Importance

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Abstract

The present invention relates to an upstream-downstream integrated process for the upgrading of a heavy crude oil with the capture of CO₂, comprising the following operative steps: a) production of a heavy crude oil from a reservoir; b) distillation of said heavy crude oil, at atmospheric pressure or under vacuum, with the separation of a distilled fraction and a hydrocarbon residue containing asphaltenes; c) solvent deasphalting of said hydrocarbon residue containing asphaltenes with the formation of a precipitate of asphaltenes and a deasphalted oil (DAO); d1) oxy-combustion of said precipitate of asphaltenes in pure oxygen with the formation of a stream of exhausted gases comprising CO₂ and water vapour; d2) as an alternative to said oxy-combustion, gasification of said precipitate of asphaltenes in pure oxygen with the formation of a stream of syngas which is subsequently transformed into a gas stream comprising CO₂ and H₂; e) separation of a substantially pure gaseous stream of CO₂ from said stream of exhausted gases or from said gas stream comprising CO₂ and H₂; f) injection of said gaseous stream of CO₂ into the subsoil in order to recover oil or gas, by displacement, from a reservoir and/or to permanently sequester said gaseous stream of CO₂ in a geological formation. The present invention also relates to a plant for the embodiment of the above integrated process.

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First Claim