A New Unified Model for Predicting non-Newtonian Viscosity of Waxy Crudes
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Date
2012-04
Authors
Adeyanju, Olusiji
Oyekunle, Layioye
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Taylor & Francis Production
Abstract
Viscosity determination in the non-Newtonian regime has always been a
major problem in the oil industry. This is due to its dependence on the wax precipitated
shear and thermal history of the crude oil. The present shear rate dependent viscosity
model was developed by applying the theory of suspension rheology. This model is
characterized by its capacity to predict viscosities of crude oils with different shear
and thermal history and those containing petroleum-based diluents. Once viscosities
at two temperatures above the wax appearance temperature (WAT) and apparent
viscosity in the non Newtonian regime are known, viscosities or apparent viscosities
at any temperature above the gel point can be determined by using the model together
with the concentration of precipitated wax at the specified temperature. Verification
of the model by using two Nigerian crudes with different shear and thermal histories
and two crudes obtained from the literature shows that the model predicts viscosities
with an average absolute deviation of 4.9%.
Description
Keywords
aggregates, dispersed phase, gelation, suspension, Newtonian regimes
Citation
Adeyanju, O.A. and Oyekunle, L.O’: (2012).:”A New Unified Model for Predicting non-Newtonian Viscosity of Waxy Crudes” Petroleum Science and Technology, 30:9, 904-914. Publisher: Taylor & Francis Production.