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Updated: Aug 9, 2025

Measurement of the Rheology of Crude Oil in Equilibrium with CO2 at Reservoir Conditions
Published on: June 6, 2017
Extra heavy crude oil viscosity and surface tension behavior using a flow enhancer and water at different
Mayda Lam-Maldonado1,2, Yolanda G Aranda-Jiménez1,3, Eduardo Arvizu-Sanchez1
1Facultad de Arquitectura, Diseño y Urbanismo, Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas, Campus Tampico-Madero, Mexico.
Abstract:
Research reports reveal the importance of applying various substances to enhance extra-heavy crude oil pipeline transportation. During the crude oil conduction process, shearing occurs in the equipment and pipe accessories, producing a water-in-crude emulsion associated with forming a rigid film by adsorbing natural surfactant molecules in the droplets water, leading to increased Viscosity. This study presents the effect of a flow enhancer (FE) on the behavior of the Viscosity of an extra heavy crude oil (EHCO) and in emulsions formed with 5% and 10% water (W). The results revealed the effectiveness of the 1%, 3%, and 5% flow enhancer in lowering the Viscosity and presenting a Newtonian flow behavior which will help reduce the cost of heat treatment during the transportation of crude oil through the pipeline.
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