Uwoyela, ovame ukubizwa ngokuthi uwoyela oluhlaza, ungumthombo wemvelo wamafuthu owenziwa kusuka ezinsalela zezilwane zasolwandle zasendulo. Le ngxube eyinkimbinkimbi yama-hydrocarbon isibe umgogodla wempucuko yesimanje yezimboni, inika amandla ezokuthutha, ukushisa, nemikhiqizo eminingi yama-petrochemical. Njengomthombo ongavuseleleki, uwoyela utholakala ezindaweni ezingaphansi komhlaba ezibanjiswe emadwaleni anezimbobo. Inqubo kawoyela kusuka esimweni sawo semvelo kuya emikhiqizweni esebenzisekayo ihlanganisa izigaba eziningi okubalwa ukuhlola, ukukhipha, ukucwenga, nokusabalalisa. Ukuqonda lolu hambo kubalulekile ezinkampanini ezifana neIKHAYA ezihlinzeka ngezinto ezibalulekile emisebenzini kawoyela negesi. Umnotho womhlaba wonke uncike kakhulu kuwoyela, kunezinkulungwane zezigidi zamabareli asetshenziswa nsuku zonke ukuhlangabezana nezidingo zamandla kuzo zonke izinkalo.

Ukwakheka kukaphethiloli kuqala ngokuqoqeka kwezinto eziphilayo, ikakhulukazi i-plankton nama-algae, emanzini asolwandle nasemachibini asendulo. Emakhulwini eminyaka eminingi, lezi zinto eziphilayo zazifihlwa ngaphansi kwezendlalelo zenhlabathi, zithonywa ukushisa okukhulu nengcindezi kwinqubo eyaziwa ngokuthi i-diagenesis. Ukuguquka kwalokhu okubalulekile okuphilayo kube yi-kerogen futhi ekugcineni kube ama-hydrocarbon enziwa emachibini ezintaba lapho izimo zilungele ukukhiqizwa kukaphethiloli. La mabhodwe, avame ukutholakala ezindaweni ezinemigqomo eminingi yezintaba, asebenza njengezindawo zokupheka zemvelo lapho izinto eziphilayo ziphekwa zibe uwoyela ongahluziwe negesi yemvelo. Ikhwalithi nokwakheka kukaphethiloli ophumelayo kuncike emlandweni wokushisa, ubujamo bokufihlwa, nohlobo lwezinto eziphilayo ezazifakwa ekuqaleni. Ososayensi bezintaba bafunda la mabhodwe kabanzi ukuze bathole izindawo ezingaba khona zokubhola futhi balinganiswe umthamo wezinsiza ezingatholwa.

Izinto eziningana ezibalulekile kumele zihlangane ukuze kube khona uwoyela, okubandakanya ubukhona bamatshe omthombo ocebile nge-organic carbon, ukushisa okwanele okuvela ku-geothermal gradients, nesikhathi esanele sokuvuthwa ngokushisa. Amatshe omthombo njenge-shale ne-limestone avame ukuba ne-1% kuya ku-20% ye-organic carbon ngesisindo, okuhlinzeka ngezinto zokusetshenziswa zokukhiqiza ama-hydrocarbon. Njengoba amatshe angcwatshwa ajule kakhulu, izinga lokushisa likhuphuka libe phakathi kuka-60°C no-120°C, okubizwa ngokuthi yi-"oil window" lapho kukhiqizwa khona iningi lawowoyela. Ngaphandle kwalokhu, igesi yemvelo iba umkhiqizo omkhulu njengoba into ephila ngokwemvelo ivuthwa ngokushisa. Yonke le nqubo ingathatha noma yikuphi kusuka eminyakeni eyi-10 kuya kwengu-100 million, okwenza uwoyela ube imithombo engapheli futhi yasendulo engakwazi ukuvuselelwa ngezikhathi zabantu.

Uwoyela oluhlaza uyinhlanganisela eyinkimbinkimbi kakhulu yezinkulungwane zezinhlanganisela ezihlukahlukene ze-hydrocarbon, kusukela kuma-alkane alula kuya kuma-asphaltene amakhulu. Ukwakheka kwayo kwamakhemikhali kuyahlukahluka kakhulu kuye ngomthombo wedwala, umlando wokungcwatshwa, kanye nezinga lokuvuthwa okushisayo, okuholela ezindaweni ezahlukene nezinhlobo zikayelile oluhlaza. Inqubo yokuhlukaniswa kukaphethiloli ngokuvamile icubungula ubukhulu obulinganiswa njenge-API gravity, okuqukethwe yi-sulfur, kanye nesilinganiso sezinhlobo ezahlukene ze-hydrocarbon. Uwoyela oluhlaza olulula olunobukhulu obuphezulu be-API lunenani elikhulu ngoba lunikeza amaphesenti aphezulu kagayisi kanye nodizili ngokusebenzisa ukuhlukaniswa kukayelile oluhlaza. Uwoyela oluhlaza olunzima, njengalowo otholakala emanzini kawoyela aseCanada naseVenezuela, udinga ukucubungulwa okunzima kakhulu futhi uvame ukukhiqiza i-bitumen eyengeziwe. Abachwepheshe bezindawo bavame ukuhlukanisa uwoyela oluhlaza ngesifunda sawo, ngezigaba ezibalulekile njenge-West Texas Intermediate, i-Brent Crude, kanye ne-Dubai Crude ezisebenza njengezinkomba zamanani emhlabeni wonke.

Ikhwalithi kawoyela oluhlaza inqunywa ikakhulukazi yi-density yawo nokuqukethwe yi-sulfur, okuthinta ngqo izindleko zokucwengwa kanye nemiphumela yemikhiqizo. Uwoyela oluhlaza olumnandi luqukethe ngaphansi kuka-0.5% we-sulfur futhi luyigugu ngenxa yokungagugisi kwayo kancane nokucubungulwa okulula, kanti uwoyela oluhlaza omuncu uqukethe amazinga aphezulu e-sulfur adinga ukwelashwa okwengeziwe. Inqubo yokucwenga uwoyela oluhlaza isebenzisa lezi zilinganiso zekhwalithi ukunquma isu lokucwenga elilungile, okuhlanganisa nezigaba zokukhipha i-sulfur ukuze kuhlangatshezwane nemithetho yezemvelo. I-viscosity nayo idlala indima ebalulekile, njengoba amafutha anzima adinga amandla engeziwe ukuze akwazi ukukhishwa futhi athuthwe. Imboni kaphethiloli isungule izindlela ezithuthukisiwe zokuhlaziya ukuze ichaze ukwakheka kukawolintshi oluhlaza, okuhlanganisa i-gas chromatography ne-mass spectrometry.

Izindawo zamafutha ziwuququko lwamatshe angaphansi komhlaba aqukethe inqwaba enkulu kawoyela oluhlaza kanye negesi yemvelo eboshwe ezindaweni ezimbobo. Lezi zindawo zincike ezintweni ezintathu ezibalulekile: itshe elimbobo futhi elivumela ukuhamba njengesihlabathi noma ulimi, itshe elivalayo noma isicelo esivimbela ama-hydrocarbon ukuba angabaleki, kanye nesakhiwo esibambayo esihlanganisa uwoyela endaweni echaziwe. Inqubo yokukhipha uwoyela iqala ngokuthola lezi zibambiso ngokuhlolwa kwe-seismic, izilinganiso zokudonsela phansi, kanye nokuguguleka kokuhlola. Uma indawo itholakele, ukukhipha kuvame ukubandakanya ukuguguleka kwemigodi engena kuleyo ndawo, okuvumela ingcindezi ukuba idrive uwoyela uye phezulu ngesikhathi sokubuyiselwa kokuqala. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, ingcindezi yendawo iyancipha, okudinga izindlela zokubuyiselwa zesibili njengokugcwala ngamanzi noma ukujova igesi ukuze kugcinwe amazinga okukhiqiza.

Izindlela zokubhola zesimanje zihlanganisa ukubhola okuhloswe ngaso kanye nokuhlakazwa ngamandla, okuye kwandisa kakhulu ukutholakala kwezinsiza zikawoyela negesi. Ukubhola okuhloswe ngaso kuvumela abasebenzisi ukuthi bafinyelele izindawo eziningi ezinezinsiza kusuka endaweni eyodwa yokubhola, kunciphisa ukuphazamiseka komhlaba futhi kuthuthukise ezomnotho. Ukuhlakazwa ngamandla, okuncike kuma-proppants asezingeni eliphezulu ukuze kugcinwe imifantu ivulekile, ubuchwepheshe obubalulekile bokukhipha uwoyela ezindaweni eziqinile zamatshe. Izinkampani ezifana no-MAYELANA NATHI ziqeqeshelwe ukukhiqiza ama-proppants aqinisekisa ukuhamba kwemifantu futhi akhulise ukutholwa kwama-hydrocarbon. Kodwa-ke, ukukhiqizwa kukawolintshi oluhlaza nakho kuletha izingozi ezinkulu zemvelo ezihlanganisa ukungcoliswa kwamanzi angaphansi komhlaba, ukuzamazama komhlaba okubangelwa, kanye nokuphazamiseka kwendawo yokuhlala. Abasebenzisi kufanele basebenzise izinqubo eziqinile zokuphepha kanye nezinhlelo zokuphatha imvelo ukuze banciphise le mthelela futhi bahambisane namazinga omthetho.

Ukululama kokuqala kuncike kumandla emvelo esikhundleni esinjengokunwetshwa kwesigqoko segesi, ukushayela igesi elincibilikile, noma ukushayela kwamanzi ukucindezela uwoyela emgodini womthombo. Lesi sigaba sivame ukululama u-5% kuphela kuya ku-15% kawoyela wokuqala endaweni, kushiya izinsiza eziningi ngemuva. Izindlela zokululama zesibili zigcina ngokwenziwa ingcindezi yesikhundla ngokufaka amanzi noma igesi esikhundleni ngemigodi yokufaka enikezelwe. Ukugcwala ngamanzi kuyindlela ejwayelekile yesibili, ihlanza uwoyela ngase migodini yokukhiqiza futhi yandisa izici zokululama kuya ku-30% noma ngaphezulu. Izindlela zokululama zikwanda uwoyela njengokugcwala ngamakhemikhali noma ukufakwa kwe-CO₂ kungakhuphula kakhulu izivuno kodwa kwengeze ubunzima nezindleko.

Amapulatifomu kawoyela angaphandle olwandle ayizakhiwo ezinkulu zobunjiniyela eziklanyelwe ukumba nokukhiqiza ama-hydrocarbon avela ngaphansi kolwandle. Lezi zakhiwo ezintantayo noma ezimile zisebenza kwezinye zezindawo eziyinselele kakhulu emhlabeni, kusuka eNorth Sea kuya eGulf of Mexico. Inqubo yokukhiqiza uwoyela ezindaweni zangaphandle lolwandle ihlanganisa izinhloko zombobo zasolwandle, izikhuphukisi, kanye nezindawo zokucubungula ezihlukanisa uwoyela, igesi, namanzi ebhodini lepulatifomu. Izingozi ezinkulu njengokuphuma kukadoti kwe-Deepwater Horizon ngo-2010 zigqamise imiphumela emibi kakhulu yemvelo yengozi zangaphandle lolwandle, okuhlanganisa ukufa okukhulu kwezilwandle kanye nomonakalo omude we-ecosystem. Imboni kawoyela iphendule ngamathuluzi angcono kakhulu okuvimbela ukuqhuma, izinhlelo zokuqapha ezikude, kanye nezinqubo eziqinisekisiwe zokuphendula eziphuthumayo ukunciphisa ubungozi bezenzakalo zesikhathi esizayo. Ukuhlolwa komthelela wezemvelo manje kuyizidingo ezijwayelekile zezakhiwo zangaphandle lolwandle, kuhlola imiphumela engaba khona ezilwaneni zasolwandle, imikhakha yezinhlanzi, kanye nemiphakathi yasogwini.

Ukuvuza kukaphethiloli kubonakala njengesinye sezisongelo ezicacile zemvelo ezivela ekusebenzeni kukaphethiloli, nemiphumela engahlala iminyaka emashumini eminyaka ezindaweni zasolwandle nezasebhishi. Ukuvuza kwe-Exxon Valdez ngo-1989 e-Alaska kwakhulula amagaloni angu-11 ezigidi kaphethiloli ongahluziwe, kwabhubhisa izilwane zasendle nezinhlanzi zasendaweni naphezu kwemizamo emikhulu yokuhlanza. Muva nje, ukuqhuma kwe-Deepwater Horizon ngo-2010 kwakhulula amagaloni angaphezu kwezigidi ezingu-200 kukaphethiloli olwandle iGulf of Mexico, kubangele umonakalo omkhulu ezindaweni zasolwandle kanye nomnotho wasebhishi. Lezi zenzakalo ziye zabangela utshalomali olukhulu kwezobuchwepheshe bokuvimbela ukuvuza kanye namakhono okuphendula, okuhlanganisa izikhethi, izihlakazi, kanye nezinto zokubuyisela imvelo. Umthelela wezokuvikela ekukhishweni kukaphethiloli udlulela ngalé kokuvuza ukuze kufakwe ukuhlakazeka kwezindawo zokuhlala kusukela ekuhlolweni kwe-seismic, ukungcola komsindo okuvela ekusebenzeni kokubhola, kanye nokukhishwa komoya okuvela ekukhanyiseni nasekuqhubeni.

I-Bitumen iyifomu esindayo kakhulu, enamathelayo kaphethiloli edinga izindlela ezikhethekile zokukhipha nokucubungula ukuze iguqulwe ibe imikhiqizo esebenzisekayo. Isifunda samahlathi aseBoreal eCanada e-Alberta sinamanye amadiphozithi amakhulu kakhulu e-bitumen emhlabeni, aboshwe emadwaleni kawoyela ahlanganisa indawo efana nosayizi weFlorida. Inqubo yokukhiqiza kaphethiloli emadwaleni kawoyela ihlanganisa ukumba komhlaba okungashona noma izindlela zokuthola ezisebenzisa ugesi njengokudonswa kukagesi okusizwa yisikhathi sokudonswa kukagesi kwamachibi ajulile. Izinselele zemvelo ezihambisana nokukhipha i-bitumen zihlanganisa ukuphazamiseka okukhulu kwezwe, ukusetshenziswa okukhulu kwamanzi, ukukhishwa kwegesi elibangela umphumela wokushisa komhlaba, nokuphathwa kwamachibi ezinsalela. I-ecosystem yamahlathi aseBoreal, enikeza indawo yokuhlala ebalulekile kwezinyoni ezithutha nokugcinwa kwekhabhoni, ibhekene nengcindezi enkulu kusuka ekwandeni kwemisebenzi yamadwala kawoyela. Ukuqhubeka kobuchwepheshe ekukhipheni okusekelwe kusolvent nasekuphindiseni amanzi kuthuthukiswa ukuze kuncishiswe umthelela wezemvelo wokukhiqizwa kwe-bitumen.

Inqubo yokuhlanzwa kukaphethiloli ongahluziwe iyimichilo eyinkimbinkimbi yemisebenzi yomzimba neyokwakheka kwamakhemikhali eshintsha uwoyela ongahluziwe ube imikhiqizo ebalulekile efana nogesi, uwoyela kadizili, uwoyela wezindiza, nezinto zokwakha amakhemikhali. Ukuhlukanisa uwoyela ongahluziwe ngokwezinga lokubila yisinyathelo sokuqala nesibaluleke kakhulu, lapho uwoyela ongahluziwe ufudunyezwa kakhulu bese uhlukaniswa izigaba ngokusekelwe ezingeni lokubila emgqeni wokuhlukanisa. Izigaba ezilula njenge-naphtha nogesi ziyancipha phezulu komgqomo, kanti izigaba ezisindayo njengo-gas oil nesalela ziqoqana phansi. Amayunithi engeziwe okucubungula afaka izi-catalytic crackers, hydrocrackers, kanye nama-reformers athuthukisa lezi zigaba zibe imikhiqizo enenani eliphezulu futhi ahlangabezane nezidingo zikagesi. Ukwakheka kwefektri yokuhlanzwa kuklanywa ngokusekelwe ohlotsheni lukaphethiloli ongahluziwe olucubungulwayo kanye nesidingo semikhiqizo esifundeni sayo semakethe. Amafektri okuhlanzwa anamuhla futhi ahlanganisa amayunithi okususa isibabule ukuze kuncishiswe okuqukethwe isibabule futhi ahambisane nemithetho yezemvelo ukuze kutholwe ugesi oshayo ohlanzekile.

Imboni kawoyela yesimanje iziqala ngasekupheleni kwawo-1800 lapho kwembulwa uwoyela wokuqala wokuhweba ePennsylvania ngo-1859. Kusukela lapho, imboni ikhule kakhulu, ukukhiqizwa komhlaba wonke kufinyelele amabareli angaphezu kwezigidi ezingu-80 ngosuku ekuqaleni kwawo-2020. Ukuqanjwa kwezinto ezintsha kwezobuchwepheshe kuye kwacindezela imingcele yokuhlola emanzini ajulile, ezindaweni ezibandayo, nasezindaweni ezingafinyeleleki kalula. Ukuthuthukiswa kwe-hydraulic fracturing kanye nokugawula okuyindilinga kwaguqula imboni ekuqaleni kwawo-2000, kwavula izinsiza eziningi zamatshe eshali e-United States futhi kwashintsha izimakethe zamandla omhlaba.R&D imizamo kubuchwepheshe be-proppant ibe nomthelela omkhulu ekwenzeni lezi zinsiza ezingajwayelekile zibe nenzuzo kwezomnotho. Imboni manje isaqasha izigidi zabantu emhlabeni wonke futhi isekela uchungechunge lokuhlinzekwa oluhlanganisa abasayini bezimbobo, izinkampani zezinsizakalo, abakhiqizi bezinto zokusebenza, kanye nabahlinzeki bezokuthutha.

Ukushiswa kwemikhiqizo kaphethiloli kuyisizathu esikhulu sokukhishwa kwe-carbon dioxide, okufaka isandla kakhulu ekushintsheni kwesimo sezulu emhlabeni kanye nezinkinga zekhwalithi yomoya. Inqubo yokukhiqizwa kukaphethiloli, ukucwengwa, nokuthuthwa nayo ikhipha i-methane, izinhlanganisela eziguquguqukayo, nezinye izinto ezingcolisa umoya ezilimaza impilo yabantu kanye nemvelo. Ososayensi besimo sezulu baye bagcizelela kaningana isidingo esiphuthumayo sokunciphisa ukusetshenziswa kwamafutha ezinsalela nokuguqukela emithonjeni yamandla ehlanzekile ukuze kukhawulwe ukufudumala komhlaba. Ezinye izindlela ezisimeme ezihlanganisa amandla elanga, umoya, amandla emvula, namandla omhlaba ziyathuthuka ngokuncintisana kwezindleko kaphethiloli ekukhiqizeni ugesi. Izimoto zikagesi ezihamba ngamandla avuselelekayo zikhipha ngokushesha izimoto ezisebenzisa uphethiloli ezimakethe amaningi, kunciphisa isidingo samandla ezokuthutha. Ukuthuthukiswa kwamabhayofueli athuthukisiwe akhiqizwa kusuka kuma-algae, udoti wezolimo, nezinye izinto ezivuselelekayo kunikeza enye indlela yokunciphisa i-carbon emkhakheni wezokuthutha.

Noma umhlaba usuhamba ngendlela yamandla ahlanzekile, uwoyela uzobe usadlala indima ekuxubeni kwamandla omhlaba emashumini eminyaka ezayo, ikakhulukazi emikhakheni efana nezindiza, imikhumbi yasolwandle, kanye nezimboni zamakhemikhali ezingenawo amanye amathuba alula. I IMIKHIHLELOokuhlinzekwa yizinkampani ezifana ne-Hebei Kaiyuan Petroleum Proppant Co., Ltd. kuhlala kubalulekile ukuze kutholwe okuningi emithonjeni kawoyela negesi esele, ngaleyo ndlela kwenze ukukhiqiza kusebenze kakhudlwana futhi kunciphise isidingo sokugawula okusha. Ama-proppant asezingeni eliphezulu athuthukisa ukuxhumana kwezimbotshana ezakhiwe ngesikhathi sokugawulwa ngomfutho, okuvumela uwoyela negesi eningi ukuthi ikhiqizwe ngemithombo embalwa kanye nokuphazamiseka okuncane kwemvelo. Imboni iphinde ihlole izindlela zokunciphisa ukukhishwa kwayo kwekhabhoni ngokusebenzisa ugesi emishinini yokugawula, ukusetshenziswa kwamandla avuselelekayo emisebenzini, kanye nobuchwepheshe bokubamba nokugcina ikhabhoni. Izinkampani ezamukela ubuchwepheshe obusha nokusimama zizoba sesikhundleni esihle kakhulu sokuphumelela endaweni yamandla eshintshashintshayo.Ngokwezifiso izixazululo zokuklama nokukhiqiza i-proppant zisiza ukuthuthukisa ukusebenza komthombo ngenkathi kuncishiswa ukuchithwa kwezinto kanye nomthelela emvelweni.

Inqubo kaphethiloli kusukela emvelweni yawo ezindaweni zasendulo lapho kwakuhlala khona izinto ezisemanzini kuze kube yimikhiqizo ecwengisiswe kahle esinika amandla umhlaba wethu yindaba emangalisayo ye-geology, chemistry, engineering, kanye nezomnotho. Ukuqonda lolu hambo kusiza ukwazisa kokubili inani elikhulu elinikezwa uphethiloli nezinselelo ezinkulu zemvelo elizibeka phambili. Ezinkampanini ezihilelekile ku-supply chain kaphethiloli, okubalwa kuzo nezakha ama-proppants nezinye izinto ezibalulekile, ukuhlala unolwazi ngentuthuko yomkhakha kubalulekile empumelelweni yesikhathi eside. Ukuguqukela esikhathini esizayo esinekhabhoni ephansi kuzodinga ukulinganisela ukufinyelela okuqhubekayo emikhiqizweni kaphethiloli ngokutshalwa kwezimali kwezinye izindlela ezihlanzekile kanye nokuphathwa kwemvelo. Izinkampani ezifana neMAYELANA NATHI ezibeka phambili ikhwalithi, ukusimama, kanye nokuqanjwa kabusha zizodlala indima ebalulekile ekubumbeni ikusasa lemboni. Ekugcineni, umkhakha kaphethiloli kufanele uzivumelanise nezindlela eziguqukayo zokulindela komphakathi ngenkathi uqhubeka nokuhlangabezana nezidingo zamandla omhlaba ngendlela enesibopho.

Kubafundi abanesifiso sokuhlola izihloko ezihlanganiswe kulesi sihloko ngokujulile, kunezinsiza eziningi zemfundo ezitholakala ku-inthanethi nasemaphephandabeni. Izinhlangano zemboni ezifana ne-Society of Petroleum Engineers kanye ne-American Association of Petroleum Geologists zinikeza izincwadi zobuchwepheshe, izifundo ze-inthanethi, kanye nezinhlelo zentuthuko yobungcweti. Izinhlelo zokwelulwa kweminyango yamanyuvesi kwezobunjiniyela be-petroleum kanye ne-geology zinikeza ulwazi oluyisisekelo kubafundi kanye nochwepheshe abafuna ukungena kulo mkhakha. Izinhlaka zikahulumeni ezifana ne-U.S. Energy Information Administration zishicilela idatha ebanzi mayelana nokukhiqizwa kwe-petroleum, ukusetshenziswa, kanye nezinto ezigciniwe ezifinyeleleka mahhala emphakathini. Izinhlangano zemvelo nazo zinikeza izinto ezithinta imiphumela yezenhlalakahle ekuthuthukisweni kwe-petroleum kanye nezinzuzo zemithombo yamandla ehlukile. Ngokuqhubeka nokufunda ngendlela i-petroleum eyenziwa ngayo nendima yayo emphakathini, ababambiqhaza bangenza izinqumo ezinolwazi olwengeziwe mayelana nokusetshenziswa kwamandla, ukutshalwa kwezimali, kanye nenqubomgomo.