A Laboratory Study to Determine Physical Characteristics of Heavy Oil After CO2 Saturation

Abstract

Abstract Petroleum recovery techniques are being developed by laboratory experimentation by personnel at the Bartlesville (Okla.) Energy Technology Center, U. S. Department of Energy. These techniques are being studied and developed to aid production from shallow, low productivity, heavy oil sand deposits in southeastern Kansas, southwestern Missouri and northeastern Oklahoma. Heavy oil samples ranging from 10 to 17° API gravity (1.000 to 0.953 g/cm3) were tested to determine physical characteristics of heavy oils before and after CO2 saturation. The experimentation was conducted using a modified PVT apparatus designed and constructed at BETC. Viscosity, density, saturation and swelling factor were determined at temperatures of 75°, 140° and 200°F (24°, 60° and 93° C) and at eleven pressures ranging from 200 to 5,000 psi (1400 to 34,500 KPa) at each temperature.