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In this work, a general f-theory viscosity model based on the perturbed-chain statistical associating fluid theory (PC-SAFT) equation of state (EoS

Viscosity and density are key properties for the evaluation, simulation, and development of petroleum reservoirs. In previous work, the friction theory (f -theory) models have already been shown capable of providing simple but accurate viscosity modeling results of petroleum reservoir fluids with molar masses up to around 200 g · mol −1 . As a base, the f -theory approach requires a compositional characterization procedure to be used in conjunction with a van der Waals type of equation of state (EOS). This is achieved using simple cubic EOS, which are widely used within the oil industry. In this work, the f -theory approach is further extended to the viscosity modeling of heavy reservoir fluids with viscosities up to thousands of mPa · s. Essential to the extended approach presented here is the achievement of accurate pvT results for the EOS characterized fluid. In particular, it has been found that for accurate viscosity modeling of heavy oils, a compressibility correction in the way the EOS is coupled to the viscosity model is required. With the approach presented in this work, the potential of the f -theory for viscosity modeling of reservoir fluids is extended to practically all kind of reservoir fluids, from light ones to heavy ones. Additionally, the approach has been completed with an accurate density modeling scheme.

The viscosity of the ethanol + toluene binary system has been measured with a falling-body viscometer for seven compositions as well as for the pure ethanol in the temperature range from 293.15 to 353.15 K and up to 100 MPa with an experimental uncertainty of 2%. At 0.1 MPa the viscosity has been measured with a classical capillary viscometer (Ubbelohde) with an uncertainty of 1%. A total of 209 experimental measurements have been obtained for this binary system, which reveals a non-monotonic behavior of the viscosity as a function of the composition, with a minimum. The viscosity behavior of this binary system is interpreted as the result of changes in the free volume, and the breaking or weakening of hydrogen bonds. The excess activation energy for viscous flow of the mixtures is negative with a maximum absolute value of 335 J · mol −1 , indicating that this binary system is a very weakly interacting system showing a negative deviation from ideality. The viscosity of this binary system is represented by the Grunberg-Nissan and the Katti-Chaudhri mixing laws with an overall uncertainty of 12% and 8%, respectively. The viscosity of methanol (23 point) has also been measured in order to verify the calibration of the falling-body viscometer within the considered T, P range.