Determination of Molecular Diffusion Coefficient in Domains with Significant Volume Change - Case of Propane Dissolution in Bitumen

SHAUHEEN ETMINAN, ZHANGXIN (JOHN) CHEN, BRIJ MAINI CHEMICAL & PETROLEUM ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT, UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY

1 BACKGROUND

3 METHODOLOGY
Bitumen Volume Change (Swelling) due to Propane Dissolution can be significant

Recovery of Heavy Oil and Bitumen using Solvents Modified Pressure Decay Technique Mass Transfer Molecular Diffusion Ficks 1st Law
Diffusivity: Controls the rate of mass transfer in molecular diffusion Solubility: Amount of gas that eventually dissolves in bitumen

Pressure is Constant in Diffusion Cell

Mathematical Model:

Diffusion Setup
Pressure Drop and Interface Tracking

Solvent - Bitumen PVT Study

Measuring solution density, viscosity, concentration

Modified Pressure Decay Technique

(Etminan et al. 2010)

4 RESULTS
Numerical Solution Moving Boundary Problem:
Finite Difference

2 Why / PURPOSE
Purpose: Estimation of Diffusion Coefficient of Propane in Mac Kay River Bitumen

Proposed Algorithm

Auxiliary Equations for Grids Volume Change

Applications: 1. Improving prediction of compositional reservoir simulators 2. Designing solvent processes: VAPEX, ES-SAGD, SAP, Miscible Flooding Considerations & Assumptions: - D is constant - Isothermal condition - No chemical reaction between solvent and liquid - Unidirectional diffusion of gas to quiescent liquid - No liquid volume change due to gas dissolution - Density of solution remains constant - No induced density (natural) convection in oil - Dilute dissolution of gas into the liquid - No gas/oil interface resistance

Etminan S.R., Maini B.B., Chen Z. and Hassanzadeh H. Constant-Pressure Technique for Gas Diffusivity and Solubility Measurements in Heavy Oil and Bitumen, Energy & Fuels ,24, 533-549, 2010.