Emulsification characteristics of crude oil with a high content of heavy components and its emulsification mechanism in porous media

Abstract

There are occurrences of crude oil emulsification following the fracturing shut-in wells in the Jimushar, but the emulsification characteristics and mechanism remain unclear. In this study, the low-field nuclear magnetic resonance technique and visual microdisplacement tests are employed to investigate the emulsification characteristics of crude oil, along with its emulsification mechanism in porous media. Experimental results revealed that the heavy components (asphaltene and resin) enhance crude oil emulsification by increasing the viscous force of water droplets in the oil phase, affecting the size and stability of small water droplets in the oil phase. In the process of flowing through pore throats, emulsions are formed primarily by stretching and snap-off action, with stretching preferring to form smaller droplet-size emulsions, while snap-off results in the division of larger oil droplets into two smaller ones. The primary factors causing a large oil droplet to be stretched into smaller droplets include changes in the composition of the oil droplet, external tension, and the duration of these forces acting on the droplet. Capillary forces can emulsify crude oil and water at the pore scale, resulting in a reduction of the absorption rate. However, this rate can be restored when the capillary forces are strong enough for the water phase to penetrate and break through the emulsified layer. This study offers valuable insights into understanding the adaptability of the emulsification flooding mechanism.