the steam distillation yields within 4.5%.

• Research Organization: Colorado School of Mines
• OSTI ID: 7151647
• Journal Information: SPEJ, Soc. Pet. Eng. J.; (United States), Journal Name: SPEJ, Soc. Pet. Eng. J.; (United States) Vol. 23:6; ISSN SSPJD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
API GRAVITY
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
CORRELATIONS
DENSITY
DISTILLATION
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
IN-SITU COMBUSTION
IN-SITU PROCESSING
OIL WELLS
OIL YIELDS
OXIDATION
PETROLEUM
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PROCESSING
RECOVERY
SEPARATION PROCESSES
STEAM INJECTION
THERMAL RECOVERY
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
VISCOSITY
WELLS
YIELDS