Ionic Liquids As Viscosity Modifiers for Heavy and Extra-Heavy Crude Oils

In this paper, the potential of using various types of ionic liquids to reduce the viscosity of heavy oils and extra-heavy oils has been explored. Various properties of the ionic liquids such as type of head group, length of tail group, and the charge density of counter-ions have been studied. The results indicate that the addition of ionic liquids, in very small quantities, reduces the viscosity of heavy oils. The results are attributed to the interaction between the ionic liquids and the asphaltene molecules. These results set the stage for further research on the viscosity reduction of heavy oils by the use of ionic liquids.