Abstract
Due to the use of enhanced recovery processes that necessitate the use of a considerable amount of water, mature petroleum reservoirs generate crude oil with huge amounts of water. The majority of this water gets emulsified into crude oil during production, increasing viscosity and making flow more difficult, resulting in production, transportation, and refining operational challenges that have an influence on corporate productivity. Natural surfactants with a strong potential to create stable emulsions are naturally mixed with crude oils. Because crudes with a high amount of stable emulsion have a lower value, the stable emulsion must be adequately processed to meet industrial requirements. As a result, basic research on natural surfactants that contribute to emulsion stability is examined in order to effectively separate emulsions into oil and water. This would need a review of various emulsification methods as well as the proper formulation for effective demulsification. The petroleum industry recognizes the importance of an efficient demulsification procedure for treating emulsions. Numerous studies on the mechanisms of emulsification and demulsification have been undertaken for decades. To guarantee optimal hydrocarbon output, effective treatment is required. The present paper is to review reported works on the formation of petroleum emulsions, demulsification treatments, and characteristics of fit-for-purpose demulsifiers as well as research trends in emulsion treatment.
Highlights
Crude oil is a type of petroleum which has not been treated yet
The use of synergistic effects by combining one or more of the techniques discussed in the present review could achieve a more effective demulsification process
The occurrence of crude oil emulsions has proven problematic by increasing the cost of production and the use of chemicals that affect the environment
Summary
Crude oil is a type of petroleum which has not been treated yet. In general, geologists agree that over millions of years crude oil was formed out of remains of small aquatic plants and animals living in ancient seas. Water is usually found in crude oil reservoirs or injected into oil production by steam. The simultaneous action of shear and pressure drop on the wellhead, squash, and a valve emulsifies these immiscible fluids It is produced in emulsion at 90 to 95% of the world’s crude oil. The formation of an emulsion is undeniable during the extraction and transport of crude oil. The demulsification process has grown in importance because the development of viscous emulsions of oil, water and clay complicate use of steam and caustic injections or combustion processes for in situ heavy oil recovery. According to [5] Kokal and Aramco (2005), Rough oil is seldom produced on its own It usually is produced from water, which in the production process creates several complications. The water may be produced as free, immediately settling water, or emulsion formation due to the presence of the water
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