Equation of state analog correlations for the viscosity and thermal conductivity of hydrocarbons and reservoir fluids

Based on the geometric similarity of P-V-T, T-mu -P and T-lambda -P diagram s, viscosity(mu) and thermal conductivity(lambda) data of hydrocarbons and their mixtures have been successfully correlated using a cubic equation of state (EOS) type equation. The advantages of using EOS-analog expressions a re simple in form applicable to both gas/liquid, high-pressure/low-pressure , and smooth phase transition of mu and lambda in the near-critical region could be achieved. First, a modified viscosity correlation based on PR (Pen g-Robinson) EOS type expression is presented, which improves the prediction of the viscosity of reservoir fluids (including CO2-injected enhanced oil recovery systems). Then, the development of EOS type expression for fluid t hermal conductivity is described. The results of extensive tests with data indicate the superiority of the proposed EOS-analog viscosity and thermal c onductivity correlations over typical empirical and semi-empirical correlat ions used in the petroleum industry. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rig hts reserved.