Stabilization and destabilization of water-in-crude oil emulsions from the norwegian continental shelf. Correlation with model systems

A summary of properties of water-in-crude oil emulsions from the Norwegian Continental Shelf or model water-in-oil emulsions is given. A separation method for the indigenous surface active crude oil components based on adsorption/extraction was developed. These components and their films were characterized by M w determinations, FT-IR, Langmuir-Blodgett, surface/interfacial tension, dielectric spectroscopy and interactions with chemical destabilizers. The stability/instability properties of authentic water-in-crude oil emulsions can be reproduced by model W/O emulsions stabilized by the interfacially active crude oil fraction. Processes inside the water droplets and at the W/O interface taking place upon destabilization were followed by means of dielectric spectroscopy.