Abstract: Since R.M.Butler developed the vapor extraction of heavy oil and bitumen (VAPEX) technology，the VAPEX has been found many advantages such as low energy consumption and costeffective. In addition, the VAPEX can also avoid the production of greenhouse gases and upgrade the crude oil. In brief, the VAPEX has become a promising and practical technology. In order to evaluate the oil recovery rate in different steps and optimize the field operation condition, solvent gas diffusion of the VAPEX has been attracted more and more attentions. This paper analyzes molecular diffusion and dispersion of solvent gas in heavy oil and bitumen, provides an important mathematical relation, and achieves an mathematical model for improving yield of heavy oil and bitumen, providing theoretical support for exploration of VAPEX, and could also predict the processes of VAPEX in efficient way in the meantime.The prospective of VAPEX technology has been raised in this paper.

Key words: Heavy oil, VAPEX, Convection, Diffusion coefficient, Dispersion

摘要： R. M. B u t l e r提出了稠油和沥青的蒸气萃取( VA P E X) 技术, 由于其具有低能耗、 低投资、 温室气体产生量小等优点, 还可以对地层原油进行改质, 因此 VA P E X技术已经成为具有广阔应用前景的油藏开采技术。为了预测不同阶段的原油采收率、 优化矿场作业, 人们对 VA P E X中溶剂气体扩散的研究越来越关注。分析了溶剂气体在稠油和沥青中的分子扩散及溶剂分散, 给出了重要的数学关系式并进行了实验。从实验结果中得出了增加稠油和沥青产量的数学模型, 为研究 VA P E X技术提供了理论支持, 可以更好地对应用 VA P E X技术的采油过程进行预测,并对 VA P E X技术未来研究方向进行了展望。

关键词: 稠油, VA P E X, 对流, 扩散系数, 分散