Cogitation on the State-of-the-art and Development of Crude Oil Rheology

Most of crude oils produced in China are the high-pour-point crude or the viscous heavy crude with complex rheology. As a result, crude oil rheology and its application has been a major research subject for the Chinese petroleum pipeline industry. The achievements obtained in research and application of crude oil rheology in China in the past over forty years are summarized, existing problems in cognition and research are analyzed, and the necessity for further studies is expounded. It is suggested that further advancement of crude oil rheology study in China need innovation in research methodology, systematic and sound basic research, systematic summing-up of current qualitative understandings and promoting them to the quantitative level, and more integration with related basic sciences and engineering. Finally major Subjects have been stressed for research in the future five to ten years in crude oil rheology and application.