Method for in situ forming of unstable oil in water emulsion, especially as well servicing fluid

摘要

A method for in situ forming of an unstable oil in water emulsion includes the steps of providing a mixture of an aqueous alkali salt solution and a surfactant, and pumping the mixture down a well containing a crude hydrocarbon having an API gravity of less than or equal to 26 so as to provide an unstable emulsion in the well, the unstable emulsion having the hydrocarbon as a dispersed phase and the solution as a continuous phase and having a ratio by weight of the hydrocarbon to the solution of at least about 50:50.