Determination of Oil viscosity

1. Theory

1.1. Definition of viscosity

The viscosity of a fluid, usually denoted by μ (μg for gas), is simply speaking a measure of
the resistance to fluid flow and is commonly given in units of centipoise or cp (1 cp = 1
mPa.s = 1.0E−03 N s/m2). Obviously, given its definition, fluid viscosity is a property of key
significance in all processes that involve fluid flow, such as fluid flow through porous media,
in production tubing and pipelines. [1]

The basic equation of deformation is given by:

𝜏 = 𝜇𝛾̇

𝜕𝑉𝑥
Where 𝜏 is shear stress, 𝛾̇ is the shear rate defined as and 𝜇 is the viscosity. The term 𝜏
𝜕𝑦

can be defined as F/A where F is force required to keep the upper plate moving at constant
velocity v in the x-direction and A is area of the plate in contact with the fluid (Figure. 1). By
fluid viscosity, the force is transmitted through the fluid to the lower plate in such a way that
the x-component of the fluid velocity linearly depends on the distance from the lower plate.

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 Figure 1. Steady-state velocity profile of a fluid entrained between two flat surfaces.[2]

It is assumed that the fluid does not slip at the plate surface. Newtonian fluids, such as water
and gases, have shear-independent viscosity and the shear stress is proportional to the shear
rate (Figure. 2). [2]

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 Figure 2. Shear stress vs. shear rate for a Newtonian fluid.[2]

1.2 Gas viscosity

The viscosity of gas as a function of pressure and temperature is shown in Figure 1, which
shows that gas viscosity decreases with decreasing reservoir pressure at all temperatures. At
low pressures, gas viscosity increases as temperature increases, which is mainly due to
increase in the intermolecular collision that is caused by an increase in molecular friction.
However, at high pressures, gas viscosity decreases as temperature increases, a typical
behavior observed in the case of liquids.

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 Figure 3. Variation of gas viscosity with pressure and temperature. [1]

Although gas viscosity is a function of pressure, temperature, fluid density, and composition,
unlike the other two gas properties discussed earlier (Bg and Cg), gas viscosity cannot be
directly expressed as a function of pressure, temperature, or composition, that is, no exact and
well-defined or obvious relationships can be used to determine gas viscosity. Additionally,
experimental determination of gas viscosity is generally difficult. Therefore, gas viscosity is
commonly estimated from empirical correlations developed over the years which relate
viscosity to pressure, temperature, and composition in various forms. Some of these
correlations are graphical while others are analytical expressions. Many of these correlations
are discussed by Ahmed.

However, the most popular and commonly used correlation for predicting viscosity of
petroleum reservoir fluids is the Lohrenz–Bray–Clark correlation, also known as the LBC
method. In the LBC method, viscosity is basically correlated as a function of fluid density
that can be obtained from the below Equation for gas mixtures.

𝑃. (𝑀𝑊)
𝜌=
𝑅𝑇𝑍

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The LBC method is in fact also applicable to liquids, unlike some of the correlations that are
specifically developed for either gases or liquids. [1]

1.3 Gas viscosity correlations

Two popular methods that are commonly used in the petroleum industry are the:

• Carr-Kobayashi-Burrows Correlation Method

Carr, Kobayashi, and Burrows (1954) developed graphical correlations for estimating the
viscosity of natural gas as a function of temperature, pressure, and gas gravity. The
computational procedure of applying the proposed correlations is discussed in [2] by Ahmed.

• Lee-Gonzalez-Eakin Method

Lee, Gonzalez, and Eakin (1966) presented a semi-empirical relationship for calculating the
viscosity of natural gases. The authors expressed the gas viscosity in terms of the reservoir
temperature, gas density, and the molecular weight of the gas. Their proposed equation is
given by:

𝜌𝑔 𝑌
𝜇𝑔 = 10−4 𝐾 𝑒𝑥𝑝 [𝑋 ( ) ]
62.4

(9.4 + 0.02𝑀𝑎 )𝑇 1.5

𝐾=
209 + 19𝑀𝑎 + 𝑇

986
𝑋 = 3.5 + + 0.01𝑀𝑎
𝑇

𝑌 = 2.4 − 0.2 𝑋

Where:

𝜌𝑔 = gas density at reservoir pressure and temperature, lb/ft3

T = reservoir temperature, °R

Ma = apparent molecular weight of the gas mixture

The proposed correlation can predict viscosity values with a standard deviation of 2.7% and a
maximum deviation of 8.99%. The correlation is less accurate for gases with higher specific
gravities. The authors pointed out that the method cannot be used for sour gases. [3]

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1.4 oil viscosity

Oil viscosity, denoted by μo usually specified in centipoise, or cp, like other physical
properties, is also dependent on pressure as well as temperature. An increase in temperature
causes a decrease in the oil viscosity, which can be of the orders of magnitude with
temperature increase and is of key significance in the thermal recovery of heavy oils.
Ordinarily, for oils, a decrease in pressure causes a decrease in viscosity and vice versa,
which is strictly true at bubble-point pressure and above because all the gas remains intact in
solution with the oil. However, below bubble point pressure, the amount of gas remaining in
solution continually decreases with pressure, and this has an opposite effect on the oil
viscosity, that is, the oil viscosity actually increases with decreasing pressure. The solution
gas primarily composed of lighter and intermediate components, present in the oil, basically
has a dilution/solvent effect on the oil, which obviously reduces with pressures dropping
further below the bubble point, thereby making the oil heavier and thus increasing its
viscosity.

The relationship between the viscosity of a black oil as a function of pressure at constant
temperature is shown in Figure 2. As seen in this figure, at pressures above the bubble point,
the oil remains in single phase; therefore, the only factor that affects the viscosity is pressure.
However, as reservoir pressure falls below the bubble point, Rs decreases (less solvent
effect), leaving the remaining oil with relatively larger concentration of the heavier
components. It is this changing composition that causes a large increase in viscosity of the oil
as pressure continues to fall below the bubble-point pressure.

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 Figure 4. Variation in the viscosity of a black oil with pressure at constant reservoir
temperature. [1]

As black oil reservoir is depleted, not only does the production decrease due to the decrease
in the driving force of pressure and the competition between free gas but also because of the
increase in the oil viscosity. McCain states that a tenfold increase in oil viscosity between the
bubble point and low reservoir pressure is not uncommon. Therefore, oil viscosity is probably
one of the most significant properties that are targeted when considering miscible gas
injection or thermal-based enhanced oil recovery schemes. [1]

The viscosity of a liquid is related directly to the type and size of the molecules which make
up the liquid. The variation of liquid viscosity with molecular structure is not known with
exactness; however, the viscosities of liquids which are members of a homologous series are
known to vary in a regular manner, as do most other physical properties. For example, pure
paraffin hydrocarbons exhibit a regular increase in viscosity as the size and complexity of the
hydrocarbon molecules increase. [4]

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1.5 oil viscosity correlations

The oil viscosity from empirical correlations is generally determined for the dead oil first,
followed by viscosity at bubble-point pressure, and subsequently at other pressures above the
bubble point.

The dead oil viscosity can be calculated from Glaso’s correlation:

𝜇𝑜𝑑 = [3.141 ∗ 1010 ](𝑇)−3.444 [𝑙𝑜𝑔(𝐴𝑃𝐼)]𝑎

And

𝑎 = 10.313[𝑙𝑜𝑔(𝑇)] − 36.447

Where:

μod is the dead oil viscosity, cp

T is the temperature, °F

API is the oil API gravity

The oil viscosity at bubble-point pressure (saturated oil viscosity) can be calculated from
Standing’s correlation:

𝑏
𝜇𝑜𝑏 = 10𝑎 𝜇𝑜𝑑

and

𝑎 = 𝑅𝑠 [2.2(10)−7 𝑅𝑠 − 7.4(10−4 )]

0.68 0.25 0.062

𝑏=
10𝑐 10𝑑 10𝑒

𝑐 = 8.62(10)−5 𝑅𝑠

𝑑 = 1.1(10)−3 𝑅𝑠

𝑒 = 3.74(10)−3 𝑅𝑠

Where μob is the oil viscosity at bubble point, cp.

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The viscosity of the under saturated oil can also be calculated from the Standing
correlation:[1]

1.6 0.56
𝜇 = 𝜇𝑜𝑏 + 0.001(𝑃 − 𝑃𝑏)(0.024𝜇𝑜𝑏 + 0.038𝜇𝑜𝑏 )

There are also other correlations for viscosity determination and prediction of a crude oil
sample or field fluid. more correlations and details are discussed in [1],[2],[3] and other
references.

Viscosity of oiles and gas also could be predicted and calculated from the mole fraction of
each component if mole fraction of all components are known. [1]

1.6 laboratory determination of viscosity

Capillary Type Viscometer

Viscosity of liquids is determined by instruments called viscosimeter or viscometer. One type

of viscometer for liquids is the Ostwald viscometer (Figure 5). In this viscometer, the
viscosity is deduced from the comparison of the times required for a given volume of the
tested liquids and of a reference liquid to flow through a given capillary tube under specified
initial head conditions. During the measurement the temperature of the liquid should be kept
constant by immersing the instrument in a temperature-controlled water bath.

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 Figure 5: Two types of Ostwald viscometers. [2]

In this method the Poiseuille’s law for a capillary tube with a laminar flow regime is used:

𝑉 ∆𝑃𝜋𝑟 4
𝑄= =
𝑡 8𝜇𝑙

Where t is time required for a given volume of liquid V with density of ρ and viscosity of μ
to flow through the capillary tube of length l and radius r by means of pressure gradient ∆P.
The driving force ∆P at this instrument is 𝜌𝑔𝑙. Then

𝑉 𝜋𝑟 4 𝜌𝑔𝑙
=
𝑡 8𝜇𝑙

Or

𝜋𝑟 4 𝜌𝑔𝑡
𝜇= = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡. 𝜌𝑡
8𝑉

The capillary constant is determined from a liquid with known viscosity. [2]

The other methods such as Falling Ball Viscometer and Rotational Viscometer are
discussed by Torsæter and Abtahi in reference [2]

2. References:

1. Abhijit Y. Dandekar," Petroleum Reservoir Rock and Fluid Properties", pages 381-427,
Taylor & Francis Group, 2013.

2. O. Torsæter , M. Abtahi ,"Experimental Reservoir Engineering Laboratory Work Book",

pages 13 – 16 , Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 2003.

3. Tarek Ahmed," Reservoir engineering handbook", page 68-74, Elsevier Inc., 2006.

4. William d. McCain, ''The Properties of Petroleum Fluids", pages 236, PennWell Publishing
Company, second edition, 1990.

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