STUDIES ON THE PLOW PROPERTIES OF VACUUM GAS OIL FRACTION FROM BOMBAY HIGH CRUDE OIL IN RELATION TO ITS COMPOSITION

The vacuum gas oil fraction 375-Crude oil is highly waxy in nature associated with high pour point (48°C). Influence of various hydrocarbon constituents viz. n-alkane, aromatic and iso + cycloparaffins on the cold flow properties of this fraction was studied. Also the dependency of nature and boiling range of liquid hydrocarbon solvent matrix on the response towards cold flow properties as a function of n-alkane concentration have been determined. It is observed that the flow properties viz. pour point, plastic viscosity and yield stress in the non-Newtonian region are a result of wax liquid matrix interaction.