Emulsion characteristics associated with an alkaline water flooding process

Conference · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1980 · Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6323578

Chang, M M; Wasan, D T

This work presents the results of an investigation of emulsions containing an acidic crude oil from Wilmington field, California, and sodium hydroxide/sodium orthosilicate solutions. The effect of alkaline water formulation on emulsion characteristics was determined. The characteristics of emulsions were evaluated as a function of salinity, alkali type, and alkali concentrations in the aqueous phase. Emulsion stability, as defined by the coalescence rate of oil droplets in water-external emulsion, was determined as a function of salinity and alkali type. The results indicate that there is some optimum salinity in the aqueous phase which needs to be maintained to minimize the problems associated with viscous emulsions. Also, the emulsions formed with sodium hydroxide are different from those formed with sodium orthosilicate, especially in the presence of divalent ion salts, so that different salinities are required to minimize the shear viscosity of emulsions for the 2 systems. 18 references.

• OSTI ID: 6323578
• Report Number(s): CONF-800563-
• Journal Information: Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States), Vol. SPE-9001; Conference: SPE international symposium on oil field and geothermal chemistry, Stanford, CA, USA, 28 May 1980
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
CALIFORNIA
OIL WELLS
EMULSIONS
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
STABILITY
CAUSTIC FLOODING
ENHANCED RECOVERY
QUANTITY RATIO
SALINITY
SHEAR PROPERTIES
SODIUM HYDROXIDES
SODIUM SILICATES
VISCOSITY
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
FEDERAL REGION IX
FLUID INJECTION
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXIDES
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RECOVERY
SILICATES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
USA
WATERFLOODING
WELLS
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production