Use of Treating Compounds for Oil Field Emulsions in the Mid-Continent Field

The dehydrating of oil is a problem in the manipulation of physical andchemical forces, some of which are almost too minute to be capable ofevaluation; forces which, however, must be directed and utilized to the maximumextent if successful results are to be obtained. The result is accomplishedwithout using any materials capable of harming the oil or any of the equipmentby which it is produced, handled, transported or refined; and without removingfrom the oil any constituents originally present in it or otherwise alteringits composition. An emulsion is defined by Clayton as a system containing two liquid phases, one of which is dispersed as globules in the other. In order that thisdispersion may be stable, it is further necessary that an emulsifying agent bepresent, the nature of this agent controlling the type of emulsion produced, aswell as, to some extent at least, its character and resistance to treatment.The emulsifying agent responsible for the formation of petroleum emulsions isnot definitely known but, in a considerable number of cases, at least, it isfairly definitely known to be colloidal asphalt, that term being understood toinclude all asphalts and allied substances which occur in colloidal dispersionin crude oil. Emulsified oil, as it occurs in the petroleum industry, is variously knownas "cut oil," "wet oil" or "B.S." In addition to thewater contained in the emulsion, there may be more or less sand, shale or otherforeign materials, but these are incidental and are not essential to theformation or stabilization of emulsions, although they frequently make theireconomical treatment more difficult. There is little difference between thefresh cut oil produced from a well and the B.S. found in the bottom of thestorage tanks; the only essential differences are age and degree ofstabilization of the emulsion, concentration and admixture with foreignmaterials; the cost of treatment also compare favorably with those of freshemulsions. Crude oil emulsions are those either where water is dispersed in oil, orless frequently, where oil is dispersed in water, and are usually treated withease.