A Viscosity Reduction Study on Chinese Extra Heavy Oil by the Addition of Synthesized Novel Oil-Soluble Viscosity-Reducing Agents

Abstract

A series of oil-soluble viscosity-reducing agents (VRAs), which includes two types of compounds, namely, copolymers and macromolecules, has been purposely synthesized and used as flow improvers (FIs) for Chinese extra heavy oil transportation treatment. In comparison with commercial FIs/pour point depressants (PPDs), the viscosity-reducing rates of the synthesized VRAs for extra heavy oil are significantly higher than those of commercial PPDs of T808A and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) as FIs in higher temperature range (HTR), and their viscosity-reducing effects are similar to those of both EVA and T808A in the lower temperature range. The experimental results show good prospects in the development of highly efficient oil-soluble VRAs for extra heavy oil in HTR. It has provided a feasible basis for transporting dehydrated extra heavy oil by adding VRAs in HTR instead of by heating to a high temperature of 80°C, which can greatly reduce energy exhaustion. The effects of the related factors, such as type, composition, and carbon chain length of VRA molecules on their viscosity-reducing behaviors were also studied and are reported herein.

Keywords:

• extra heavy oil
• oil-soluble viscosity-reducing agent
• synthesis and characterization
• transportation
• viscosity reduction