Primary Oil Recovery:-
Primary oil recovery refers to the process of extracting oil either via the natural rise
of hydrocarbons to the surface of the earth or via pump jacks and other artificial lift
devices.
*Since this technique only targets the oil, which is either susceptible to its release or
accessible to the pump jack, this is very limited in its extraction potential.
*In fact, only around 5% - 15% of the well’s potential are recovered from the
primary method.
*the distillation of the feedstock into its basic fractions, and then the re-distillation of
these in separate towers into highly concentrated intermediates.
*In a simple refinery, the split would probably consist of six basic cuts: petroleum
gas (refinery gas and LPG),gasoline, naphtha, kerosene, gas oil and residue.
*The purpose of primary unit is to separate the crude into different fractions by
distillation Know as mother unit of the refinery,(CDU) , (VDU),(AVU)
Secondary Oil Recovery:-
*This method involves the injection of gas or water, which will displace the oil, force
it to move from its resting place and bring it to the surface.
*This is typically successful in targeting an additional 30% of the oil’s reserves,
though the figure could be more or less depending on the oil and of the rock
surrounding it.
*After crude oil is separated into its fractions, each stream is further converted by
changing the size and structure of molecules through cracking, reforming and other
conversion processes.
*to remove any impurities and undesirable constituents from the distilled fractions.*
to convert some of the distilled hydrocarbons into different molecular forms. to
improve product quality.
*to improve the refinery profit margins by converting low value heavy ends to high
value products like LPG/ gasoline/ kerosenel diesel.
Classify crude oil based on hydrocarbon content.:-
hydrocarbon composition (paraffins, naphthenes, and aromatics) are used to classify crude oils, using a
ternary diagram, shown in Figure
ternary diagram for classification of crude oils
An flammable bituminous oily liquid that may vary from almost colorless to black,
occurs in many places in the upper strata of the earth, is a complex mixture of
hydrocarbons with small amounts of other substances, and is prepared for use as
gasoline, naphtha, or other products by various refining processes.
A mixture of hydrocarbons naturally existing as a liquid in underground reservoirs that
remains a liquid at atmospheric pressure. Crude oil is the raw material which is refined
into gasoline, heating oil, jet fuel, propane, petrochemicals, plastics, pharmaceuticals,
and other products.
Paraffins are the most common hydrocarbons in crude oil; certain liquid paraffins are
the major constituents of gasoline (petrol) and are therefore highly valued.
Naphthenes are an important part of all liquid refinery products, but they also form
some of the heavy asphalt like residues of refinery processes. Aromatics generally
constitute only a small percentage of most crudes. The most common aromatic in
crude oil is benzene, a popular building block in the petrochemical industry.
Aromatic hydrocarbons are an important series of hydrocarbons found in almost every
petroleum mixture from any part of the world. Aromatics are cyclic but unsaturated
hydrocarbons with alternating double bonds. The simplest aromatic hydrocarbon is
benzene (C6H6). The name “aromatic” refers to the fact that such hydrocarbons are
commonly fragrant compounds. Although benzene has three carbon-carbon double bonds,
it has a unique arrangement of electrons with resonance structures of the double bonds
(aromaticity) that allow benzene to be relatively stable. However, benzene is known to be
a cancer-inducing compound. For this reason, the amount of benzene allowed in
petroleum products such as gasoline or fuel oil is limited by government regulations in
many countries. Under standard conditions, benzene, toluene, and xylene are in liquid
form whereas higher aromatics such as naphthalene occur as solids in isolation, but
dissolve to form a liquid solution with simple aromatics.
Buried hill oil reservoirs, including carbonatite, metamorphic rock, and
igneous rock oil reservoirs, are mostly massive oil reservoirs, and
sometimes are stratified oil reservoirs. These oil reservoirs are generally
fractured or fracture porosity reservoirs, and sometimes bottom water and a
gas cap exist.
Types Of Reserviors
Anticlinal Traps:
An anticlinal trap is a structural trap which is closed by an anticline (=
an arch-shaped fold in rock, in which rock layers are upwardly convex).
Anticlinal traps are structural traps which result from geologic forces
folding reservoir and cap rocks. It is result of ductile crustal
deformations.
Fault Traps:
A fault trap is a geological formation in which oil or gas in a porous
section of rock is sealed off by a displaced, nonporous layer. A fault trap
occurs when formations on either side of the fault move and lie in such a
way that, when petroleum migrates into one of the formations, it
becomes trapped there.
It is result of brittle crustal deformations. Stratigraphic traps are formed
as a result of lateral and vertical variations in the thickness, texture,
porosity or lithology of the reservoir rock.
Examples of this type of trap are an unconformity trap, a lens trap and a
reef trap. Impermeable strata seal the reservoir Salt dome traps are
formed as a result of below ground salt which is less dense than the rock
above it - moving upwards slowly. Oil and gas that flows through the
reservoir rock will come to rest when it reaches the salt dome and is
then trapped Combination Traps : Fault bound anticlinal structures, i.e.
combination of anticlinal & fault traps. Many global reservoir shave this
type.
