World’s First Technology for Improving Oil Quality Using Ultrasound Developed
Scientists at the Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas (National Research University) have developed a technology to alter the molecular structure of oil using the energy of cavitation fields generated by ultrasound.
This technology enables the upgrading of oil by modifying its physicochemical properties and reducing the content of undesirable components. For field testing, the system was designed as a mobile unit utilizing controlled ultrasonic fields. This research equipment can be deployed at any oil field, including those in remote or hard-to-reach locations.
Unlike existing global methods for oil upgrading, this new Russian-developed technology does not require high energy consumption and allows the process to be carried out directly at the extraction site.
"This opens up new possibilities for developing oil fields in the Arctic zone, offshore, and in other hard-to-reach areas," noted the project lead, Professor Alexander Maksimenko.
The technology is based on the phenomenon of cavitation, which occurs when a liquid is subjected to powerful acoustic oscillations. An ultrasonic generator converts electrical voltage into high-frequency mechanical vibrations of a specific amplitude. These are transmitted into the liquid medium, where microscopic gas bubbles form. When these bubbles collapse, they generate localized pressure reaching tens of thousands of atmospheres and temperatures of several thousand degrees—conditions sufficient to break the strong bonds within the molecules of high-molecular-weight hydrocarbons, resins, and asphaltenes present in the oil.
The ability to upgrade oil directly at the extraction site—eliminating the need for transport to distant refineries—fundamentally transforms the economics of oil production. "Currently, viscous oil is heated to 60–80 degrees Celsius for transport, which makes the process extremely expensive. Another challenge being addressed is the reduction of sulfur-containing components in the extracted well fluids—a costly procedure typically carried out at facilities located kilometers away from the oil field. This new approach will reduce the costs associated with preparing the extracted product by a factor of tens," noted Alexey Dengaev, Head of the Laboratory for Physicochemical Research of Hydrocarbon Systems and Associate Professor in the Department of Oil Field Development and Operation at Gubkin University.
The technology paves the way for the development of hard-to-recover oil reserves, which were previously considered economically unviable to extract.
As the world’s major light-oil fields become largely depleted, the share of hard-to-recover reserves in total production is growing. This includes oil with a high content of high-molecular-weight hydrocarbons, resins, and asphaltenes. Such raw material requires extensive processing before it can be transported or refined—a task traditionally performed at oil refineries using energy-intensive heating methods. However, transporting heavy or highly viscous oil to refineries is costly, and the heating required during the preparation phase consumes vast amounts of energy. Furthermore, in permafrost regions, such heating also has a detrimental impact on the environment.
