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Mechanisms, performance optimization and new developments in demulsification processes for oil and gas applications
Abstract
The present review discusses new developments and optimization of demulsification processes in oil and gas applications, and highlights the critical parameters. Discussed are the primary mechanisms of demulsification, as well as the strategies for developing optimum demulsifiers. Demulsification mechanisms are presented in the context of emulsion stability principles which are equally applicable to the destabilization of crude oil-water emulsions. The present paper is a concise overview of the various surfactant classes and their structure-activity relationship. It correlates demulsification optimization with surfactant properties and their applications. These classes include, but are not limited to pluronic block co-polymers, as well as amine- and siloxane based nonionic surfactants. The emphasis is on providing some strategies for achieving optimum crude oil-water separation efficiency by tuning the demulsifier to the intended application and crude oil properties. A brief overview of unconventional analytical techniques, which reach beyond the standard demulsifier evaluation methods, i.e., Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIR), and in particular, low resolution NMR relaxometry, highlights their role in monitoring demulsification processes.
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“A demulsifier with an RSN value < 13 is considered insoluble in water or hydrophobic, while 13 <RSN>17 is dispersible at low concentrations, and demulsifiers with an RSN > 17 are soluble in water or hydrophilic (Grenoble and Trabelsi, 2018).”
From Demulsifier Selection Guideline for Destabilizing Water-in-Oil Emulsion for both non-EOR and EOR Application (2023) · cites this paper as Grenoble and Trabelsi, 2018
In the citing paper
“Relative solubility number (RSN) is an empirically determined value that characterizes water solubility and the hydrophobic-hydrophilic character of a surfactant.”
From Demulsifier Selection Guideline for Destabilizing Water-in-Oil Emulsion for both non-EOR and EOR Application (2023) · cites this paper as Grenoble and Trabelsi, 2018
In the citing paper
“Both references support the result that a lower RSN (less water soluble) demulsifier works better than a demulsifier with high RSN in resolving the emulsion for a crude oil with high asphaltene content.”
From Demulsifier Selection Guideline for Destabilizing Water-in-Oil Emulsion for both non-EOR and EOR Application (2023) · cites this paper as Grenoble and Trabelsi, 2018
In the citing paper
“Grenoble and Trabelsi, (2018) also supported this theory and mentioned that asphaltenes, which have a more lipophilic character, require a more hydrophilic demulsifier (oil soluble or less water soluble demulsifier) to shift the hydrophilic lipophilic deviation (HLD) towards zero.”
From Demulsifier Selection Guideline for Destabilizing Water-in-Oil Emulsion for both non-EOR and EOR Application (2023) · cites this paper as Grenoble and Trabelsi, 2018
In the citing paper
“Grenoble and Trabelsi agreed on the relationship of HLB with demulsifier performance by mentioning that the initial selection of the most suitable surfactant or surfactant combination based on the intrinsic HLB may be a valid starting point but should not be limiting for fine-tuning the system (Grenoble and Trabelsi, 2018).”
From Demulsifier Selection Guideline for Destabilizing Water-in-Oil Emulsion for both non-EOR and EOR Application (2023) · cites this paper as Grenoble and Trabelsi, 2018
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Research works printed but not linked: 1
- Ko S, Kim ES, Park S, Daigle H, Milner TE, Huh C, Bennetzen MV, Geremia GA, SPE #181893-MS, SPE Annual Technical Conference, Sep 2016, Dubai. UAE.
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Metadata
- Authors
- Grenoble, Z., & Trabelsi, S.
- Corresponding author
- Grenoble, Zlata
- Venue
- Advances in Colloid and Interface Science
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2018-10
- Volume
- 260
- Pages
- 32-45
- ISSN
- 0001-8686 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2885698720
- Cited by
- 120
- References
- 72
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 28 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 5
- FWCI
- 0.79
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Advances in Colloid and Interface Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- University of Texas at Austin
- Maersk Oil
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Analytical Chemistry › Petroleum Processing and Analysis
- Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Physical and Theoretical Chemistry › Surfactants and Colloidal Systems
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Fuel Technology › Enhanced Oil Recovery Techniques
- Keywords
- demulsification, crude oil-water emulsions, emulsion stability, demulsifiers, surfactants, structure-activity relationship, Pluronic block copolymers, nonionic surfactants, oil-water separation, near-infrared spectroscopy, NMR relaxometry
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