VISCOSITY[19,20]
Materials having viscosity less than 10,000 centipoises (cp) are
conventional petroleum and heavy oil.
Tar sand bitumen has a viscosity greater than 10,000 cp.
In order to classify petroleum, heavy oil, and bitumen the use of a
single parameter such as viscoity is not enough.
Other properties such as API gravity, elemental analysis,
composition, and the properties of the
fluid in the reservoir as well as the method of recovery need to be
acknowledged
Fig.1.8 Classification of petroleum, heavy oil, and bitumen by API
gravity and viscosity
POUR POINT[20]
Tar sand bitumen is a naturally occurring material that is immobile in
the deposit and cannot be recovered by the application of enhanced
oil recovery technologies, including steam –based technologies.
Heavy oil is mobile in the reservoir and can be recovered by the
application of enhanced oil recovery technologies,including steam–
based technologies.
Pour point is the lowest temperature at which oil will move, pour , or
flow when it is chilled without disturbance under definite conditions
(ASTM D97).
The pour point and reservoir temperature present a more accurate
assessment of the condition of the oil in the reservoir an indicator of
the mobility of the oil in the reservoir.
when used in conjunction with reservoir temperature, the pour point
gives an indication of the liquidity of the heavy oil or bitumen and,
therefore the ability of the heavy oil or bitumen to flow under
reservoir conditions.
In summary, the pour point is an important consideration because,
for efficient production, additional energy must be supplied to the
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2/16/2015 NPTEL :: Chemical Engineering Petroleum Refinery Engineering
reservoir by a Thermal process to increase the reservoir temperature
beyond the pour point.
Pour point offers more general applicable to the conditions of the oil
in the reservoir or the bitumen in the deposit and comparison of the
two temperatures(pour point and reservoir temperatures) that shows
promise and warrants for further consideration.
Fig:1.9
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