Influence of water cut and rates of cooling on oil flow

Abstract

Oils with anomalous properties are characterized by large values of density, viscosity, high content of paraffinic hydrocarbons and asphaltene-resinous substances (up to 30%), high pour point (3538C), which increases the likelihood of complications in the processes of production, field gathering and oil treatment. Therefore, for many countries with cold climatic conditions, the problem of improving the low-temperature properties of oils is one of the most pressing problems in the production and transportation of hard-to-recover oils. Recent studies show that the rates of heating / cooling processes have a great influence on the rheological properties of natural oil mixtures during heat treatment. The experience of operating oil fields shows that in oil gathering and transportation systems, due to the water cut of oils and the aggressiveness of formation waters, persistent oil emulsions are often formed, which complicate the commercial preparation of oils. The article presents the results of studies of the influence of the water cut factor on the transportation of well products, as well as the effect of the cooling rate on the pour point of oil emulsions. Laboratory studies have shown that an increase in the water content in emulsions of more than 40% leads to a significant increase in viscosity over the entire temperature range. It is also shown that an increase in water cut increases the pour point of oil by 7-14С.