Heavy Oil Testing

Analysis and characterization of heavy oil properties

Applications
Thermodynamic and physical
property analysis
Customized heavy oil studies to select
and optimize recovery methods
High-pressure studies up to
15,000 psi [103 MPa]
High-temperature PVT studies
up to 482 degF [250 degC]
Live oil viscosity and rheology
measurements
Visual confirmation of asphaltene
formation in heavy oil blending
Wax onset temperature prediction
for paraffinic crudes
Custom experiment designs that meet
client requirements
Testing for live, recombined, and dead
heavy oils

Features
High-power mixer to provide improved
fluid equilibrium
Visual-based techniques for phase
behavior, sample quality, and
asphaltene precipitation
Understanding heavy oil fluid properties is fundamental for deciding the best extraction, production, and processing
methods for an asset. Studies may include heat or solvent addition to reduce oil viscosity or examining emulsions
and emulsion breakers.
Schlumberger offers standard and specialized services for investigating the thermodynamic
and physical properties of live and stock-tank heavy oils.

Successful analysis and characterization of heavy oil require the collection of representative
reservoir fluid. Schlumberger provides a collection of homogeneous, single-phase heavy oil
samples in both openhole and cased hole environments. The Oilphase-DBR* single-phase
multisample chamber (SPMC) can collect multiple samples in one wireline run in open hole. The
SCAR* inline independent reservoir fluid sampling system can be run on tubing to collect multiple
samples in cased hole during well testing. Clients can choose to sample at various depths to study
the fluid gradient. All systems use pressure-compensating technology to assure sample integrity
and no loss of gas.

Once samples are received and reconditioned to ensure the reservoir fluid is monophasic and
homogeneous at reservoir conditions, live heavy oils are tested to verify sample quality. Sample
quality testing may include free-water check; water content; compositional analysis including
saturates, aromatics, resins, and asphaltenes (SARA); and simulated distillation.
Heavy Oil Testing
Schlumberger has designed a state-of-the-art, mercury-free, heavy
oil PVT cell. The fully visual cell is equipped with a high-power mixer
to ensure fluid equilibrium and improved data quality.

PVT studies include

constant composition expansion (CCE) for bubblepoint pressure,
compressibility, and density measurements
differential liberation for two-phase fluid behavior and properties
separation tests
compositional analysis
viscosity measurements.

The capillary viscometer is used to measure viscosity of both live and

stock-tank oils as a function of temperature and pressure. It is capable
of generating reproducible experimental results for either cleaned
samples or samples containing small amounts of emulsified water or 100 psia, 40 degF
entrained solids. For samples heavier than 200,000 cp, a high-pressure 100 psia, 70 degF
100,000 2,000 psia, 40 degF
rheometer is used that can measure viscosities up to 1,000,000 cp.
2,000 psia, 70 degF
Transportation studies may also include screening for asphaltene
precipitation during the blending of heavy oil with light hydrocarbon
10,000
Viscosity, mPa.s

fluids. Screening tests are performed with the Schlumberger solids

detection system (SDS), which works in conjunction with the high-
pressure microscope (HPM).
1,000
Schlumberger also provides a suite of specialized heavy oil services,
such as
single-phase heavy oil sampling in openhole and cased hole
wells (see SPMC and SCAR product sheets) 100
solvent studiesmiscibility, swelling, and PVT analysis 0 10 20 30 40 50 60
vapor-liquid equilibria of live oil with solvent and/or water Water cut, volume %
at high temperatures The high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) capillary viscometer can be used
solids detection of asphaltenes with HPM and SDS to study apparent viscosity versus emulsions with various water cuts.

live-oil and dead-oil rheology (see high-pressure, high-temperature

rheometer technical sheet for more information) Equipment Specifications
porous media flow studies using sandpacks or etched-plate Heavy Oil Capillary High-Pressure
micromodels PVT Cell Viscometer Rheometer
Max. pressure rating, psi [MPa] 15,000 [103] 10,000 [69] 5,900 [41]
live oil emulsion generation and demulsifier chemical testing
Max. temperature rating, 482 [250] 464 [240] 302 [150]
live foamy oil studies and defoamer chemical testing degF [degC]
apparent viscosities and kinetics of gas bubble formation Max. viscosity rating, cp 1,000 200,000 1,000,000
in foamy oils At test temperature

hydrate formation conditions.

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