Analysis of the geotechnological potential of heavy oil/bitumen production based on the improved method of well hydraulic production

Abstract The work provides an analysis of technologies for the intensification of heavy oil and bitumen production. A variant of its improvement based on the technology of borehole hydraulic production supplemented by the processes of dissolution with hydrocarbon solvents and catalytic aquathermolysis is proposed. The technology involves transfer of main operations of technological chain “extraction-preparation” to the productive layer (transfer of rock to composition of hydraulic mixture; viscosity reduction as a result of heating, dissolution with hydrocarbon solvents, destruction as a result of catalytic aquathermolysis; flotation of oil/bitumen droplets and gravitational separation of the rock). At the same time, in order to increase the efficiency of the technology and use of catalyst, it is proposed to implement the catalytic destruction of asphaltenes starting from mining and continuing after extraction to the surface in a technological installation. Moreover, the required volume of the solvent fraction (taking into account its irreversible losses) is expected to be obtained directly at the deposit as a result of catalytic aquathermolysis and distillation at the final stage of preparation. The improvement will allow to ensure the maximum coefficient of extraction of hydrocarbons with simultaneous modernization to the level suitable for transportation by pipelines without additional preparation.