![]() ![]() This middle emulsion layer will often remain as an emulsion indefinitely.Īn emulsion composed of extremely small droplets that shows no tendency to separate into water and oil is known as a “tight” or “stable” emulsion. Free water, begin the heaviest, would fall to the bottom.Oil emulsion would remain in the middle. ![]() Gas, being the lightest, rises to the top.If you were to see the inside a separator, it would look like this: Free water will settle quite readily from oil. The water that is not emulsified is known as free water. Not all of the saltwater produced with the oil is emulsified. How Do You Separate a Crude Oil Emulsion? The emulsifying agent may be naturally occurring elements like paraffin or chemicals used when drilling the well. This film is a layer of emulsifying agent, and it prohibits the droplets from bumping into one another so they can coalesce. Each of these tiny spheres is surrounded by a tough film. If you looked at the emulsion through a microscope, you would see a great number of tiny spheres of water mixed throughout the oil. It may have a fluffy appearance and feel, which is caused by gas bubbles trapped in the emulsion. In other words, the emulsion is thicker and will not flow as readily as oil or water. Generally, the viscosity of the emulsion is higher than the viscosity of the oil or water. For example, a dark green crude oil when emulsified will often appear a muddy brown color. In appearance, the emulsion resembles neither oil nor water. Water-In-Oil and Oil-In-Water Emulsion Examples Mixing is even more pronounced in pumping or gas lift wells. Upon reaching the surface, more violent action takes place as the fluids pass through a choke. While the emulsion travels up the tubing toward the surface, mixing and agitation continue and intensify as gas bubbles are released. When water and oil in a reservoir enter the well bore through the perforations in the casing, large pressure differences are created which violently mix them together. Rather, it is formed when oil and water are produced together with a great amount of agitation. This is called a “reverse emulsion.” How are Oil Emulsions Formed?Ī crude oil emulsion, also called a petroleum emulsion, does not normally exist downhole in a producing formation. Occasionally, an emulsion occurs that contains droplets of oil dispersed in water. In a crude oil emulsion, the quantity of water droplets is usually less than 10%. It contains fine water droplets dispersed in oil. An oil emulsion is a mixture of oil, water, and an emulsifying agent. ![]()
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