![]() A comprehensive presentation and further basic information can be found in an encyclopedia of emulsion technology, Becher’s classic book on the subject, and recent books on petroleum emulsions. There are several good general references available for more detailed and diversified discussions on crude oil emulsions. The chapter looks at the characteristics, occurrence, formation, stability, handling, and breaking of produced oilfield emulsions. The primary focus is on the fundamentals and the application of available technologies in resolving emulsions. This chapter is limited to the produced oilfield emulsions at the wellhead and in the wet-crude handling facilities. The chapter on emulsion treating in the Facilities section of this handbook deals with the hardware of emulsion-treating equipment. These emulsions must be treated to remove the dispersed water and associated inorganic salts to meet crude specifications for transportation, storage, and export and to reduce corrosion and catalyst poisoning in downstream processing facilities.Įmulsions occur in almost all phases of oil production and processing: inside reservoirs, wellbores, and wellheads at wet-crude handling facilities and gas/oil separation plants and during transportation through pipelines, crude storage, and petroleum processing. The problem is usually at its worst during the winter because of lower surface temperatures. Emulsions can create high-pressure drops in flow lines, lead to an increase in demulsifier use, and sometimes cause trips or upsets in wet-crude handling facilities. Emulsions can be difficult to treat and may cause several operational problems in wet-crude handling facilities and gas/oil separating plants. A regular oilfield emulsion is a dispersion of water droplets in oil. Produced water may be produced as "free" water (i.e., water that will settle out fairly rapidly), and it may be produced in the form of an emulsion. ![]() Furthermore, sellable crude oil must comply with certain product specifications, including the amount of basic sediment and water (BS&W) and salt, which means that the produced water must be separated from the oil to meet crude specifications. ![]() The produced water must be separated from the oil, treated, and disposed of properly. The water creates several problems and usually increases the unit cost of oil production. Crude oil is seldom produced alone because it generally is commingled with water.
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