Interfacial tension between oil and seawater as a function of dispersant dosage

Abstract

This paper presents a compilation of data describing interfacial tension between oil and seawater (IFT_(oil-water)) as a function of dispersant dosage. The data are from several earlier laboratory studies simulating subsea oil blowouts to evaluate subsea injection of dispersant (SSDI). Three dispersants were tested with four oil types to give a large variation in oil properties (paraffinic, light, waxy and asphaltenic). A general expression for IFT_(oil-water) as a function of dispersant dosage is proposed based on the compiled data. IFT_(oil-water) versus dosage is needed by algorithms to predict oil droplet sizes from subsea releases. However, such a relationship based on averaged data should be used with care and IFT measurements on the actual oil-dispersant combination should always be preferred.