In-situ upgrading of oil using hydrogen donors is a new process. In particular, very little research has been conducted with respect to in-situ oil upgrading using hydrogen donor under in-situ combustion. Several papers describe the use of metal additives mixed with oil and their influence on oil properties such as viscosity and API gravity. The main objective of my research is to determine if a catalyst mixed with a hydrogen donor (tetralin) is going to affect the Jobo crude oil properties while undergoing in-situ combustion. Six runs were performed with Jobo crude oil (9-11ºAPI) from the Orinoco Belt in Venezuela. Four of the runs were successful. Two of them are base runs; the remaining ones are with tetralin with concentration of 5 wt% (of oil) and catalyst with concentration of 750 ppm. For all runs, the following were kept constant: the air injection rate (3 std. L/min) and production (combustion tube outlet) pressure, 300 psig. Concentration by weight of oil, water, and sand in the samples were approximately 4.8%, 4.2%, and 91% respectively. Oil viscosity at the end of combustion at 40oC decreased from 42.3 and 73.6 to 16.6 and 25.2; API gravity at the end of combustion increased from 18.4 and 16.8 to 20 and 18.8. Oil recovery is higher; combustion front velocity is faster in the case of additives, water production decreased. Since oil viscosity decreased and API gravity increased oil moves faster and consequently combustion time is lower.

In-situ upgrading of oil using hydrogen donors is a new process. In particular, very little research has been conducted with respect to in-situ oil upgrading using hydrogen donor under in-situ combustion. Several papers describe the use of metal additives mixed with oil and their influence on oil properties such as viscosity and API gravity. The main objective of my research is to determine if a catalyst mixed with a hydrogen donor (tetralin) is going to affect the Jobo crude oil properties while undergoing in-situ combustion. Six runs were performed with Jobo crude oil (9-11ºAPI) from the Orinoco Belt in Venezuela. Four of the runs were successful. Two of them are base runs; the remaining ones are with tetralin with concentration of 5 wt% (of oil) and catalyst with concentration of 750 ppm. For all runs, the following were kept constant: the air injection rate (3 std. L/min) and production (combustion tube outlet) pressure, 300 psig. Concentration by weight of oil, water, and sand in the samples were approximately 4.8%, 4.2%, and 91% respectively. Oil viscosity at the end of combustion at 40°C decreased from 42.3 and 73.6 to 16.6 and 25.2; API gravity at the end of combustion increased from 18.4 and 16.8 to 20 and 18.8. Oil recovery is higher; combustion front velocity is faster in the case of additives, water production decreased. Since oil viscosity decreased and API gravity increased oil moves faster and consequently combustion time is lower.