Method of resolving oil and water emulsions

摘要

Oil-in-water (reverse) and water-in-oil (obverse) emulsions in crude oil production and processing systems are resolved by addition of a treatment solution comprising a copolymer of acryloxyethyltrimethyl ammonium chloride (AETAC) and acrylamide. The mole percent of AETAC is above about 20% and the molecular weight (grams per mole) of the copolymer is above about 2 million. The treatment solution is effective in matrix which include high percentages of oil and at high temperatures.