The results indicated that three-phase separation took place slowly in the heavy oil emulsion and the emulsion middle layer finally formed between the oil phase and water phase, and the demulsification was mainly caused by the dispersed phase droplets sedimentation.
The demulsification process of the heavy oil emulsion was described as well.
The flow test results showed that heavy O/W emulsion can result in more than 99% permeability reductions in sandpacks.
The oil water separation and dispersed phase droplet or flocculate droplet or flocculate size variation in the heavy oil emulsion were analyzed by using the Turbiscan Lab stability analyzer.
Comparing the characteristic of the demulsification process of the heavy oil emulsion before and after the addition of demulsifier, it indicated that the coalescence of the dispersed phase droplets is the controlling factor and crucial step of the demulsification.
The photo is then printed on paper coated with a heavy gelatine emulsion.
During production of conventional as well as heavy oils, emulsions occur at well bore, in pipelines, and at surface facilities.
A series of sandpack flow tests were conducted to evaluate the plugging performance of the heavy O/W emulsions, emulsified using 0.1 wt% Span 60 0.1 wt% Tween 80 0.025 wt% NaOH.
In this work, pipeline flow properties of heavy oil in water emulsions and their feasibility to reduce the elevated pressure drop related to the viscous oil flow in pipelines are assessed.
When determining viscosities of complex fluids that contain solids such as heavy oils, emulsions or slurries, the convectional viscometer types, i.e., concentric cylinders, or cone and plate, are often not suitable.
Water-wet porous particles are used for the first time in a coalescing column to enhance the separation of water from water-in-heavy oil emulsions.
