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Critical quantities on the yielding process of waxy crude oils

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Abstract

The yielding behavior of waxy crude oils below the gelation temperature is a fundamental aspect for the production in oil basins located in deep water. Under this state, the material exhibits a diversity of complex non-Newtonian features turning the determination of its rheology a challenging task. We performed different tests monitoring the critical stress and strain where a major rupture occurs. We could infer from these experiments a minimum critical stress value that can be associated to the static yield stress of the material. In addition, the material exhibited a remarkably constant critical strain value, turning this last parameter into a more representative fingerprint of the material.

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Acknowledgments

This research was partially funded by grants from CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento), CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior), ANP (Agência Nacional de Petróleo) and PETROBRAS.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. LabReo, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Avenida Fernando Ferrari, 514, 29075-910, Vitoria, ES, Brazil

    Bruno A. Tarcha, Bárbara P. P. Forte & Edson J. Soares

  2. LMTA, Department of Mechanical Engineering (PGMEC), Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rua Passo da Patria 156, 24210-240, Niteroi, RJ, Brazil

    Roney L. Thompson

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  1. Bruno A. Tarcha
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  2. Bárbara P. P. Forte
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  3. Edson J. Soares
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  4. Roney L. Thompson
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Correspondence to Edson J. Soares.

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Tarcha, B.A., P. Forte, B.P., Soares, E.J. et al. Critical quantities on the yielding process of waxy crude oils. Rheol Acta 54, 479–499 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00397-015-0835-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00397-015-0835-1

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