Utilising Jatropha Oil as a gap filler for energy balance in Sudan’s reconstruction: case study of Fula North East Heavy Crude Oil, Izzet A. Almubarak
Izzet A. Almubarak
Faculty of Engineering
University of Khartoum
Khartoum
Sudan
ORCID: 0009-0000-4204-3322
Paper Type: Literature Review
Received: 14 May 2025 / Revised: 28 May 2026 / Accepted: 29 May 2026 / Published: 10 July 2026
DOI: 10.47556/J.IJSR.13.1-2.2026.4
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how jatropha oil can be used to reduce the viscosity of Sudanese heavy crude oil with the intention of increasing the throughput and fill a gap following the depletion of conventional oil fields in Sudan.
Design: The paper is both research and a case study that examines the impact of jatropha oil on the viscosity of heavy crude oil. The case study shows how the viscosity of Fula North East (FNE) heavy crude oil can be reduced by using jatropha oil as a diluent.
Research Limitations: Being lab-based, research is limited by controlled conditions that may not reflect real-world complexities, scalability challenges, and constrained sample sizes or timeframes. Results may lack generalisability and require field validation. Instrument precision and model assumptions can further affect accuracy and applicability.
Findings: As far as viscosity reduction for FNE Heavy Crude oil is concerned, the performance of jatropha oil proved to be the best among all solvents, including hydrocarbon solvents.
Originality: This is an original paper based on lab-based doctoral research of novel experiments, unique methodologies and new findings under controlled conditions. It introduces innovative approaches that provide first-time insights into specific scientific questions. Such work contributes significantly to advancing knowledge, even if conducted on a small scale.
Implications: Jatropha oil can provide a global solution for flow assurance problems concerning crudes that are similar in properties of FNE Heavy Crude Oil and can be utilised as an effective solvent for viscosity reduction purpose.
Keywords: Jatropha Oil; Biofuel; Energy Security; Sudan Reconstruction; Produced Water; Carbon Sink; Renewable Energy; Post-war Recovery.
Citation: Almubarak, I. A. (2026): Utilising Jatropha Oil as a gap filler for energy balance in Sudan’s reconstruction: case study of Fula North East Heavy Crude Oil. International Journal of Sudan Research (IJSR), Vol 13, Nos. 1/2, pp. 51-69.