Applications of supercritical water technology in the petroleum industry

As a green solution for the development of the petroleum industry, supercritical water (SCW) technology not only has the potential to break through technical bottlenecks in unconventional oil development but also provides an innovative paradigm for pollution reduction and carbon emission reduction in petroleum conversion and utilization. In the development of unconventional oil resources, the strong dissolution capacity and heat transfer characteristics of SCW can reduce the viscosity of heavy oil, improve fluidity, promote thermal conversion of oil shale, and enhance heavy oil recovery. In petroleum processing and refining, SCW can serve as a reaction medium to facilitate the cracking and lightening of heavy oil, while dissolving sulfur, nitrogen, and heavy metal ions to achieve deep removal of heteroelements. In terms of pollutant treatment and resource utilization, supercritical water oxidation can completely oxidize organic matter within a short time without secondary pollution. This paper starts from the principle of SCW technology, introduces the physical and chemical properties of SCW and the reaction characteristics of organic compounds. It then combs and summarizes the application modes and effects of SCW technology in oil extraction, refining, waste treatment, and other links. Finally, the process scheme of SCW technology is proposed, and optimization concepts of process intensification, energy substitution, and spatial transfer are put forward for the process scheme. It aims to provide a theoretical basis for the optimization of process parameters, the development of new equipment, and the design of new processes of SCW technology, and promote the transformation of the petroleum industry toward low-carbon, environmental protection, and high efficiency.