Study of the rheological characteristics of high-viscosity oil from Mangyshlak

Background: Due to the exhaustibility of active reserves of light oil, every year it becomes more and more important to improve the developmental efficiency of heavy high-viscosity oil fields. There is a need for a deeper study of the properties of high-viscosity oil in order to improve enhanced oil recovery technologies. Aim: The investigation of West Kazakhstan’s high-viscosity oils’ rheological properties by studying their physical and chemical characteristics and content of high-molecular compounds. Materials and methods: As objects of the study, oils from Western Kazakhstan's Karazhanbas, Northern Buzachi and Zhalgyztobe oil fields were selected. To accomplish the given tasks, laboratory studies were conducted using contemporary methods of chemical and physicochemical analysis. Results: This article presents the results of laboratory studies to determine the density, viscosity, and content of asphalt-resin-paraffin substances with a comparison of the results obtained. As well as the results of the study of the rheological characteristics of heavy high-viscosity oil with different water cut on the example of fields in Western Kazakhstan. The temperature limits and the influence of water cut on the manifestation of non-Newtonian properties were determined. Conclusion: It was found that the rheological behavior of high-viscosity heavy oil with different water cut exhibits pronounced properties of pseudoplastic liquid, where the most pronounced non-Newtonian properties are manifested at the content of bound water exceeding 50%. The expression of non-Newtonian properties of West Kazakhstan oil is due to the increased content of high-molecular components. The obtained results are of practical interest in creating a composite model of hydrodynamic and technological system of collection and transportation of heavy, high-viscosity oil.