Experimental study on the rheological and physical properties of nile blend crude oil

Abstract EN

Nile blend is a paraffmic waxy crude oil.

This paraffin wax content leads to high solidification temperature and high viscosity at low temperatures, which causes severe wax deposition problem along the pipeline.

This study analyses samples obtained from Fields Processing Facility (FPF) & Central Processing Facility (CPF) of healing field and compare it with other fields (Unity, El-Tour, El-Nar, Tome south & Bamboo) results by measuring the physical and rheological properties.

Results obtained from the study showed that Nile blend is a paraffin non-Newtonian Pseudo plastic fluid which has rheological properties of relatively high pour point, viscosity and yield stress (very strong functions of temperature).

All these properties create problems in pumping, storage and handling processes.

The improvement of flow and rheological properties by heat treatment depends on blends composition.

The thermal range (90-110 °C) was recommended for Nile Blend treatment in C.P.F but thermal treatment consume high amount of energy and might cause technical problems along the pipeline.