Role of pH and cations on emulsion formation and stability of crude oils

Hao, Xingjuan; Elakneswaran, Yogarajah; Afrin, Sadia; Shimokawara, Mai; Kato, Yoshitake; Kitamura, Ryuta; Hiroyoshi, Naoki

doi:10.1016/j.geoen.2023.211905

Cited by 4 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 45 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…To assess the impact of the temperature on the stability of W/O emulsions in crude oils, the second layers formed at three different temperatures were examined, and the results are presented in Figure . As emulsion particles increase in size, their kinetic stability decreases, as noted in refs and . Furthermore, as the temperature rises, the stability of W/O emulsions formed individually by the nine crude oils diminishes, particularly in the case of oils with lower viscosity.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 69%

“…In our previous study, the emulsion formation was confirmed to be a significant step for analyzing crude oil emulsion stability. Four crude oils (1, 2, 5, and 8) with different density and viscosity were selected to observe emulsion transformation.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 91%

“…Consequently, the specific surface area of these W/O/W emulsion particles increases with higher shear intensity, raising the likelihood of hidden surfactants transitioning into active surfactants. As a result of the higher free energy associated with W/O/W emulsion particles (characterized by two curved water–oil interfaces), their stability tends to be lower than that of W/O emulsion particles . If there is a higher concentration of natural surfactants with activity, a larger quantity of W/O emulsion can be transformed from W/O/W emulsion.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Meanwhile, the resolved water volume and its pH were also measured, where three samples under the same condition were used to obtain the reported average value. The percentage of resolved water was determined as follows: percentage of resolved water = V resolved water V initial water × 100 % For a better understanding of the crude oil property effect, the second layer obtained at 20 °C (Figure c, with homogenization conditions of 30 000 rpm for 15 min) was measured by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR–FTIR) spectroscopy, where FT/IR-6200 served as the data analyzer.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Undesirable emulsification has become a critical issue in the petroleum industry. − Crude oil emulsions are encountered during the initial stages of the oil recovery process . Even in low-salinity water flooding (LSWF), a popular method for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) in recent years, emulsion formation can pose challenges as a result of aqueous-phase injection. , Emulsification occurs during oil transportation, processing, and storage as well. , Emulsions, with their larger particle sizes compared to oil or water, can obstruct porous media in reservoirs, leading to inefficient displacement and reduced oil recovery. , The increase in viscosity induced by added water in emulsions can result in elevated pressure drops . The consequences of emulsification in the petroleum industry are far-reaching, including a decrease in oil quality, higher transportation costs, catalyst poisoning in refineries downstream, and corrosion of facilities, pipelines, and tanks. ,, This not only escalates production costs but also reduces the yield of valuable crude oil .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Impact of the Temperature, Homogenization Condition, and Oil Property on the Formation and Stability of Crude Oil Emulsion

Hao,

Elakneswaran,

Shimokawara

et al. 2024

Energy Fuels

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions have garnered significant attention in the petroleum industry as a result of their adverse effects, such as reduced oil recovery, increased pressure drop, and equipment corrosion. This study investigated the influences of the temperature, homogenization conditions, and crude oil properties on emulsion formation and stability. We focused on nine crude oils with varying viscosities, observing the emulsion formation process and analyzing functional groups, percentage of resolved water, and emulsion particle sizes. Under all conditions, W/O emulsions for most oils underwent a transformation from multiple emulsions, including water-in-oil-inwater (W/O/W) and water-in-oil-in-water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/ W/O/W) emulsions. As the temperature increased, the variation in the W/O emulsion amount at the end of the transformation differed on the basis of oil viscosity, while emulsion stability showed no significant differences. However, W/O emulsion stability increased after 24 h of aging at high temperatures. Additionally, four hypotheses regarding the final changes in the W/O emulsion amount with the temperature were consistent with the emulsion formation process. With regard to the effect of homogenization conditions, increasing shear intensity resulted in a larger amount of W/O emulsion with high stability. This was attributed to changes in the activity of different natural surfactants with increasing shear intensity. Furthermore, the final amount of W/O emulsion was primarily influenced by hydrogen-bonded O−H, followed by hydrogen-bonded N−H. The mechanisms underlying the influence of different factors on emulsion formation and stability are described.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 69%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 91%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%