Effect of Different Chemicals Compounds upon the Surface of Heavy Crude Oil

Abstract

Heavy crude oil is one of the unconventional crude oil which is difficult to recovery by conventional methods. High viscosity of heavy crude oil is reduced by the usage of steam in thermal recovery processes. Chemical flooding practices were fewer in heavy oil field compared to thermal flooding due to the low reactivity of chemicals on high dense crude oil. In this research article, different chemical compounds were tested on the heavy crude oil in both ambient and hot water conditions. The chemical compound prepared in the ambient temperature of water has no effect on heavy crude oil. On the contrary, heavy crude oil gave response to the chemicals made up of hot water. The chemical compounds namely surfactants, solvents and some salts happened to change the surface of heavy crude oil in turn influence the recovery rate. The analysis is useful for the testing and selecting of specific chemical compound which will react with heavy crude oil and improve the production.