Experimental investigation of various physical factors affecting the stability of water-in-oil emulsions in oil production.

摘要

Produced fluids from some wells in certain Saudi Arabian oil fields remain in the form of a stable emulsion before entering the Gas Oil Separation Plant (GOSP). This causes significant problems for the smooth operation of the GOSP as a result thousands of barrels of oil per day can not be produced. A laboratory system able to simulate various aspects of emulsion flow in the field was designed. Using this system we examined phase separation of field emulsions under dynamic conditions at temperatures and pressures similar to those existing at GOSPs in the oil fields under the influence of an electrostatic field. Also we examined the effectiveness of various demulsifying chemicals as well as the combined effects of temperature and demulsifier on breaking field emulsions. Finally an optimization study was done to find the optimum concentration of the best demulsifying chemicals.;Based on the results obtained it is concluded that at reservoir temperatures of about 220