Review of Electrical methods for Enhancing crude oil Viscosity and Flowability

Abstract

This review is aimed to explain a comparative survey on the most applicable techniques and methods for increasing the flowability (viscosity reduction) of crude oil since it has defects on transportation, processing, and production due to high power consumption for pumping and corrosion as well as depositing in the pipeline and facilities it is related to the troubles that may occur in processing stream lines in addition to the financial cost associated with transporting crude oil. In this review several techniques have been surveyed including heating, dilution, additives, emulsification, shearing, ultrasonic, and electrical treatment. Based on the present survey electrical methods were reported to be very effective and efficient.