Energy & Fuels, Vol.29, No.8, 5382-5389, 2015
Experimental Study on New Ignition Agents Used in Initiating in Situ Combustion
To ignite an oil-bearing stratum efficiently and safely at an operating temperature of approximately 250 degrees C, a new ignition agent, YE-IN-3, and its injection technique were developed by means of theory and experimental testing. First, YHN-3 was compounded and optimized according to stoichiometry and combustion characteristic parameters. Second, the ignition safety experiments of YHN-3 were performed using a self-made sand-packed model. Finally, the effectiveness of YHN-3 and its injection course were tested using a combustion tube. From the experimental results, it was seen that ignition agents could be carried into oil sand by an air purge technique. Moreover, YHN-3 ignited crude oils successfully and rapidly at about 230 degrees C, and the reaction of YHN-3 was strongly exothermic and under control. A combustion front was also established and advanced steadily during the combustion tube experiment process. Furthermore, the combustion temperature peak was 514.6 degrees C, and the combustion front propagation velocity was 0.48 cm/min. In short, YHN-3 and the injection technique were verified to be practical and effective in laboratory.