Method of produce low viscosity stable crude oil emulsion

摘要

A heavy hydrocarbon, oil-in-water emulsion that has a relatively low viscosity for improved transport is disclosed. The emulsion is produced by combining the heavy hydrocarbon with an aqueous solution of emulsifier with agitation. The emulsifier has an HLB value of about 13 to about 16. The emulsifier can be anionic, nonionic, amphoteric, or a mixture thereof. Stirring is effected at medium shear values of about 0.1 sec-1 to about 20 sec-1 and at a mixer speed of 50 to 2000 rpm. The mixer imparts sufficient power and shear to the emulsion so that a mean oil droplet size of about 30 mu m is obtained.