Characterization of water-in-crude oil emulsions by the NMR self-diffusion technique

Abstract

The NMR self-diffusion technique has been utilized in order to characterize water-in-crude oil emulsions. These emulsions are stabilized by means of indigenous interfacially active components which form a rigid interface between the water and oil components. The results of the NMR study were in good agreement with parallel studies performed using optical microscopy. The NMR self-diffusion technique was used to investigate the influence of ageing, the volume fraction of dispersed phase and the addition of demulsifier on the particle size.