Viscosity reduction of extra-heavy oil using toluene in water emulsions

摘要: Abstract Surfactants are widely used to reduce the viscosity of heavy oil by emulsification, but emulsification an extra-heavy is difficult and does not even occur in some cases. A diluent effective reducing oil, substantial volumes required. In this work, we combined advantages a surfactant solution form emulsions emulsify oil. The toluene/water (T/W) emulsion was prepared with mixed (AES-DOA) surfactants formed from anionic (AES, alkyl polyoxyethylene ether sodium sulfate) gemini-like (DOA, mixing oleic acid Jeffamine D 230). Compared using toluene or AES-DOA alone achieve desired (30 ± 10 mPa·s), T/W decreased dosage 56 3 wt% 12 2 mmol/L, respectively. effect on analyzed measuring resultant emulsions. results suggest that addition reduced (dispersed phase) accordingly contributed synergistic evaluated interfacial tension calculating interaction parameters (βm) at different AES mole fractions. When fraction 0.6 mixture, possessed highest activity largest negative βm, confirming strongest effect. As result, best efficiency achieved fraction. Increasing content concentration found increase stability against coalescence. study demonstrate can overcome difficulties emulsifying highly viscous