Graphical Representation of the Behavior of the Cinematic Viscosity in Heavy Crude Emulsions

Abstract

In the present research work, the study of the behavior of two heavy crudes from different fields of the Ecuadorian East, one from the AMO field and the other from the YURALPA field, which have 16 ° and 17 ° API respectively, was carried out. The condition of heavy crudes tend to have a high viscosity at room temperature. The behaviors were analyzed by means of laboratory tests using a Saybolt viscometer, with which kinematic viscosity measurements can be obtained over a wide range of temperatures at which the crude oils are going to be subjected and additionally the percentage of demulsifier was dosed. When observing the results, the considerable decrease in its viscosity was appreciated, which is favorable since it can be transported by means of pipes more effectively. Considering that the viscosity of the heavy oil is very high, these laboratory tests allowed to determine the temperature and the percentage of optimum additive for each type of crude oil. The most relevant conclusion, derived from the analysis of two heavy crudes, without the addition of a solvent and with the crude / solvent mixture: The variation of temperature and additive achieved viscosity reductions of up to 107cst at a temperature of 60 ° C and a 15 % of demulsifier. This shows that the viscosity of the crudes will decrease while there is an increase in temperature; furthermore, it was observed that by increasing the additive percentage, the viscosity value decreases markedly. In the same way, the viscosity variation curves were determined experimentally as a function of temperature.