NMR Imaging of Heavy Crude Oil for Softening Detection under Pleat Treatment

NMR Imaging results of Mongolian heavy crude oil samples subjected to heat treatment are presented in this work. Abundance of dotted inhomogeneities related with high paraffinicity of heavy oil was obtained during imaging investigation. Behavior of heavy oil subjected to heat treatment, dotted inhomogeneities changes, softening and dynamic of melting front were visualized by means of imaging techniques based on both gradient and spin echo. Softening forestalling over the melting front are demonstrated using artificial mark in the form of water drop deposited on the oil surface. In results the NMR imaging proved to be highly effective for investigation of impurity agglomerates in heavy oil and it is perspective for heavy oil engineering development.