PVT, phase behavior and viscosity measurements and modeling of the ternary and binary systems of carbon dioxide + heavy hydrocarbon (n-eicosane) + light gas (ethane or propane)

Accurate knowledge of the multicomponent phase behavior of carbon dioxide (CO2) with hydrocarbon fluids is needed in the design, operation and development of carbon dioxide-based enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques. In particular, understanding the phase behavior of CO2 + n-eicosane + light hydrocarbon gas (ethane or propane) ternary systems is of great value, In recent years, the possibility of sequestering CO2 (a green house gas) in underground (oil) reservoirs has been proposed. The feasibility will also be affected by the phase behavior of CO2 in the presence of chemical species present in the reservoirs. Unfortunately, there is not enough data available in literature about these systems. In order to fill this gap, this project was undertaken.; This work consists of experimental measurements of thermodynamic properties such as density, viscosity and phase behavior of pure components, binary and ternary mixtures made of CO2, n-eicosane and light hydrocarbon gases such as ethane and propane. All of the measuring instruments and PVT cell were calibrated and their accuracy was verified with data available in the literatures for mixtures close to the systems of interest in this project prior to actual data collection. After collecting the required experimental data, a cubic equation of state such as Peng-Robinson is used to model the phase behavior of the desired systems. In addition, commercial software like PVTsim will also be used.; For PVT and phase behavior measurements, two DBR PVT cells available in Petroleum Research and Studies Center of Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research were utilized.; Preliminary experimental results indicate that the collected data are accurate. The accuracy of the equipment was verified by measuring liquid density of pure CO2 and ethane and comparing the data with available and reliable data in literature. Similar verification of accuracy was performed for binary and ternary systems and satisfactory results have been found.