The Viscosity Losses of New and Sheared Multlweight Oil Formulations Determined at Multiple Shear Rates

The high temperature viscosities of selected oil formulations were determined over a broad range of shear rates using refined techniques of applied rotational viscometry. The high shear rate measurements (1×10⁵ to 2×10⁶ sec⁻¹) were made with a Tapered Bearing Simulator (TBS) viscometer fitted with a precisely balanced rotor; the low shear rate measurements were made using a newly designed SavanTech test cell coupled to a Brookfield viscometer modified for this application. Unique graphical profiles were generated depicting the viscometric performance of currently used polymeric thickeners.