Emulsifier

Uses of Emulsifiers

An emulsifier is a compound or substance that acts as a stabilizer for an emulsion and is used to separate liquids that do not normally mix. The hydrophobic part of the emulsifier dissolves in the oil phase and the hydrophilic part dissolves in the water phase, forming a dispersion of small oil droplets. Emulsifiers thus form oil-in-water emulsions. Among the uses of emulsifiers in the oil and gas industries, we can mention the emulsification of hydrochloric acid and organic fluid in the acidizing process of oil wells and the emulsification of water and drilling fluid mud in the drilling processes of oil and gas wells, which are introduced below.

Function of emulsifier in well acidization

In the well acidization process, acid is injected into the well to stimulate the oil and gas producing layers to dissolve part of the layer and create new paths for hydrocarbon production or to open passages that have been damaged and blocked. As a result of acid injection into the formation, the pumping energy and the resulting stress cause the acid solution to disperse into droplets in the crude oil and an oil acid emulsion is formed. In order to stabilize this emulsion, a suitable emulsifier must be used.

Emulsifier solution in drilling mud

Inverse oil emulsion muds are petroleum-based muds. These muds can contain 5 to 50 percent water by volume, in which water is the dispersed phase and oil is the continuous phase. This means that water droplets and solid particles are surrounded by oil. In this type of mud, the two liquid phases cannot be kept stable without an emulsifier.

Emulsifier solutions produced by Abrizan Company