(440c) Pressure Drop Reduction of Stabilized Water-in-Oil Emulsions Using Organoclays

In this study, the influence of nano-additives on the pressure drop of surfactant-stabilized water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions was measured. Organoclays as were tested as pressure loss reducing agents for stable W/O emulsions with 0.7 and 0.7 water volume fraction.  Pressure drop measurements were conducted in 2.54-cm and 1.27-cm horizontal pipes. The results showed a significant reduction in the emulsion viscosity with the addition of nano-additives and this effect was enhanced as the nano-additive concentration increased. In addition, for the case of concentrated W/O emulsions, the addition of organoclays resulted in 25 % reduction in the emulsion pressure drop in both test sections. Also, for stable W/O emulsion with only 0.3 water fraction no pressure drop reduction was observed in the laminar region. However, a pressure drop reduction was detected in the turbulent region and such effect was pronounced at high Reynolds numbers and organoclay concentration. The observed results were explained in terms of emulsion dispersed phase droplet size. In the laminar regime, the friction factor for stable W/O emulsions with 0.3 volume fraction of the dispersed phase was in a good agreement with single phase predictions. However, in the turbulent regime the friction factor for the multiphase system was below the predictions of single phase flow. Organoclays proved to have a good potential as drag reducing agents by producing smaller and stable emulsion droplets hence suppressing the Reynolds’ stresses.