Current knowledge and potential applications of cavitation technologies for the petroleum industry

• Published in: Ultrasonics sonochemistry 2018-04, Vol.42, p.493-507
• Main Authors: Avvaru, Balasubrahmanyam, Venkateswaran, Natarajan, Uppara, Parasuveera, Iyengar, Suresh B., Katti, Sanjeev S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cavitation; Crude oil; Crude upgrading; Desulphurisation; Enhanced oil recovery; Oil sand extraction; Oil shale; Petroleum industry
• ISSN: 1350-4177; 1873-2828
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2017.12.010

•Review of present status of ultrasound based cavitation for enhanced oil recovery.•Analysis of ultrasound technology for oil shale and oil sand extraction processes.•Review analysis of ultrasound technology for demulsification of water in oil emulsions.•Review analysis of ultrasound assisted oxidative desulphurisation (UAOD) process.•Cavitation for crude oil upgrading (viscosity reduction & API gravity improvement).•Mechanism through which cavitation technology intensify each of the refining process. Technologies based on cavitation, produced by either ultrasound or hydrodynamic means, are part of growing literature for individual refinery unit processes. In this review, we have explained the mechanism through which these cavitation technologies intensify individual unit processes such as enhanced oil recovery, demulsification of water in oil emulsions during desalting stage, crude oil viscosity reduction, oxidative desulphurisation/demetallization, and crude oil upgrading. Apart from these refinery processes, applications of this technology are also mentioned for other potential crude oil sources such as oil shale and oil sand extraction. The relative advantages and current situation of each application/process at commercial scale is explained.