Dmitry Ivanovich Makarev ¹, Andrey Nikolaevich Rybyanets ¹, Victor Lvovich Sukhorukov ¹

Affiliations
1 Scientific Research Institute of Physics of the Southern Federal University

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this study is to investigate the effects produced by intensive ultrasound on rheological properties of oil and petroleum products, especially on heavy oil products with higher concentrations. Methods: Principal method of ultrasonic treatment is represented by the exposure to the highly intensive continuous ultrasound of different power during one and the same time of treatment. The basic objects of the investigation are represented by black oil grades M-100 and M-40. The relaxation of rheological properties of the objects of the investigation was observed over the period of 10 days upon ultrasonic treatment. Findings: As a result of the study the following regularities have been identified: considerable decrease in the substance viscosity after the treatment followed by the growth in the process of relaxation; in all cases the anomalous behavior of the substance viscosity has been observed in the process of relaxation; kinematic viscosity in all experiments did not reach its initial values that used to be measured before the treatment. This means that ultrasonic treatment is capable of reducing the viscosity of heavy oil products effectively over the period of time that is sufficient for producing the heavy grades of oil and for transportation of heavy oils and petrochemicals over considerable distances. Applications/Improvements: The results of this study can be used in oil extraction and refining industries in the processes of producing and transporting the heavy grade oils and petrochemicals.

Keywords

Heavy Oil Products, High-intensity Ultrasonic Treatment, Rheological Properties.

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Dmitry Ivanovich Makarev ¹, Andrey Nikolaevich Rybyanets ¹, Victor Lvovich Sukhorukov ¹

Affiliations
1 Scientific Research Institute of Physics of the Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don, RU

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Lower output of light oil and gradual depletion of its resources result in stronger interest in developing heavy oil deposits. However, its extraction is complicated because of its high viscosity. Methods: Principal methods of reducing oil viscosity imply preheating the oil-bearing bed and applying solvent agents. However, those methods are expensive and environmentally insecure. Another method is represented by high-intensity ultrasonic treatment. Its application helps reduce expenses and is environmentally safe. Therefore, there is an interest in the petroleum extraction practices that apply ultrasound. Such methods are developed in China, Iran, Russia, the USA, Western Europe and in other countries. Findings: The authors have investigated the effects produced by different kinds of ultrasonic treatment on kinematic viscosity of such oil products as black oil grade M-100, applying the ultrasound of different power and duration. The samples of black oil were subjected to direct effects of high-intensity treatment and the kinetic viscosity was measured before and after the treatment. Within 10 days, in the process of relaxation, the changes in viscosity of the treated samples were observed. The dependencies of viscosity on the duration of the fixed power ultrasound treatment have been discovered, the nonlinear and non-monotone nature of those dependencies have been established. Anomalous non-monotone nature of viscosity change in black oil grade M-100 has been observed. Under some modes of treatment, periods of viscosity lowering were observed. These anomalies are likely to be caused by the clots that were formed of the most viscous fractions of the product and that left the fractions with lower viscosity beyond, thus explaining the lower total viscosity in the process of relaxation. Applications/Improvements: The results can be used for selecting the regimes of ultrasonic treatment for the purposes of developing heavy oil production equipment and for improving petroleum and oil products handling operations.

Keywords

High-Molecular Petroleum Fractions, High-Intensity Ultrasonic Treatment, Relaxation, Viscosity.

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