RHEOLOGY CHARACTERIZATION OF WATER-IN-OIL EMULSIONS

Abstract

One of the main problems of the oil industry is hydrate formation. Hydrates of natural gas are crystalline solids, formed by the association of water molecules and molecules of certain gas in an organized structure. Its occurrence is a natural concern for the Oil & Gas Industry, given the potential risk of flow assurance. Nevertheless, ever-challenging scenarios encourage the search for risk assessment methodologies seeking to identify conditions where hydrates will form, but with little possibility of plugging. The present study aims to develop a water-in-oil emulsion capable of giving hydrate at ambient pressure. This work analyzes the effects of water and surfactant concentration in viscosity, storage, and dissipation modulus in a model water-in-oil emulsion. Rheological data are obtained for several combinations of emulsion components, and their mechanical behavior is related to hydrate formation.