Synthetic Crude Oil

Abstract

A blend suitable for mimicking the behavior of a crude oil/water blend may include a synthetic composition and brine. The synthetic composition may include: (I) at least one base oil component, (II) at least one surfactant, and (III) at least one particulate component having a particle size in the range from 5 to 500 nm.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A blend suitable for mimicking the behaviour of a crude oil/water blend comprising a synthetic composition and brine, said synthetic composition comprising:
 (I) at least one base oil component;   (II) at least one surfactant; and   (III) at least one particulate component having a particle size in the range from 5 to 500 nm.   
     
     
         2 . A blend as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the surfactant is oil soluble. 
     
     
         3 . A blend as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the particulate component is hydrophobic. 
     
     
         4 . A blend as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said blend mimics crude oil under quiescent and flow conditions. 
     
     
         5 . A blend as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said composition comprises a diluent. 
     
     
         6 . A blend as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said composition comprises:
 (I) at least 65 wt % of base oil component; 
 (II) up to 25 wt % of at least one diluent; 
 (III) 0.01 to 5 wt % of at least one surfactant; and 
 (IV) 0.01 to 5 wt % of at least one particulate component having a particle size in the range from 5 to 500 nm. 
 
     
     
         7 . A blend as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the amount of water present in the blend is at least 5 wt %, e.g. up to 65 wt %, e.g. 15 to 55 wt % of the blend. 
     
     
         8 . A water-in-oil emulsion suitable for mimicking the behaviour of a crude oil comprising water and a synthetic composition comprising:
 (I) at least one base oil component;   (II) at least one surfactant; and   (III) at least one particulate component having a particle size in the range from 5 to 500 nm.   
     
     
         9 . Use of an emulsion or blend as defined in  claim 1  as a mimic for crude oil. 
     
     
         10 . A process for preparing a blend suitable for mimicking a crude oil comprising:
 determining the viscosity of the crude oil to be mimicked;   (ii) combining at least one base oil component, at least one surfactant, at least one particulate component, and optionally at least one diluent;   so as to obtain a composition having a viscosity within 10%, especially within 1% of the viscosity of said crude oil; and   (iii) mixing with brine.   
     
     
         11 . A process for preparing a blend suitable for mimicking a crude oil comprising:
 determining the viscosity and interfacial tension of the crude oil to be mimicked;   (ii) combining at least one base oil component, at least one surfactant, at least one particulate component, and optionally at least one diluent;   so as to obtain a composition having a viscosity within 10%, especially within 1% of the viscosity of the crude oil and an interfacial tension of within 10%, especially within 1% of the interfacial tension of the crude oil; and   (iii) mixing with brine.   
     
     
         12 . A process for preparing a water in oil emulsion suitable for mimicking a crude oil comprising:
 (i) determining the viscosity and interfacial tension of the crude oil to be mimicked;   (ii) combining at least one base oil component, at least one surfactant, at least one particulate component and optionally at least one diluent;   so as to obtain a composition having a viscosity within 10%, especially within 1% of the viscosity of the crude oil and an interfacial tension of within 10%, especially within 1% of the interfacial tension of the crude oil; and   (iii) mixing with at least 5 wt % of water.   
     
     
         13 . A method for producing a reference fluid for a crude oil comprising measuring the properties of the crude oil to be mimicked, such properties comprising viscosity, interfacial tension, and emulsion properties, and based on these properties adding an oil, a surfactant and a particulate and brine such that the reference fluid mimics the crude oil.