Probing the Coalescence Mechanism of Oil Droplets in Fluids Produced by Oil Wells and the Microscopic Interaction between Molecules in Oil Films

Abstract

The microscopic interactions between oil droplets during the coalescence process have an important impact on the stability of the emulsion. In this paper, a model that can present the phenomenon of coalescence of oil droplets was established. Experiments were carried out to evaluate the stability of the emulsion. Combined with molecular dynamics simulation technology, the coalescence behaviors of emulsified oil droplets in fluids produced by oil wells were studied. Factors affecting the coalescence of emulsified oil droplets were analyzed. The results show that the fluid velocity was relatively high at the position where two oil droplets were close to each other. After the coalescence of oil droplets was completed, the emulsion system became stable. There was no obvious correlation between oil droplet size and coalescence time. When two adjacent oil droplets with different radii coalesced, the larger oil droplet moved a shorter distance overall. At the initial moment, there was a clear boundary between the oil film and the water phase. The longer the carbon chain, the more stable the emulsion. Among the following four crude oil molecules with the same number of carbon atoms, chain-like saturated hydrocarbons were the most stable, followed by chain-like carbon–carbon double bonds in component crude oil. Crude oils containing chain-like carbon–carbon triple bonds were the third most stable. Cyclane were the least stable. An increase in the asphaltene content was an important reason for the enhancement of the emulsifying ability and stability in the emulsion system. This work can help improve oil–water separation efficiency, thus reducing storage and transportation burden of crude oil.