Rheology of a heavy crude oil

Abstract

The growing demand for oil is encouraging the development of heavy oil and bitumen, the world's huge energy reserves. However, their high viscosity is a big problem in their use, because they cannot be transported without a proper method. A number of methods have been developed to transport heavy oil, including diluents, heated pipelines, emulsions, and crude oil upgrades.It is known that the common characteristics of heavy oil are high viscosity, high specific gravity, high molecular content and low hydrogen-to-carbon ratio, high carbon residues, and high content of asphaltenes, heavy metals, sulfur, and nitrogen. Heavy oils are a strategic source of hydrocarbons because their reserves are on the same scale as those of conventional oils. The production of these raw materials remains low, especially due to their very high viscosities.Heavy oil rheology problems caused by the hydrodynamic interaction of heavy particles in oil (asphaltenes, paraffin, resins, and solid phase particles) were considered in the research work. Transporting heavy crude oil requires the viscosity to be low enough so that pipeline size and pumping requirements are economically optimal. There are several methods to achieve these properties, some of which have been validated in the field and are currently in use, while others are under development. In our current research work, we have analyzed some of these methods and given our recommendations for improving the rheology of heavy oils for the future.