Nonionic surfactants based on polyoxyalkylated copolymers used as demulsifying agents

Demulsification is one of the important stages in the petroleum processing. The breaking of oil emulsions (demulsification) is necessary to avoid problems during the transportation and processing of oil. The presence of water in crude oil is undesirable and can result in pipeline corrosion and increase the cost of transportation because of chloride salt content in aqueous phase of emulsion. The physicochemical properties of crude oil of the West Kazakhstan fields (Zhanaozen and Aksaz) which are known by high density and viscosity were studied. Non-ionic block copolymers based on alkoxylated compounds and their mixtures dissolved in organic solvents were used as deemulsifying agents. For the sample of the crude oil from Aksaz field demusification by composition of two demulsifiers dissolved in kerosene is more effective and starts at 40 degrees C. The most dewatering was observed at 80 degrees C and the dewatering degree was equaled to 51.95%. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.