Innovations in residue upgrading for the Niger delta by transforming heavy oil fractions into high-value products: A state of the art review

This review discusses new innovations in residue upgrading technologies for the conversion of heavy oil fractions into high-value products, especially for Delta and Rivers States of the Niger Delta region. Recent works within the 2020-2024 period show that upgrading methods have been significantly developed; however, no prior work has been done regarding applying those upgrading techniques to the peculiar nature of crude oil from this region. The paper probes the environmental impacts of these technologies, emphasizing the need for localized assessment that would take into consideration the fragile ecosystems of Delta and Rivers States. It further assesses the economic viability of scaling up the implementation of advanced upgrading processes within the current refining infrastructure. The discussion covers variable quality heavy oil in these regions and what that does to upgrading efficiency, how to integrate these technologies into the current refining practices, underlines the potential socio-economic advantages for the local communities through the creation of jobs and enhancing the skills of those communities to underscore the importance of these innovations for sustainable development. The review establishes that in such siamese twin areas, further research is needed to ensure that heavy oil resources in Delta and Rivers States are utilized effectively while ensuring that there is a minimal environmental impact from the extraction process.