The Role of Crude Oil Shrinkage in Heavy Mix Light Crude in Main Oil Pipeline: Case Study Oman

摘要

With the increasing trend of heavy oil production in Sultanate of Oman, it will be very interesting to see the impact on crude oil volumetric quality in the main oil pipeline. Pipeline oil management mass balance and custody transfer accuracy will be the focus. The volumetric measurement equipment show some time a discrepancies. Temperature, pressure and meter factor corrections were not enough to explain these discrepancies. The shrinkage factor of crude oil can be seen from upstream to main oil pipeline where the mixing already stabilize, such from separator conditions varies, dependant upon the pressure and temperature of the separator and the individual fluid properties. The more volatile the separator liquid phase, the more impact separator conditions and shrinkage will be. Shrinkage value will be very dependant upon the separator pressure and temperature and will change as these values vary. However, good shrinkage measurement is best approached by collecting the primary separator liquid and performing a separator test on it. A calculation based on API MPMS 12.3 (1996) have some limitationof mixing only at absolute P (100-700 KPa, 15-115 lb/in2) and T (15oC or 60oF). The study explaining a step by step of crude oil shrinkage by well testing approach, separator testing approach and equation-of-state (EOS) tuned in to measuring accurate shrinkage and as a result, the data shows less than 4% error band.