Characterization of Physico-Chemical Properties of Oil/Water Systems: Interfacial Behavior Prediction

Abstract

The tractability of petroleum is intimately related to the type of emulsion that is formed during its production. The characteristics of water/oil and oil/water emulsions depend on some factors such as the density and the composition of the oil. In this work, the properties of oils coming from the Campos Basin, Brazil, were evaluated by means of water-in-oil emulsion physico-chemical, interfacial, and characterization tests. Such properties have been correlated with the tractability of the petroleum in order to establish a behavior prediction method based on the properties of such petroleum. The main tool used in this work was the chemiometry technique. Through this method, it was possible to conclude that density, viscosity, surface tension, and nickel content were the properties that influenced the separation of the oils. Density, pour point, initial temperature of crystal formation (TIAC), characterization factor, and nitrogen content were the properties that influenced the diameter of the emulsion drops.

Keywords:

• Emulsion
• Chemiometry
• Flocculation
• Demulsifaction
• Particle size

Acknowledgments

ANP/FINEP/CTPETRO, CNPq and GEQUIM/CENPES/PETROBRAS.