EMULSIONS IN OFFSHORE PETROLEUM PRODUCTION: STABILITY AND FLOW ASSURANCE

Abstract

Emulsions represent a relevant concern in offshore petroleum production. Besides the topside oil-water separation, other topics related to flow assurance have received increasing attention from industry and academy. This paper reviews petroleum emulsions and their aspects that impact offshore petroleum production. Topics discussed in this review include emulsion stability, emulsion samples, and flow assurance related topics like pressure-drop, wax, and hydrates. The knowledge around petroleum emulsions has reached a fair level in terms of stabilization and destabilization mechanisms. Nevertheless, challenges, such as understanding the emulsion formation in presence of pressurized gas and comprehending how emulsions affect the multiphase flow behavior as well as the precipitation of solids, remain.