MODELING THE EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE, PRESSURE, AND COMPOSITION ON THE VISCOSITY OF CRUDE-OIL MIXTURES

A model is presented for the temperature, pressure, and composition effects on the viscosity of crude oils and their mixtures. The proposed three-parameter model uses Walther’s (or ASTM) viscosity-temperature correlation and its modification to include the effect of pressure on viscosity. The stepwise modeling approach is illustrated using published viscosity data for three middle-East crude oils and their binary and ternary mixtures. One of the three parameters in the viscosity model is found to be a constant, and simple correlations are provided for the remaining two parameters in terms of crude oil mixture density at 25 °C. The validity of the viscosity model is demonstrated by a good match between the calculated and experimental crude oil viscosities. © 1990, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.