Moistening Factor Effect on the Determination of Viscosities for Crude Oil-solvent Mixtures

Abstract

An exhaustive research study about the rheological behavior of the mixtures is developed through the experimental incorporation of the moistening factor, which had been considered as a constant in previous investigations. A model of rotational flow is developed in cylindrical coordinates joined to the viscometers measurements and to the fluid distribution in the measurement region, which lets predict the crude oil viscosity in a more accurate way, analyzing as well the viscosity behavior of different crude oil mixtures at various temperatures and concentrations. Three different viscometers were used at the same mixture, concentration and temperature conditions for each of the measurements made: Brookfield, Ostwald and Cole-Parmer. It was concluded that the moistening factor increases with the angular speed but it decreases with the temperature for crude oil mixtures. Apparent viscosity values, similar to the ones gotten experimentally, were obtained by using the calibration parameters of the instrument Effective Length and Moistening Factor and following the theoretical model adapted to the Couette geometry. The relative average error was 14%. All of the samples showed a non-newtonian rheological behavior, specifically a pseudoplastic type. The crude oil viscosity can be reduced with an increase in temperature and in the amount of solvent.