Industry project targets heavy oil resource
13 Sep 2006
Glasgow, UK — With escalating oil prices and depletion of light crude reserves, the oil industry is seeking to overcome the technical problems that prevent the exploitation of heavy crude, which represents over 50% of the world's oil reserves.
As part of this drive, engineering technology services company TUV NEL has started a joint industry project (JIP) to bring together operators, regulators and meter manufacturers to address the challenges associated with the measurement of heavy oil.
The project aims to maximise the transportation and measurement of heavy oils, said TUV NEL. With viscosities of over 100 cSt any trapped water and gas in these fluids is difficult to separate and measure, the company noted.
“There is a dearth of information on the effects of heavy oil on the performance of traditional flow measurement techniques and, with oil price at well over $70 a barrel, this could prove commercially very costly,” said Jim Holt, TUV NEL's business manager.
The strategic nature of the project means the results will be of great commercial value both to operators and meter manufacturers, added TUV NEL, which is seeking to attract companies to participate on a collaborative-funding basis.
“Participants will also have the opportunity to assist in the formation of future test regimes and more importantly, with meter test selection. This means that they can, in the future, purchase, with confidence, measurement systems best suited for the application,” said Holt.
The first stage of the JIP is to investigate the established method of Venturi metering for high-viscosity oils. It will then study metering technologies including ultrasonic and Coriolis, for viscosities up to 600 cSt, before exploring issues of gas entrainment when transporting heavy oil.
Within the JIP, TUV NEL said it will focus on setting up a reference measurement system and test procedure using refined oils with high viscosities. This, it said, will include establishing a state-of-the-art facility to provide traceable measurements and a better understanding of the fluid characteristics.
