Chapter 5
Table 5.6 Water content at different position of oil layer in partially separated
diluted bitumen emulsion with 200 ppm PR5 and 1x1 O’4 M silicate
|
Position |
Top of the oil layer |
Middle of the oil layer |
Bottom of the oil layer |
|
Water % |
1.77±0.14 |
3.86±0.15 |
7.30±0.45 |
5.8. Effects of solids, dilution ratio and silicate on emulsion stability
5.8.1. Materials and methods
5.8.1.1. Materials and emulsion preparation
Emulsion separation has been studied with N/В ratios 0.7 and 4.0 to find the
effect of dilution ratio. Samples of Athabasca bitumen froth were provided by
Syncrude Canada Ltd. Solids-free diluted bitumen was prepared by centrifugation
(8000 g, 30 min). Diluted bitumen samples were prepared by diluting with naphtha
with the ratios 4.0 and 0.7 (naphtha∕bitumen, w∕w). Diluted bitumen with dilution
ratio N∕B 0.7 has density 896 kg∕ m3, viscosity 4.84×10^3 Pa∙s (80 0C) and
contains 21.2 w.% water and 6.9 w.% solids. Diluted bitumen with dilution ratio
N∕B 4.0 has density 820 kg∕ m3, viscosity 8.1×10^4 Pa s (80 0C) and contains 8.8
w.% water and 3.0 w.% solids, which was measured by centrifugation.
Aqueous phase used here is synthetic brine which contains 25 mM NaCI, 15
mM NaHCO3, 2 mM Na2SO4, 0.3 mM CaCh and 0.3 mM MgC∣2.
Emulsion preparation and bottle test are performed using synthetic brine at
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