Characterizing heavy oils

Approaches and research into characterizing heavy oils in the field and lab...

Acquiring reliable and representative heavy oil fluid properties is essential to plan and optimize heavy oil recovery but there are unique challenges both in the lab and in the field. Our recent feature article Highlighting Heavy Oil discusses current techniques used in characterizing heavy oils including NMR logging, down-hole MDT sampling, and laboratory analysis using gas chromatography combined with more detailed compositional analysis of the saturate, aromatic, resin, and asphaltene (SARA) fractions .

The article provides a good overview and starting point in understanding the complexities of heavy oil characterization.

Jorge.