Process-stream emulsions testing

Sampling Process Streams. The most critical step in testing process-stream emulsions is to procure a representative sample from the total produced fluids. Test results will otherwise be meaningless. A good sample therefore must be (2) ... 

Monomer conversion has traditionally been determined gravitimetrically by drying emulsion samples to constant weight. The procedure is slow, requiring several hours for analysis, and precludes automated data acquisition. A new method has been developed based on the DMA-series digital densitometers manufactured by Anton Paar of Austria, and marketed in the United States by Mettier Instrument Corporation. (Very recently Dr. Kirk Abbey made us aware of his parallel work in these directions and of some initial data reported from his laboratory [1, 2]). This instrument is capable of immediate determination of the density of any test fluid, and, if equipped with a flow cell, can continuously monitor the density of a process stream. Results are displayed locally and can be transmitted digitally to a data acquisition computer. 

This chapter will briefly review the nature and the consequential sources of oil-field emulsions encountered in the handling of produced fluids recovered at a wellhead and subsequently processed (Le., ""broken ) at central treatment facilities. The principal factors and agents commonly employed in the separation of both the oil and the water phases found in these produced-fluid streams will be discussed. Subsequently, this chapter will describe sampling and testing techniques that assist in characterizing a process stream s composition and thus in evaluating the effectiveness of a particular separation process. Finally, the major components of a typical oil-field emulsion-treatment facility will be described. Selection and design criteria of appropriate separation equipment will also be presented. 

To effectively monitor the separation efficiency of the particular treatment equipment, two specific methods are employed centrifugation (discussed briefly under Testing Procedures ) and the Dean-Stark analysis. The Dean-Stark analysis determines the fractional composition of oil-hydrocarbon, water, and solids of an emulsion stream by using a distillation process. Its results for heavy-oil emulsions are generally more reliable than those obtained by centrifugation however, the results of centrifugation are... 

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