Visbreaker

Visbreaker is a term used in certain contexts, particularly within the oil and gas industry, to refer to a type of equipment designed to reduce the viscosity of heavy crude oils. Heavy crude oils possess high viscosity, meaning they are thick and flow poorly at ambient temperatures. This characteristic makes them difficult to extract, transport, and process.

Visbreakers are employed to alter the physical properties of these oils, making them more manageable. The process typically involves heating the crude oil to a specific temperature, often in conjunction with pressure, to induce thermal cracking. This cracking breaks down the larger, more viscous hydrocarbon molecules into smaller, less viscous ones.

The primary goal of a visbreaker is to improve the flow characteristics of the crude oil. This can lead to increased production rates from wells, reduced energy consumption during transportation through pipelines, and enhanced efficiency in downstream refining processes. Visbreaking is a less severe form of thermal cracking compared to processes like coking, and its aim is not necessarily to produce valuable lighter products but to render the heavy oil more usable. The specific design and operating parameters of a visbreaker are tailored to the properties of the particular heavy crude oil being treated.