Pereira, PedroHejazi, HosseinSuarez, Ricardo2016-01-262016-01-262016-01-262016http://hdl.handle.net/11023/2778Nanocatalytic in-situ upgrading is a novel technique for increasing heavy-oil recovery from naturally-carbonate-fractured reservoirs. In this research the effect of the gases, the catalyst, and the reaction heating on producing heavy-oil from carbonate matrix blocks are studied. Therefore, batch-mode experiments were carried out in a cylindrical core holder set-up to simulate heavy oil recovery from matrix blocks of Indiana limestone and Silurian dolomite core samples. Finally, a simple analytical method is proposed for modelling the temperature distribution in a matrix block heated by nanocatalytic in-situ upgrading process. This method is derived from the solutions of the heat conduction equation under different boundary conditions. Results demonstrate that nanocatalytic in-situ upgrading is an enhanced oil recovery process in which gas oil gravity drainage, miscibility, chemical reactions, and thermal conduction play an important role in the production of heavy-oil from carbonate matrix blocks.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--PetroleumEnhanced Oil RecoveryNaturally Fractured ReservoirsOil upgradingmaster thesis10.11575/PRISM/27169