The formation of oil-field emulsions

✍ Scribed by D.B. Dow

• Book ID: 104125635
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1925
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 62 KB
• Volume: 200
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0016-0032
• DOI: 10.1016/s0016-0032(25)90215-3

✦ Synopsis

TILE appearance of water in an oil field is the forerunner of various difficulties, and probably represents the greatest technical problem that the producer must face. Water conditions bear directly on the quantity of oil recovered, and the length of the life of a field. Presence of water increases the cost of operation, for example, lifting costs. On account of the corrosive action of oilfield waters on pumps and other equipment, frequent replacement of equipment is necessary.

Furthermore, water may affect the marketability of the oil produced, as detrimental emulsions of water in oil (" B. S.," " cut oil," etc.) are often formed.

The writer has recently completed a study of oil-field emulsions. The factors responsible for the formation of emulsions are described in Serial 2683 and methods now utilized for dehydrating oil-field emulsions are discussed in Serial 2688. FRICTION FACTORS FOR METAL-MINE AIRWAYS.