A study of asphaltene content of indonesian heavy oil

Abstract

Oil production is highly depend on its viscosity which varies with temperature and pressure. Chemically, the viscosity had tight relationship with asphaltene content. The higher the asphaltene content as in the heavy oil, the higher the viscosity is and the more difficult to be produced. A brief review of Saturates, Aromatics, Resins and Asphaltenes (SARA) fractions of oil and how they are extracted and analysed followed by how asphaltene related with viscosity then its theoretical models and its precipitation mechanism, is given. The paper then expose the viscosity vs temperature behavior of Indonesian heavy oil and relates with its SARA measurement.