Transportation of Heavy Crude Oil Through Pipeline

Abstract

In present work, flow characteristics of high sulphur crude oil (HSCO) with addition of low sulphur crude oil and natural surfactant. Madhuca longifolia and low sulphur crude oil (LSCO) are used as additives in high sulphur crude oil. Both of additives were mixed in high sulphur crude oil in concentration 10 to 15% by volume. The rheological characteristics of the heavy crude oil suspension were determined using ISO certified Rheometer for the range of shear rate varying from 0 to 500 s-1. During the experimentation, temperature range varies from 25–45°C. The rheological characteristics of the HSCO include steady state flow behavior, yield stress and thixotropic characteristic etc. Optical microscopy and Dynamic light scattering was used to analyze the size of wax crystals and crystal size distribution respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to analyze the flowablity mechanism of HSCO and its emulsions. HSCO shows the non-Newtonian flow characteristics at low temperature and decreases with increase in temperature. Rheological results of HSCO show that there is a reduction in viscosity with addition of Madhuca longifolia and LSCO. However, viscosity of HSCO was reduced more with LSCO as compare to Madhuca longifolia. C=C, C=H and C=O bonds dissipate in presence of Madhuca longifolia surfactant functional group.