Song, HuaZhao, Lulu2016-08-292016-08-2920162016http://hdl.handle.net/11023/3227In industrial field, hydrocracking is conventionally used to upgrade crude oil and improve the quality of oil products. However, the high investment cost and strict experimental conditions limit the development of this technology. The utilization of methane, which is naturally available as the principal component of natural gas, to play the role of H donor, attracts the attentions from both the oil companies and the academic research. In this thesis, three catalytic formula are identified through the catalysts screening. All these catalysts show a significant viscosity reduction companied by acceptable coke yield, better stability and compatibility and the high liquid yield. With series of experiment results, it can be concluded that the catalysts promote the activation of methane and the incorporation into the product oil efficiently. The current achievement of this research can also further improves the commercial application feasibility of this technology.engUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.Engineering--ChemicalEngineering--EnvironmentalEngineering--PetroleumHeavy Oilcatalytic oil upgradingmethanptreatingmaster thesis10.11575/PRISM/25225