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Separating emulsions

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Separating a crude-oil/water emulsion into its bulk phases of oil and water usually involves three basic steps:


(Coagulation). Counteracting the stabilizing effect of the emulsifier destabilizes an emulsion. To increase the probability of coalescence of dispersed water droplets on contact, the tough skin or film surrounding the dispersed water droplets must be weakened and broken. This usually is accomplished by adding heat and/or a properly selected, interfacially active chemical compound to the emulsion. (This primarily is the task of the chemical treatment program.)


(Flocculation). After the films that encase the dispersed droplets have been broken or sufficiently weakened, the droplets must coalesce into drops that are large enough to settle out of the continuous phase of oil. The rate of contact of dispersed water droplets needs to be high, but without creating high shear forces. This usually is accomplished by mechanically inducing collisions between drops or by subjecting the destabilized emulsion to an electrostatic field.

Gravity Separation

(Sedimentation). Next, there must be a quiet period of settling to allow the coalesced drops to settle out of the oil by gravity. This requires a sufficient residence time and a favorable flow pattern in a tank or vessel that will allow the coalesced drops of water to separate from the oil.



Noteworthy papers in OnePetro


External links


See also

Emulsion treating subsystems

Sampling and analyzing emulsions

Emulsion treating methods