Hydrate formation from high water content-crude oil emulsions

Methane hydrate formation and dissociation studies from high water content (> 60 vol% water) - crude oil emulsions were performed. The hydrate and emulsion system was characterized using two particle size analyzers and conductivity measurements. It was observed that hydrate formation and dissociation from water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions destabilized the emulsion, with the final emulsion formulation favoring a water continuous state following re-emulsification. Hence. following dissociation, the W/O emulsion formed a multiple o/W/O emulsion (60 vol% water) or inverted at even higher water cuts, forming an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion (68 vol% water). In contrast, hydrate formation and dissociation from O/W emulsions (>= 71 vol% water) stabilized the O/W emulsion. (c) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.