Im. Elgamal et Eam. Gad, LOW-TEMPERATURE RHEOLOGICAL BEHAVIOR OF UMBARKA WAXY CRUDE AND INFLUENCE OF FLOW IMPROVER, Revue de l'Institut francais du petrole, 52(3), 1997, pp. 369-379
Citations number
19
Categorie Soggetti
Energy & Fuels","Engineering, Chemical","Engineering, Petroleum
The low temperature flow properties; pour point and rheological parame
ters; have been determined for untreated and additive treated Umbarka
waxy crude. The rheological characteristics of the crude showed non-Ne
wtonian yield pseudoplastic flow behavior and pronounced thixotropic e
ffect. Viscometric data are fitted to Bingham, Casson and Herschel-Bul
kley plastic flow models using linear and non-linear computer regressi
on analysis. Herschel parameters showed inconsistent results whereas C
asson equation fitted the data reasonably well. Treatment of the crude
with flow improver ameliorated both rheological properties and pour p
oint but in a different manner. The influence of the additive on the r
heology of the crude is greatly affected by shear rate. The thixotropi
c phenomenon of the crude is likely to be temperature-dependent in add
ition to the other controlling factors.