Crude Oil Demulsifier Additive

In oil exploitation, oil-soluble demulsifier is aimed at the water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions formed during the crude oil extraction process. That is, water exists in the form of tiny droplets dispersed in the continuous phase of crude oil, wrapped by a stable emulsion film. The core of China demulsifier demulsification principle is to destroy the stability of the emulsion film, promote the coalescence and sedimentation of tiny water droplets, and ultimately achieve oil-water separation. 

The specific process can be decomposed into the following key steps:  

1."Targeted Adsorption" of Oil-Soluble Demulsifier: Penetrating into the Oil-Water Interface The molecules of oil-soluble demulsifier for crude oil usually has an amphiphilic structure: one end is a lipophilic group (such as long-chain alkyl or aromatic groups), which can be well-compatible with and dissolved in crude oil (oil phase); the other end is a hydrophilic group (such as hydroxyl, amino, or ether bonds), which is polar. When the demulsifier for crude oil is injected into the crude oil emulsion, the lipophilic group enables it to quickly dissolve and diffuse into the oil phase. Eventually, through the polar effect of the hydrophilic group, it is directionally adsorbed on the oil-water interface (the emulsion film on the surface of water droplets), replacing the original emulsifier molecules. 

2. Destroying the Stability of the Emulsion Film: Weakening the Interfacial Tension and Film Strength The stable emulsion film in crude oil emulsion is mainly composed of natural emulsifiers in crude oil (such as asphaltenes, resins, naphthenic acid soaps, clay particles, etc.). They are closely arranged on the surface of water droplets, forming a mechanical barrier to prevent the coalescence of water droplets. Oil-soluble demulsifier for crude oil destroy this film in the following ways: 

Reducing Interfacial Tension: After the demulsifier molecules are adsorbed on the oil-water interface, they can significantly reduce the interfacial tension between oil and water, decreasing the interfacial energy. The originally stable tiny droplets are more likely to deform and collide. 

Replacing and Displacing Natural Emulsifiers: The adsorption ability of demulsifier additive for crude oil molecules is stronger than that of natural emulsifiers. They gradually displace and replace the natural emulsifier molecules on the emulsion film, causing the emulsion film structure to become sparse and discontinuous. 

Destroying the Mechanical Strength of the Film: The film formed by natural emulsifiers has certain toughness and elasticity. However, the molecular structure of demulsifier additive for crude oil (such as polyethers, amines) is simpler and cannot form a tight and tough film structure. As a result, the mechanical strength of the emulsion film is greatly reduced, and it is prone to rupture when there are collisions or changes in temperature and pressure. 

3. Promoting the Coalescence of Water Droplets: From "Tiny Droplets" to "Large Droplets" After the emulsion film is destroyed, the originally separated tiny water droplets lose their barrier and coalesce under the following effects: 

Brownian Motion and Collision: Tiny water droplets collide with each other due to Brownian motion. The interface under the action of the demulsifier additive for crude oil loses its stability, and after collision, they do not bounce off but merge to form larger water droplets. 

Gravity and Buoyancy Driving: The density of the coalesced large water droplets (about 1g/cm³) is much greater than that of crude oil (about 0.8 - 0.9g/cm³). Under the action of gravity, they gradually sink and separate from the crude oil (oil phase). 

Synergistic Process Enhancement: In oil gathering and transportation, the demulsification process is often accompanied by heating (such as wellhead associated heating, pipeline heating) or stirring. An increase in temperature can reduce the viscosity of crude oil, reduce the movement resistance of water droplets, and further accelerate coalescence and sedimentation. 

4. Assisted Dewatering: Achieving Thorough Oil-Water Separation The coalesced large water droplets continuously settle under the action of gravity. Eventually, a free water layer is formed at the bottom of the crude oil. The water is discharged through equipment such as sedimentation tanks and separators, reducing the water content of crude oil to the qualified standard (for example, industrial requirements are < 0.5%). 

Summary: The Core Logic of Oil -Soluble Demulsifier specifically break down the stability of W/O emulsions in crude oil through four steps: "dissolution - adsorption - film - breaking - coalescence". They use lipophilic groups to dissolve in the oil phase, target the oil - water interface, destroy the protective barrier formed by natural emulsifiers, and finally make tiny water droplets coalesce into free water that can be separated. This process not only depends on the chemical structure (amphiphilicity) of the demulsifier but also requires the cooperation of technological conditions (such as temperature, pressure, residence time) in oil production, gathering, and transportation to achieve efficient demulsification.

Wholesale demulsifier product is always be packed by drum or IBC tank,which is used for oil-water separating&demulsifier for crude oil in oilfield and demulsifier additive for crude oil has stable performance and shelf time is 12Months.

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