Page 157 - Petroleum and Gas Field Processing

Figure 4 Photomicrograph of loose emulsion containing about 30% emulsified
water in the form of droplets ranging in diameter from about 60 mm downward.

in Figure 4. A tough film surrounds these droplets; this is called a
stabilizing film. Emulsifying agents, which are commonly found in crude
oil or water in the natural state or introduced in the system as
contaminants during drilling and/or maintenance operations, create this
film. Some of the common emulsifiers are as follows:
1. Asphaltic materials
2. Resinous substances
3. Oil-soluble organic acids
4. Finely dispersed solid materials such as sand, carbon, calcium,
silica, iron, zinc, aluminum sulfate, iron sulfide, and so on.
These emulsifying agents support the film formation encasing the
water droplets, hence the stability of an emulsion.

Copyright 2003 by Marcel Dekker, Inc. All Rights Reserved.