Abstract
The aims of this work is to present consistent and reliable viscometer measurements for heavy oil samples and to draw a comprehensive comparison amongst the several viscosity measuring procedures for the same solo crude oil sample. Viscosity measurements were preformed for temperatures over the range of 25°C to 80 °C with three apparatuses. These apparatuses include an Oscillating Piston Electromagnetic Viscometer (OPV), Rotational Rheometer using Cone and Plate (RCV), and Oscillating U-tube of rotating concentric cylinders (OUV). More than 36 heavy dead oil well head samples were collected from different Kuwaiti fields to perform this study. The API gravity of oil samples collected, ranges from 13 to 23 degrees with a good assortment of composition. It was concluded that each viscosity measurement is environment as well as apparatus operational principle limited. These expected errors in laboratory-measured oil viscosity are the main factors in the degradation of the oil viscosity correlation equation's efficiency. Homogenized sample aliquots are analyzed at various test conditions; hence corresponding data is precisely collected. The measurements are verified and assured by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) tractable Standard Referenced Materials.
