Effects of Demulsifiers on the Droplet Size and Ashphaltene Content of an Oil Tight Emulsion

Typically, water in oil emulsion presence in a production facility always gives rise to an increased flow assurance issues such as corrosion, increased cost of managing surface equipment such as pumps, tanks etc, overloading of surface equipment, increased cost of pumping wet crude, on so on. This can ultimately affect oil production rate from the wellbore to surface facility. Chemical de-emulsifiers (amine group) wereadded in varied proportions to crude oil emulsionsin a virtual production flow station modelled to replicate an improved oil recovery project in the Niger Delta area. In order to enhance the demulsification process of the crude oil emulsion, simulation tests were run to determine the effects of the demulsifiers on droplet size and aspaltene content of electrically stable emulsions. The factors influencing stability and results on how theycan enhance emulsificationof tight crude emulsion werediscussed. The droplet size of the tight crude oil emulsion was observed to have increasedby one percent in value after de-emulsifier injection at a constant temperature and flow rate. A proportional reduction in asphaltene content was also observed when the concentration and flow rate of the demulsifiers were increased at a constant temperature.When matched against established electrical stability trendline,it showed a decrease in the electrical stability of the emulsion formed as a result of these activities as described above.