Crude oil characterization with a new dynamic emulsion stability technique

• Published in: Fuel (Guildford) 2021-04, Vol.290, p.120070, Article 120070
• Main Authors: Patil, Amit, Arnesen, Kamilla, Holte, Anja, Farooq, Umer, Brunsvik, Anders, Størseth, Trond, Johansen, Stein Tore
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acids; Analytical chemistry; Analytical chemistry FT-ICR APPI Mass Spectroscopy; Asphaltene; Asphaltenes; Chemical composition; Crude oil; Crude oil-water emulsions; Droplet size relaxation coefficients; Droplets; Dynamic stability; Emulsions; Flow stability; Inertial and viscous subrange; Interface stability; Interfacial properties; Interfacial stability; Naphthenic acids; Oil characterization; Relaxation time; Stability analysis; Surface active components; Surface chemistry; Surface tension; Waxes
• ISSN: 0016-2361; 1873-7153
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2020.120070

[Display omitted] •Crude oil-water emulsion stability in a stirred tank cell.•Inertial and viscous subrange droplet stability study with dispersion density coefficients.•Characterization of Interfacial tension with pendent drop and chemical analysis with FT-ICR MS help.•Integrated characterizing the droplet stability based on surface chemistry. Crude oils due to its profuse chemical composition produce complex dispersion and emulsion flow behavior with water. The interfacial properties and surface chemistry of oil and water influence heavily the stability, flow behavior and separation of oil and water. In order to understand the crude oil/water emulsion stability better, a new technique is proposed that involves the combined use of a stirred tank cell with interfacial tension and analytical chemistry measurement. Droplet stability parameters like droplet size equilibrium and relaxation time scales have been evaluated and corroborated with surface chemistry of the crude oils. A deeper understanding on how surface-active component like asphaltenes, naphthenic acids and waxes proportion present in crude oils influence emulsion droplet stability is discussed. The 3 crude oils Gjøa, Grane and Bragge were characterized for asphaltenes, naphthanic acids and waxes which was further corroborated with their respective emulsion droplet behavior.