Heavy Oil Studies

Click to view Understanding heavy oil fluid properties is fundamental for deciding the best extraction, production, and processing methods of an asset. Studies may include adding heat or a solvent to reduce oil viscosity or studying emulsions and emulsion breakers.

• high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) PVT studies—pressures to 15,000 psi and temperatures to 250 degC
• Solvent studies—miscibility, swelling, and PVT analysis
• vapor-liquid equilibria of live oil with solvent and/or water at high temperatures
• solids detection of asphaltenes using a high-pressure microscope (HPM) and solids detections system (SDS)
• live oil and dead oil rheology
• porous media flow studies using sandpacks or etched-plate micromodels
• live oil emulsion generation and demulsifier chemical testing
• live foamy oil studies and defoamer chemical testing
• apparent viscosities and kinetics of gas bubble formation in foamy oils
• hydrate formation conditions.