Water viscosity

Water viscosity

The formation water (brine) isothermal viscosity correlation is published by McCain in 1991.

Water viscosity

Math and Physics

$\mu_{w1} = AT^{-B}$

where

$A = 109.574 - 8.40564 C_W + 0.313314 C_W^2 + 0.00872213 C_W^3$

$B = -1.12166 + 2.63951(10^{-2}) C_W - 6.79461(10^{-4}) C_W^2 - 5.47119(10^{-5}) C_W^3 + 1.55586(10^{-6}) C_W^4$

$\mu_{w} = \mu_{w1} (0.9994 + 4.0295(10^{-5})\ P + 3.1062(10^{-9})\ P^2)$

Example. Calculating water viscosity

Input data

$C_{mg/l} = 74289.3$

$SG_w = 1.0476$

Calculate water viscosity at 3176 psia and 165°F?

Solution

$C_W = 74289.3 / 1.0476 / 10000 = 7.1%$

$A=68.83262779$

$B=0.984227021$

$\mu_{w1} = 0.45$

$\mu_w = \mu_{w1} 1.1587 = 0.52 cP$

Nomenclature

$C_{mg/l}$ = pressure correction, res bbl/STB

$C_W$ = water salinity or weight percent solids, %

$P$ = pressure, psia

$T$ = Temperature, °F

$\mu_w$ = water viscosity, cP

$\mu_{w1}$ = water viscosity at 1 atm, cP

See also

Water solids concentration