The Effect of Diffrent Solvents on Shaikan Viscous Crude Oil Through Thermal Application

Heavy crude oils are complex fluid mixture with a high proportion of asphaltic molecules, sulfur and several heavy metals like nickel, vanadium, and nitrogen. These components will affect negatively transporting viscous crude oil from production well-head to early processing facilities through pipeline, whereby the viscosity of heavy crude oils is ranging from 10² centipoise (c.P) to more than 10⁵ c.P and low API° gravity less than 20 API° degree. In order to increase the efficiency of viscous crude oil flowability or mobility, reducing the viscosity factor is a promising method. In this experimental study, shaikan viscous crude oil has been blended with different solvents under different concentration rates and different temperatures conditions. The main objective of this experimental study is analyzing the effect of solvents like (methanol and toluene) on the heavy oil crude viscosity. The results obtained exhibit that, there is good viscosity reduction achieved by toluene but methanol solvent had a minor impact on viscosity reduction.