Physical chemical characteristics of oil emulsions of North-West Konys and Zhanaozen oilfields

Abstract

Physical chemical properties of oil emulsions of two different oilfields of Kazakhstan - NorthWest Konys and Zhanaozen by their densities related to light and heavy oils, respectively, were studied. Qualitative and quantitative compositions of main stabilizing components of oil emulsions (resins, asphaltenes and high molecular paraffins) were determined. The dispersion degree of oil emulsions was determined using optical microscopy. It was found that samples relate to fine dispersed oil emulsions by dispersion, and to poorly stable (Konys) and highly stable (Zhanaozen) oil emulsions by ability to form emulsions. Light oil of Konys oilfield (ρ = 833 kg/m³ at 20°C) contains 11.5% of paraffins, 0.69% resins, 0.19% asphaltenes. The same measurements were carried out for heavy oil of Zhanaozen (943 kg/m3 at 20°C) where paraffin content exceeded 30%, amount of resins was 1.5% and asphaltenes – 0.6%. The sample of Zhanaozen oilfield contains 33% of water, 154.8 mg/L chlorides, 5.22 % mechanical impurities, and for oilfield samples of North-West Konys the water content was 7.5%, the content of chloride salts – 18 mg/L, and 0.002% of mechanical impurities.