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Heavy Oil Viscosity Range from one Test

Article  in  Hydrocarbon Processing · August 1993

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 PROCESS TECHNOLOGY

Heavy oil viscosity range

from one test
Estimate viscosity at different Table 1. Comparison of viscosities for Cold Lake
crude {viscosity at 30°C = 17.5671 Pa· s)
temperatures using a single Experimental Predicted
measurement and this new correlation Data Temperature, viscosity, viscosity, Error,
point oc Pa• s Pa• s %
1 5.0 620.80 588.36 5.23
8. Singh, A. Miadonye and V. R. Puttagunta, 2 10.0 266.80 259.70 2.66
Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ont., Canada 3 20.0 56.120 60.829 - 8.39
4 30.0 17.210 17.567 -2.07
5 50.0 2.4000 2.3974 0.11
correlation has been developed for predicting abso-

A lute viscosity of unrefined bitumens and heavy oils

based on one viscosity measurement. The corre-
lation was tested on a wide range of samples, and its
Average absolute deviation =
Source: De Kee, et al. 6

Table 2. Comparison of viscosities for Athabasca

3.69

lts are in agreement with experimental values. This bitumen {viscosity at 30°C = 43.5863 Pa • s)
·..,_-elation is more accurate if attention is paid to the ref- Experimental Predicted
erence viscosity measurement. Data Temperature, viscosity, viscosity, Error,
point oc Pa• s Pa• s %
A simple and generalized correlation developed for pre-
1 15.0 375.00 363.02 3.07
dicting temperature effect on the absolute viscosity of 2 20.1 161.00 169.37 - 3.79
unrefined bitumens and heavy oils is as follows: 3 25.0 84.100 83.672 0.40
4 25.2 81.100 81.435 - 0.52
log(µ)+C ] =[T0
[ log (µ ) + C T
]s (1)
5
6
30.2
40.0
43.800
13.800
42.461
13.537
2.96
1.82
0 7 45.0 7.9500 8.0242 - 1.02
8 49.0 5.4700 5.4213 0.81
where µ = absolute viscosity, Pa • s 9 49.2 5.4200 5.3191 1.78
1O 50.0 4.6900 4.9320 - 5.25
T = absolute temperature, °K
C = 3.0020, when the log base is 10 g 60.0
70.0
2.0400
0.9290
2.0529
0.9561
- 0.70
-2.98
s = 0.0066940*log(µ 0 ) + 3.5565, when T0 is 303.15° ~ 13 80.0 0.4970 0.4898 1.40
K(30°C). ~!!11 ~ 14 80.0 0.4930
Average absolute deviation
0.4898
=
0.60
1.94
- -- - - - -- - - - - -- - -- -- -- - -
7
The correlation allows for prediction of the viscosity of Source: Schramm and Kwak

bitumens and heavy oils over a wide range of tempera-

Table 3. Comparison of viscosities for Cold Lake
tures by making only a single viscosity measurement, µ0 , bitumen {viscosity at 30°C = 20.478 Pa· s)
on the sample at any convenient temperature, T 0 • The
Experimental Predicted
coefficients for s are given for a reference temperature of Data Temperature, viscosity, viscosity, Error,
30°C. However, sample calculations are given to show how point oc Pa• s Pa• s %
to use the equation when the reference viscosity is at a 1 37.1 9.1000 9.3234 -2.45
2 46.1 3.8000 3.8425 - 1.12
different temperature. The overall average absolute devi-
3 58.5 1.3900 1.3459 3.18
ation with this correlation is 4.23% for 125 data points. 4 89.0 0.1900 0.1932 -1.69
5 115.0 0.0640 0.0614 4.05
Developing the correlation. Viscosity correlations in Average absolute deviation = 2.50
qre either based on statistical mechanics, 1 which are Source: Mehrotra & Svrcek8

~ ractical for high-molecular weight polycyclic com-

pounds, or the extended principle of corresponding
states. 2-4 Most workers 2, 3 have modeled bitumens as mix-
tures of two to four pseudo-components. This requires the
estimation of critical properties and acentric factors of
each pseudo-component. Complexities and uncertainties
in critical property calculations make these methods cum-
bersome and limited in application.
Sensitivity of viscosity with temperature variations
HYDROCARBON PROCESSING / AUGUST 1993 157
 Table 4. Comparison of viscosities for Athabasca Table 8. Comparison of viscosities for Athabasca
bitumen (viscosity at 30°C = 63. 1854 Pa · s) bitumen, sample 4 (viscosity at 30°C = 60.0966 Pa · s)
Experimental Predicted Experimental Predicted
Data Temperature, viscosity, viscosity, Error, Data Temperature, viscosity, viscosity, Error,
;nt oc Pa• s Pa· s % point oc Pa• s Pa• s %
\..___,,
2
3
4
5
42.7
58.0
80.3
103.5
119.8
14.200
3.2500
0.5800
0.1590
0.0790
14.007
3.1768
0.5955
0.1627
0.0796
1.36
2.25
-2.68
-2.30
- 0.71
1
2
3
4
5
39.4
46.0
48.1
59.6
77.2
20.100
9.7000
7.3700
2.4400
0.6900
19.287
9.4887
7.6765
2.6710
0.7090
4.04
2.18
-4.16
-9.47
-2.76
)\
Average absolute deviation = 1.86 6 93.2 0.3200 0.2694 15.80
Source: Mehrotra & Svrcek9
7 109.2 0.1160 0.1220 -5.16
8 124.3 0.0645 0.0656 - 1.67
Average absolute deviation = 5.65
Table 5. Comparison of viscosities for Athabasca
Source: Khan, et a1. 10
bitumen, sample 1(viscosity at 30°C = 183.1471
Pa· s)
Table 9. Comparison of viscosities for Marguerite
Experimental Predicted Lake bitumen, sample 1 (viscosity at 30°C = 25.8827
Data Temperature, viscosity, viscosity, Error,
point oc . Pa• s Pa• s % Pa· s)
1 21 .3 500.00 501.51 -0.30 Experimental Predicted
2 31.0 168.00 158.94 5.39 Data Temperature, viscosity, viscosity, Error,
3 33.8 120.00 108.07 9.94 point oc Pa• s Pa• s %
4 40.0 57.000 55.009 3.49 1 13.3 271.00 251.95 6.96
5 50.0 17.500 15.440 11.77 2 16.0 175.00 167.31 4.32
6 55.0 10.000 9.2261 7.74 3 20.4 85.000 89.035 -4.82
7 67.0 3.0000 3.0720 -2.40 4 24.7 53.400 50.042 6.23
8 71.2 2.0000 2.1766 -8.83 5 25.3 46.000 46.315 -0.75
9 75.0 1.4800 1.6196 -9.43 6 67.3 0.7400 0.8256 -11.61
10 81.0 0.9200 1.0454 -13.63 7 78.9 0.3400 0.3873 -13.95
11 90.3 0.4800 0.4996 -4.09 Average absolute deviation = 6.95
12 96.0 0.3600 0.4011 -11.41 Source: Mehrotra & Svrcek 11
13 120.0 0.1000 0.1054 -5.35
14 130.0 0.0700 0.0794 -13.44
sure at one atmosphere, principally because:
Average absolute deviation = 7.66
10
• Composition of the oil is preserved easily at these con-
Source: Khan , et al.
ditions by minimizing vaporization of volatile fractions,
.,...._ble 6. Comparison of viscosities for Athabasca which have a significant effect on oil viscosity
1men, sample 2 (viscosity at 30°C = 72.9038 Pa • s) • It is easy to obtain reliable values by repeated mea-
'---- Experimental Predicted surements at the same temperature
Data Temperature, viscosity, viscosity, Error, • Viscosity can be measured quickly and inexpensively
point °C Pa • s Pa • s % in a simple apparatus at these conditions.
1 39.4 23.8500 22.932 3.85 In deriving the correlation shown in Eq. 1, consideration
2 45.6 10.8500 11.617 - 7 .07
3 48.5 8.5500 8.6243 - 0.87 was given to limiting the number of adjustable parameters.
4 58.4 3.6000 3.4036 5.46 The modified form is as shown in Eq. 2:
5" 73.1 1.0800 1.0593 1.91
6
7
96.2
112.0
0.2370
0.1200
0.2270
0.1170
4.23
2.52
lo ( ) = B *[ 303.15 ] s - C (2)
g µ (t + 273. 15)
8 126.0 0.0653 0.0661 -1.27
Average absolute deviation = 3.40
Source: Khan , et al. 10
(3)

Table 7. Comparison of viscosities for Athabasca where C = 3.0020

bitumen, sample 3 (viscosity at 30°C = 125.5365 s = 0.0066940 * B + 3.5364
Pa· s) = 0.0066940 * log (µ0 ) + 3.5565
Experimental Predicted T 0 = 303.15°K (30°C)
Data Temperature, viscosity, viscosity, Error, t = Prediction temperature, °C
point oc Pa• s Pa• s %
µ 0 = measured viscosity, Pa • s
1 56.5 5.4800 6.0211 -9.87
2 57.5 5.2500 5.4827 -4.43
3 70.0 2.0600 1.8827 8.61 The parameter B is indicative of the viscosity of the
4 72.7 1.5900 1.5288 3.85 particular oil at 30°C and one atmosphere pressure. The
5 88.0 0.5875 0.5346 9.00 parameters is a measure of the variation of viscosity with
6 101 .1 0.2140 0.2159 - 0.91
7 106.8 0.1670 0.1711 - 2.47 temperature.
8 119.0 0.0950 0.0991 -4.28
Average absolute deviation = 5.43 Viscosity prediction with the correlation. Predicted
Source: Khan, et al. 10 viscosities are compared with experimental viscosities in
Tables 1 to 12. The average absolute deviation is 4.23%
\..qlends mainly on the value ofviscosity.5 Thus, the vis- for 125 data points. The values of the parameters Bands
cosity characterization parameter for any particular oil for the 12 samples are presented in Table 13. The corre-
must be based on the viscosity of the oil at a suitable ref- lation is simple to use and gives results in good agreement
erence temperature and pressure. The temperature chosen with experimental values. The percent error obtained in
for the reference measurement was 30°C and the pres- each data set is significantly lower than other correla-
158 HYDROCARBON PROCESSING / AUGUST 1993
 Table 10. Comparison of viscosities for Marguerite Table 13. Values of characterization parameters for oil
Lake bitumen, sample 2 (viscosity at 30°C 19.4312 = samples referred to in Tables 1 to 12
Pa· s) Oil sample referred
Experimental Predicted to in Table B s
ta Temperature, viscosity, viscosity, Error, 1 4.2467 3.5648
\..,_.,,, int oc Pa• s Pa· s % 2 4.6409 3.5675
1 30.0 20.100 19.431 3.33 3 4.3133 3.5653
2 30.9 17.700 17.514 1.05 4 4.8026 3.5685
3 32.3 14.900 14.943 -0.29 5 5.2648 3.5716
4 34.4 11 .900 11.848 0.44 6 4.8648 3.5690
5 38.1 7.7000 8.0083 - 4.00 7 5.1008 3.5705
6 41.5 5.2500 5.6906 -8.39 8 - 4.7809 "3.5684
7 41.6 5.7000 5.6351 1.14 9 4.4148 3.5660
8 45.3 3.8500 3.9605 - 2.87 10 4.2905 3.5651
9 48.5 3.2300 2.9627 8.27 11 2.5172 3.5533
10 49.4 2.5000 2.7369 -9.48 12 4.2087 3.5646
11 54.4 1.6900 1.7936 - 6.13
12 56.9 1.3900 1.4678 - 5.60 Table 14. To predict viscosity range from
13 61.9 1.01 00 1.0030 0.70 measurement at any temperature (Predict "B" for
14 85.1 0.2320 0.2310 0.44 30°C and solves Eq. 2 for prediction temperature)
15 87.3 0.2050 0.2053 -0.17
16 92.0 0.1620 0.1614 0.34 5 REM EQUATION LOG IS BASE 10 BUT PROGRAM LOG IS
17 102.0 0.1010 0.1012 - 0.18 NATURAL LOGARITHM
ss
-
10 = .006694
18 102.0 0.1025 0.0994 3.01
19
20
108.0
111.0
0.0905
0.0785
0.0785
0.0693
13.29
11 .73
20 IS = 3.5364
30 C=3.002 -
40 INPUT "ENTER VISCOSITY, Pa • s:";VIST
c..
21 114.0 0.0660 0.0622 5.79 50 INPUT "ENTER TEMPERATURE, °C:";TEMP
Average absolute deviation = 4.13 60 INPUT "ENTER TOLERANCE:";BTOL
Source: Mehrotra & Srvcek 11 70 BGUESS=0.6
80 AO=LOG(VIST}/LOG(10)
90 TQ={TEMP + 273.15)/303.15
Table 11. Comparison of viscosities for Lloydminster
=
heavy oil (~iscosity at 30°C 0.3275 Pa • s)
100 AK=AO + C
110 P = LOG(TQ)
Experimental Predicted 120 BNEW = BGUESS
Data Temperature, viscosity, viscosity, Error, 130 BOLD = BNEW
point oc Pa• s Pa• s % 140 Q = LOG(AK)
1 19.2 0.6953 0.7269 -4.55 150 FB = LOG(BOLD) - SS*BOLD*P - (IS*P + Q)
? 22.8 0.5369 0.5491 - 2.27 160 FDER = 1/BOLD - SS*P
41 .8 0.1528 170 BNEW = BOLD - FB/FDER
0.1570 -2.73
180 IF (ABS(BOLD - BNEW)>BTOL) THEN GOTO 130
46.0 0.1324 0.1244 6.06
190 PRINT
5 62.1 0.0544 0.0573 - 5.38 200 PRINT"B-";BNEW
6 62.3 0.0535 0.0568 -6.24 210 B = BNEW:PRINT
7 69.0 0.0461 0.0432 6.30 220 INPUT "ENTER TEMPERATURE FOR PREDICTION, °C;";TEMP2
8 90.0 0.0219 0.0210 3.92 230 S = SS*B + IS
Average absolute deviation = 4.68 240 LVIS = B/((1 + (TEMP2 - 30)/303.15)"S) - C
250 VIS= 10"LVIS
Source: Briggs & Khiamel 12
260 PRINT
270 PRINT "PREDICTED VISCOSITY, Pa • s =";VIS
Table 12. Comparison of viscosities for Cold Lake 280 INPUT "PREDICT ANOTHER VISCOSITY (Y/N)?";A$
=
bitumen (viscosity at 30°C 16.0993 Pa • s) 290 IF (A$,= "Y") THEN GOTO 220 ELSE END
Experimental Predicted
Data Temperature, viscosity, viscosity, Error, Table 15. Sample runs of program
point oc Pa• s Pa• s %
1. Cold Lake crude (Table 1)
1 30.5 15.700 15.207 3.12 Enter Measured Viscosity, Pa • s: 266.80
2 33.0 12.500 11.522 7.80 Enter Measuring Temperature, °C: 10
3 34.7 9.0000 9.5964 -6.65 Enter Tolerance: 0.000001
4 37.9 7.7000 6.8853 10.56 B = 4.255865
5 39.2 5.7000 6.0431 -6.04 Enter Temperature for Prediction, °C: 30
6 45.0 3.5000 3.4762 0.66 Predicted Viscosity, Pa· s = 17.94174
7 46.5 3.0500 3.0352 0.46 Experimental Viscosity= 17.210
8 48.2 2.6000 2.6117 -0.47 2. Athabasca bitumen sample 2 (Table 6)
9 48.2 2.4900 2.6117 -4.91 Enter Measured Viscosity, Pa • s: 23.850
10 52.7 1.7200 1.7848 -3.79 Enter Measuring Temperature, °C: 39.4
11 56.0 1.3350 1.3702 -2.66 Enter Tolerance: 0.000001
12 63.4 0.8000 0.7900 1.23 B = 4.883782
13 82.6 0.2350 0.2384 -1.47 Enter Temperature for Prediction, °C: 58.4
14 87.5 0.1830 0.1837 -0.39 Predicted Viscosity, Pa • s = 3.513324
15 Experimental Viscosity = 3.600
90.4 0.1510 0.1586 -5.05
Enter Temperature for Prediction, °C: 112
16 95.1 0.1240 0.1264 -1.95 Predicted Viscosity, Pa • s = 0.1191557
17 102.4 0.0910 0.0911 -0.14 Experimental Viscosity = 0.1200
13 107.4 0.0740 0.0740 0.01

'-2i
21
108.7
108.7
116.4
0.0705
0.0695
0.0702
0.0702
0.35
-1.09 tions for bitumens and heavy oils.
0.0540 0.0524 2.88 The unique feature of this correlation is that it requires
22 118.9 0.0495 0.0480 3.11
only a single viscosity measurement to make predictions.
Average absolute deviation = 2.94
The preferred temperature for this measurement is 30°C.
Source: Mehrotra & Svrcek 13
But the measurement can be made at any convenient tern-

160 HYDROCARBON PROCESSING I AUGUST 1993

 perature, and the viscosity at 30°C is obtained by simple
calculation using the program listed in Table 14.

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Recommended procedure. The single viscosity mea-
surement required for the correlation can be made at any
temperature, provided volatility and degradation of the
oil sample are avoided. The computer program illustrated
in Table 14 can be used to calculate Band predict viscos-
ity at any desired temperature given a viscosity mea-
surement and the tefnperature. Examples presented in
Table 15 indicate the results obtained from the program in
Table 14.
LITERATURE CITED
1 Dealy, J.M., "Rheological Properties of Oil Sand Bitumens," Can. J. Chem. Engr., 57,
1979, pp. 677-689.
2 Mehrotra, A. K, and Svrcek, W. Y., "Corresponding States Method for Calculating Bitu-

men Viscosity," J. Can. Pet. Tuch., Vol. 26, No. 5, 1987, pp. 60---{i6.
• reduces pollution 3 Baltatu, E. M., "Prediction of the Liquid Viscosity for Petroleum Fractions," Ind. Eng.

Chem. Process Des. Dev., 21, 1982, pp. 192~195.

• eliminates spillage • Monnery, D. W., Mehrotra, A. K., and Svrcek, W. Y., "Modified Shape Factors for
• economical Improved Viscosity Predictions Using Corresponding States," Can. J. Chem. Engr., 69,
1991, pp. 1213--1219.
• ear, operation 5 Singh, B., Mutyala, S., and Puttagunta, V. R., "Viscosity Range from One Test," Hydro-

carbon Processing, Vol. 69, No. 9, 1990, pp. 39-41.

6 De Kee, D., Asfour, A. A., and Ming, H., "Flow Properties ofLloydminster and Cold Lake

Crudes," Chem. Engr. Comm., 70, 1988, pp. 203--213.

7 Schramm, L. L., and Kwak, J.C. T., "The Rheological Properties of the Athabasca Bitu-

men and Some Bituminous Mixtures and Dispersion," J. Can. Pet. Tech., Feb. 1988, pp.
26----35.
8 Mehrotra, A. K., and Svrcek, W. Y., "Viscosity of Compressed Cold Lake Bitumen," Can.

DOVIANUS B.V. J. Chem. Engr., 65, 1987, pp. 672-675.

9 Mehrotra, A. K., and Svrcek, W. Y., "Viscosity of Compressed Athabasca Bitumen,"
Terbregseweg 120, 3056 JX Can. J. Chem. Engr., 64, 1986, pp. 844-847.
~DOPAK' Rotterdam, Holland
Tel. 31104206011
10 Khan, M. A. B., Mehrotra, A. K., and Svrcek, W. Y., "Viscosity Models for Gas-Free
Athabasca Bitumen," J. Can. Pet. Tuch., Vol. 23, No. 3, 1984, pp. 47~3.
Fax. 31 10 456 67 74 11 Mehrotra, A. K., and Svrcek, W. Y., "Measurement an d Correlations of Viscosity, Den-

sity and Gas Solubility for Marguerite Lake Bitumen Saturated with Carbon Dioxide,"
AOSTRA J. Res., 1, 1984, pp. 51-62.
l,t{ DOPAK PROVES ITS WORTH IN YOUR PROCESS ANALYSIS 12 Briggs, J .P., and Khiamal, N. B., ARC!AOSTRA Viscosity Report, 1984.
13 Mehrotra, A. K., and Svrcek, W. Y., "Properties of Cold Lake Bitumen Saturated with

Circle 135 Pure Gases and Gas Mixtures," Can. J. Chem. Engr., 66, 1988, pp. 656-665.

The authors
Adango Miadonye is a senior lecturer in the
Department of Chemical Engineering at Rivers
State University of Science and Technology, Port
Harcourt, Nigeria He is currently a visiting scientist
in the Department of Chemical Engineering at
Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Canada. He
holds a BS (honors) degree in chemical and poly-
TEFLON® mer technology from South Bank Polytechnic,
SLEEVED TYPE England. His current research interests include polymer processing
and modeling of the viscosity of crude oils, lubricants and petroleum
fractions.
V. R. Puttagunta is a professor of chemical engi-
neering at Lakehead University, Thunder Bay,
Canada. He holds a PhD degree in chemical engi-
neering from the University of Saskatchewan,
Canada. Dr. Puttagunta has held senior positions
with the Alberta Research Council from 1980 to
1986, and with Atomic Energy of Canada, Ltd.,
from 1967 to 1980. He is a member of the edito-
rial board of the Canadian Journal of Chemical
Engineering.
JACKETED MULTl-PORTED Birbal Singh is an associate professor of mechan-
ical engineering at Lakehead University, Thunder
AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED Bay, Canada. He holds a B. Tech. degree from the
Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, India, an
• SIZES : 1/2" -16" • STANDARDS: ANSI, JIS, DIN
MS degree from the University of Missouri, Rolla,
• CLASS: 150, 300, 600 • ENDS: FLANGED, WELDED, SCREWED
and a PhD degree from the University of Alberta,
• MATERIALS: NICKEL, MONEL, HASTELLOY, INCONEL, ALLOY 20, all in mechanical engineering. Prior to joining
CD4MCU, 316(L), 304(L), WCB, DI, BRONZ, ALUMINUM Lakehead University in 1987, Dr. Singh worked
as a research engineer in the Oil Sands Research
Department of the Alberta Research Council for
seven years. His current research interests include computer-aided
engineering, process simulation and process development for oil
recovery from oil sands. He is a registered professional engineer in
Ontario and is a senior member of SME and a member of ASME.

Circle 136
162

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