Models for predicting the viscosity of Middle East crude oils

New empirical models for predicting the viscosity of Middle East crude oils; dead, saturated, and undersaturated, are presented. The accuracy and limitations of previously published models for predicting the viscosity of crude oils are also reviewed and discussed. The study uses viscosity data of 254 crude oil samples collected from the Middle East for the development of the proposed empirical models. These models can be used to predict viscosity of crude oils from the Middle East where experimentally measured data become unavailable, at temperatures other than reservoir temperature for the design of production equipment and pipelines, and for planning thermal methods of enhanced oil recovery. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.