Recent Development in the Understanding of the Stability and Destabilization of Water-in-Crude Oil Emulsions

摘要

A set of over 20 crude oils and condensates have been thoroughly characterised in order to gain mfurther insight into the correlation between the properties of the samples and their ability to form stable water-in-oil emulsions. The samples, originating from the North Sea, West Africa and France, were selected in order to span a wide range of crude oil properties. A large matrix of data on the samples have been collected, including standard characterising parameters such as density, viscosity, interfacial tension, molecular weight and TAN (Total Acid Number). In addition a SARA-fractionation procedure (Saturates, Aromatics, Resins, Asphaltenes) by HPLC (Aske et al. (2001)) and a method for probing interfacial elasticity by use of oscillating pendant drop instrumentation (Benjamins et al (1996) and Aske et al. (to be submitted)) has been developed. All samples have also been characterised by both infrared and near infrared spectroscopy.