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U.S. Department of Energy
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Effect of various surfactants and salts on the viscosity of crude oil-water macro- and microemulsions

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5499644

Macro- and microemulsions composed of low viscosity (20 cp) crude from Mississippi, water and varying amounts of electrolyte and surfactant were analyzed for behavior of the viscosity and interfacial tension of the solutions. The maximum viscosity of a water-oil emulsion almost doubled in the presence of sea water but not with magnesium chloride and sodium chloride. The maximum viscosity and minimum interfacial tension occurred in the presence of a concentration of 1% sodium chloride. The addition of an anionic surfactant gave a greater maximum viscosity and interfacial tension than the addition of a cationic or nonionic surfactant. The presence of 3% sodium chloride decreased the viscosity of the solution containing a nonionic surfactant, but did not affect the cationic surfactant solution. Microemulsions containing the cosurfactant, hexanol, had a greater viscosity than with pentanol. However, the presence of 3% sodium chloride decreased the viscosity.

OSTI ID:
5499644
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English