Destabilization of Water‐in‐Crude Oil Emulsions Based on Recombined Oil Samples at Various Pressures

Abstract

Abstract This paper describes how recombination of a crude oil with various gases [N2, CO2, CH4, C2H6, and dry natural gas (NG)] influences the stability of the concomitant water‐in‐oil emulsions. The resulting separation behavior for recombined samples is compared with the live crude oil sample for separation pressures equal to the bubble point of the live sample (15 bar) and below (10 and 1 bar). The experiments were performed by mixing the recombined oil samples with synthetic formation water by a pressure drop through a choke valve and into a vertical high‐pressure separation cell. Experimental parameters were separation pressure, pressure drop and water content. The stability of the resulting water‐in‐oil emulsions was monitored visually as a function of time, and is discussed in terms of residual gas content, droplet sizes, and emulsification conditions.