Alumina nanofluid enhances the heavy-oil upgrading process

Upgrading heavy crude oil remains one of the most critical and technically demanding processes in the petroleum industry, primarily due to the inherently poor quality of the various types of crude oil and the complexities associated with their transport and refining. This study investigates the impact of a nanofluid—composed of aluminum oxide nanoparticles dispersed in a kerosene solvent and stabilized with the surfactant sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate—on enhancing the quality of crude oil extracted from an East Baghdad field. This nanofluid was applied using ultrasonic irradiation to ensure uniform dispersion and stability. The results demonstrated a substantial improvement in various crude oil properties. The viscosity was reduced significantly, from 58.15 cP to 5.58 cP, representing a 90.4% improvement. The API gravity increased markedly, from 19.63 to 30.49. Furthermore, the heavy metal content decreased considerably, with vanadium reduced from 109.67 ppm to 9.02 ppm (92% reduction) and the nickel content showing an 85% decrease. The sulfur content also declined sharply, from 4.422% to 0.77%, indicating an 83% improvement. These findings confirm the high efficacy of nanofluid-assisted ultrasonic treatment as a promising technique for upgrading heavy crude oil and enhancing its refining and transportation potential.