Changes of Asphaltenes' Structural Phase Characteristics in the Process of Conversion of Heavy Oil in the Hydrothermal Catalytic System
The composition of heavy crude oil from the Ashal'cha field (Volga Ural Basin, Republic of Tatarstan) and the peculiarities of the changes of its asphaltenes' structural phase characteristics in the model hydrothermal catalytic system have been studied very thoroughly. It has been established that in the water vapor media the process of destruction of the heavy crude oil high molecular weight components with the new light fraction formation in the presence of a natural catalyst, namely, hematite, containing iron oxide and at the temperatures of 210, 250, and 300 degC respectively, takes place which has an effect on the changes in its component hydrocarbon, fractional, and structural group composition as well as in the structural parameters of its asphaltenes. As the experiments temperature increases and the water content in the reaction system decreases, the general tendency of growth the asphaltene associates aromaticity factor revealed that in turn it is accompanied by the extension (increase) of the dist.