Characterization of Oil−Water Emulsion and Its Use in Enhanced Oil Recovery

Abstract

Oil-in-water emulsions are important in the petroleum industry as a displacing fluid for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). To investigate the efficiency of oil−water emulsions in EOR, experiments were performed to characterize the emulsions in terms of their physicochemical properties and size distribution of the dispersed oil droplet in water phase. In the present study commercially available gear oil was used to prepare oil-in-water emulsions. Flooding experiments were also carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of the emulsion as displacing fluid for enhanced oil recovery. Substantial additional recoveries (more than 20% of original oil in place) over conventional water flooding were obtained in the present investigation.