Experimental Analysis of the Effect of Shear Forces on Oil-Water Separation, Using a High Shear Mixer

Abstract

In most water-drive reservoirs, the dispersion of oil in produced water is a result of high water cut conditions. During production, the oil droplet size decreases as a result of their encounter with process facilities such as: valves and pumps which has a detrimental impact on upstream separation. The present work performed an experimental analysis of the factors affecting the formation of droplets. Laboratory mixing of oil and water was conducted using a high-shear mixer. An analysis of the droplet size distribution of three different oil viscosities were obtained using a microscopic technique. The overall results show that the coalescence rate decreases with increasing oil viscosity and the rate of agitation. Droplet sizes within the range of 3 – 100 micrometers were observed. The results obtained from this experiment can be used to test the design of new separators and can provide an avenue for the design of low shear centrifugal pumps.