Evaluation of Demulsifier Y as a Replacement for Demulsifier X in Minas Field Crude Oil Based on Water Separation and Basic Sediment and Water (BS&W) Performance
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29017/LPMGB.60.2.2159Keywords:
BS&W, crude oil, demulsifier, Minas Field, water separationAbstract
This study was conducted to evaluate the suitability of replacing Demulsifier X with Demulsifier Y in Minas Field crude oil following the expiration of the supply contract for Demulsifier X. The evaluation was performed through water separation and Basic Sediment and Water (BS&W) testing. The test was conducted using the bottle test method at 79.4°C (175°F), with concentration levels of 0, 50, and 100 ppm and retention times of 0, 1, and 2 hours. Demulsifier X, Demulsifier Y, and a 1:1 mixture of both demulsifiers were evaluated to assess separation performance and compatibility during a potential transition period. The test results showed that all demulsifier treatments produced Loose Rag (LR) interface quality, while the blank sample showed Tight Rag (TR). At a concentration of 100 ppm, Demulsifier Y produced water separation of 80%, higher than Demulsifier X at 76%. The mixture of Demulsifier X and Demulsifier Y also achieved 80% water separation, indicating good compatibility between the two products. BS&W analysis showed that Demulsifier X, Demulsifier Y, and their mixture produced a final BS&W value of 0.0%, indicating effective dehydration performance. These results demonstrate that Demulsifier Y provides comparable or slightly superior performance to Demulsifier X and can be considered a suitable replacement for Minas Field crude oil applications. The compatibility of both demulsifiers also supports gradual field implementation without adversely affecting oil-water separation performance.
References
Abdulredha, M. M., Aslina, H. S., & Luqman, C. A. (2020). Overview of Petroleum Emulsions, Formation, Influence, Influence, and Demulsification Treatment Techniques. Arabian Journal of Chemistry, 13(1), 3403-3428.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arabjc.2018.11.014.
Alade, O.S., Mahmoud, M., Al Shehri, D.A., & Sultan, A.S. (2021). Rapid Determination of Emulsion Stability Using Turbidity Measurement Incorporating Artificial Neural Network (ANN): Experimental Validation Using Video/Optical Microscopy and Kinetic Modeling. ACS Omega, 6(8), 5910–5920.https://doi.org/ 10.1021/acsomega.1c00017.
BASF Oilfield Chemicals. (2024). Your One-Stop-Shop to Demulsification. BASF Energy Resources.
Dow Inc. (2025). Demulsifiers: Break Emulsions for Better Oil Separation. Dow Chemical Company
Ezzat, A. O., Atta, A. M., & Al-Lohedan, H. A. (2020). One-Step Synthesis of Amphiphilic Nonylphenol Polyethyleneimine for Demulsification of Water in Heavy Crude Oil Emulsions. ACS Omega, 5(16), 9212-9223. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.0c0000.
Fingas, M., & Fieldhouse, B. (2009). Studies on Crude Oil and Petroleum Product Emulsions: Water-in-Oil Emulsions and Related Issues. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 170(1), 9-14. https://doi.org /10.1016/j.jhazmat.2009.04.061.
Kokal, S. L. (2005). Crude Oil Emulsions: A State-of-the-Art Review. SPE Production & Facilities, 20(1), 5-13. https://doi.org/10.2118/ 77497-PA.
Lee, J., & Babadagli, T. (2021). Comprehensive Review on Heavy-Oil Emulsions: Colloid Science and Practical Applications. Chemical Engineering Science, 246, 116995.
Oliveira, R.S., Meliande, A.S., Barreto, G.S., Ladeira, J.A., Dal'Col, C., Mendonça, P.P.(2024). Optimization of Demulsifier Formulation for Separation of Water from Crude Oil Emulsions in Deepwater Environment. SPE Brazil Flow Assurance Technology Congress.
Raya, S.A., Mohd Saaid, I., Ahmed, A.A., & Umar, A.A. (2020). A critical review of development and demulsification mechanisms of crude oil emulsion in the petroleum industry. Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology, 10(4), 1711–1728. https://doi.org/10.1007/ s13202-020-00830-7
Saad, M.A., Kamil, M., Abdurahman, N.H., Yunus, R.M., & Awad, O.I. (2019). An Overview of Recent Advances in State-of-the-Art Techniques in the Demulsification of Crude Oil Emulsions. Processes, 7(7), 470.
Schramm, L. L. (1992). Petroleum Emulsions: Basic Principles. American Chemical Society, Advances in Chemistry Series, 231, 1-49.
SPE Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE). (2025). Oil Demulsifier Selection and Optimization. PetroWiki. https://doi.org/10.2118 /PW0651.
Tang, L., Wang, T., Xu, Y., He, X., Yan, A., Zhang, Z., Li, Y., & Chen, G. (2024). Research and Application Progress of Crude Oil Demulsification Technology. Processes, 12(10), 2292. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12102292.
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Copyright by Authors. Published by LEMIGAS
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
