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Water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions consist of water droplets dispersed in continuous oil phase. They are encountered at various stages of oil production. The oil produced from an oil-well usually carries a significant amount of water in the form of droplets. In enhanced oil recovery techniques involving the injection of polymer solution, the aqueous phase of the water-in-oil emulsions produced from the oil well consists of polymeric additive. A good understanding of the flow behavior of emulsions in pipelines is essential for the design and operation of oil production-gathering facilities and emulsion pipelines. A number of studies have been reported on simultaneous flow of oil and water in pipelines. However, the studies reported in the literature are mainly focused on either oil-water flow patterns and separated flows (annular and stratified flow of oil and water phases) or oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion flows. The pipeline flow of water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions has received less attention. Also, little work has been carried out on the effect of additives such as polymer. In this study, new experimental results are presented on the pipeline flow behavior of water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions, with and without the presence of polymeric additive in the aqueous phase. The emulsions were prepared from three different oils, namely EDM-244, EDM-Monarch, and Shell Pella of different viscosities (2.5 mPa.s for EDM-244, 6 mPa.s for EDM-Monarch, and 5.4 mPa.s for Shell Pella, at 25 0C). The water-in-oil emulsions prepared from EDM-244 and EDM-Monarch (without any polymeric additive in the dispersed aqueous phase) exhibited drag reduction behavior in turbulent flow. The turbulent friction factor data of the emulsions fell well below the standard Blasius equation for smooth pipes. The water-in-oil emulsions prepared from EDM-244 exhibited stronger drag reduction as compared with the EDM-Monarch emulsions. The Shell Pella emulsions (w/o type) did not exhibit any drag reduction in turbulent flow; the friction factor data followed the Blasius equation. The Shell Pella emulsions were more stable than the EDM-244 and EDM-Monarch emulsions. When left unstirred, the EDM-244 and EDM-Monarch emulsions quickly coalesced into separate oil and water phases whereas the Shell Pella emulsions took significantly longer time to separate into oil and water phases. The Shell Pella oil emulsions were also milkier than the EDM emulsions. The addition of polymer to the dispersed aqueous phase of water-in-oil emulsions had a significant effect on the turbulent drag reduction behavior. Emulsions were less drag reducing when polymer was present in the aqueous droplets. The effect of surfactant on the pipeline flow behavior of water/oil emulsions was also investigated. The surfactant-stabilized water-in-oil emulsions followed the single phase flow behavior. The presence of surfactant in the emulsions caused the dispersed droplets to become significantly smaller. It is believed that the droplets were smaller than the scale of turbulence when surfactant was present and consequently no drag reduction was observed.

Water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions consist of water droplets dispersed in continuous oil phase. They are encountered at various stages of oil production. The oil produced from an oil-well usually carries a significant amount of water in the form of droplets. In enhanced oil recovery techniques involving the injection of polymer solution, the aqueous phase of the water-in-oil emulsions produced from the oil well consists of polymeric additive. A good understanding of the flow behavior of emulsions in pipelines is essential for the design and operation of oil production-gathering facilities and emulsion pipelines. A number of studies have been reported on simultaneous flow of oil and water in pipelines. However, the studies reported in the literature are mainly focused on either oil-water flow patterns and separated flows (annular and stratified flow of oil and water phases) or oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion flows. The pipeline flow of water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions has received less attention. Also, little work has been carried out on the effect of additives such as polymer. In this study, new experimental results are presented on the pipeline flow behavior of water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions, with and without the presence of polymeric additive in the aqueous phase. The emulsions were prepared from three different oils, namely EDM-244, EDM-Monarch, and Shell Pella of different viscosities (2.5 mPa.s for EDM-244, 6 mPa.s for EDM-Monarch, and 5.4 mPa.s for Shell Pella, at 25 0C). The water-in-oil emulsions prepared from EDM-244 and EDM-Monarch (without any polymeric additive in the dispersed aqueous phase) exhibited drag reduction behavior in turbulent flow. The turbulent friction factor data of the emulsions fell well below the standard Blasius equation for smooth pipes. The water-in-oil emulsions prepared from EDM-244 exhibited stronger drag reduction as compared with the EDM-Monarch emulsions. The Shell Pella emulsions (w/o type) did not exhibit any drag reduction in turbulent flow; the friction factor data followed the Blasius equation. The Shell Pella emulsions were more stable than the EDM-244 and EDM-Monarch emulsions. When left unstirred, the EDM-244 and EDM-Monarch emulsions quickly coalesced into separate oil and water phases whereas the Shell Pella emulsions took significantly longer time to separate into oil and water phases. The Shell Pella oil emulsions were also milkier than the EDM emulsions. The addition of polymer to the dispersed aqueous phase of water-in-oil emulsions had a significant effect on the turbulent drag reduction behavior. Emulsions were less drag reducing when polymer was present in the aqueous droplets. The effect of surfactant on the pipeline flow behavior of water/oil emulsions was also investigated. The surfactant-stabilized water-in-oil emulsions followed the single phase flow behavior. The presence of surfactant in the emulsions caused the dispersed droplets to become significantly smaller. It is believed that the droplets were smaller than the scale of turbulence when surfactant was present and consequently no drag reduction was observed.

lthough extensive research work has been carried out on the drag reduction behavior of polymers and surfactants alone, little progress has been made on the synergistic effects of combined polymers and surfactants. A number of studies have demonstrated that certain types of polymers and surfactants interact with each other to form surfactant-polymer complexes. The formation of such complexes can cause changes in the solution properties and may result in better drag reduction characteristics as compared with pure additives. A series of drag-reducing surfactants and polymers were screened for the synergistic studies. The following two widely used polymeric drag reducing agents (DRA) were chosen: a copolymer of acrylamide and sodium acrylate (referred to as PAM) and polyethylene oxide (PEO). Among the different types of surfactants screened, a cationic surfactant octadecyltrimethylammonium chloride (OTAC) and an anionic surfactant Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) were selected for the synergistic study. In the case of the cationic surfactant OTAC, sodium salicylate (NaSal) was used as a counterion. No counterion was used with anionic surfactant SDS. The physical properties such as viscosity, surface tension and electrical conductivity were measured in order to detect any interaction between the polymer and the surfactant. The drag reduction (DR) ability of both pure and mixed additives was investigated in a pipeline flow loop. The effects of different parameters such as additive concentration, type of water (deionized (DI) or tap), temperature, tube diameter, and mechanical degradation were investigated. The addition of OTAC to PAM solution has a significant effect on the properties of the system. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the mixed surfactant-polymer system is found to be different from that of the surfactant alone. The anionic PAM chains collapse upon the addition of cationic OTAC and a substantial decrease in the viscosity occurs. The pipeline flow behaviour of PAM/OTAC mixtures is found to be consistent with the bench scale results. The drag reduction ability of PAM is reduced upon the addition of OTAC. At low concentrations of PAM, the effect of OTAC on the drag reduction behavior is more pronounced. The drag reduction behavior of polymer solutions is strongly influenced by the nature of water (de-ionized or tap). The addition of OTAC to PEO solution exhibited a week interaction based on the viscosity and surface tension measurements. However, the pipeline results showed a considerable synergistic effect, that is, the mixed system gave a significantly higher drag reduction (lower friction factors) as compared with the pure additives (pure polymer or pure surfactant). The synergistic effect in the mixed system was stronger at low polymer concentrations and high surfactant concentrations. Also the resistance against mechanical degradation of the additive was improved upon the addition of OTAC to PEO. The mixed PEO/SDS system exhibited a strong interaction between the polymers (PEO) and the surfactant (SDS), Using electrical conductivity and surface tension measurements, the critical aggregation concentration (CAC) and the polymer saturation point (PSP) were determined. As the PEO concentration is increased, the CAC decreases and the PSP increase. The addition of SDS to the PEO solution exhibits a remarkable increase in the relative viscosity compared to the pure PEO solution. This increase is attributed to the changes in the hydrodynamic radius of the polymer coil. The pipeline flow exhibited a considerable increase in DR for the mixed system as compared to the pure PEO solution. The addition of surfactant always improves the extent of DR up to the PSP. Also the mixed PEO/ SDS system shows better resistance against shear degradation of the additive.

lthough extensive research work has been carried out on the drag reduction behavior of polymers and surfactants alone, little progress has been made on the synergistic effects of combined polymers and surfactants. A number of studies have demonstrated that certain types of polymers and surfactants interact with each other to form surfactant-polymer complexes. The formation of such complexes can cause changes in the solution properties and may result in better drag reduction characteristics as compared with pure additives. A series of drag-reducing surfactants and polymers were screened for the synergistic studies. The following two widely used polymeric drag reducing agents (DRA) were chosen: a copolymer of acrylamide and sodium acrylate (referred to as PAM) and polyethylene oxide (PEO). Among the different types of surfactants screened, a cationic surfactant octadecyltrimethylammonium chloride (OTAC) and an anionic surfactant Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) were selected for the synergistic study. In the case of the cationic surfactant OTAC, sodium salicylate (NaSal) was used as a counterion. No counterion was used with anionic surfactant SDS. The physical properties such as viscosity, surface tension and electrical conductivity were measured in order to detect any interaction between the polymer and the surfactant. The drag reduction (DR) ability of both pure and mixed additives was investigated in a pipeline flow loop. The effects of different parameters such as additive concentration, type of water (deionized (DI) or tap), temperature, tube diameter, and mechanical degradation were investigated. The addition of OTAC to PAM solution has a significant effect on the properties of the system. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the mixed surfactant-polymer system is found to be different from that of the surfactant alone. The anionic PAM chains collapse upon the addition of cationic OTAC and a substantial decrease in the viscosity occurs. The pipeline flow behaviour of PAM/OTAC mixtures is found to be consistent with the bench scale results. The drag reduction ability of PAM is reduced upon the addition of OTAC. At low concentrations of PAM, the effect of OTAC on the drag reduction behavior is more pronounced. The drag reduction behavior of polymer solutions is strongly influenced by the nature of water (de-ionized or tap). The addition of OTAC to PEO solution exhibited a week interaction based on the viscosity and surface tension measurements. However, the pipeline results showed a considerable synergistic effect, that is, the mixed system gave a significantly higher drag reduction (lower friction factors) as compared with the pure additives (pure polymer or pure surfactant). The synergistic effect in the mixed system was stronger at low polymer concentrations and high surfactant concentrations. Also the resistance against mechanical degradation of the additive was improved upon the addition of OTAC to PEO. The mixed PEO/SDS system exhibited a strong interaction between the polymers (PEO) and the surfactant (SDS), Using electrical conductivity and surface tension measurements, the critical aggregation concentration (CAC) and the polymer saturation point (PSP) were determined. As the PEO concentration is increased, the CAC decreases and the PSP increase. The addition of SDS to the PEO solution exhibits a remarkable increase in the relative viscosity compared to the pure PEO solution. This increase is attributed to the changes in the hydrodynamic radius of the polymer coil. The pipeline flow exhibited a considerable increase in DR for the mixed system as compared to the pure PEO solution. The addition of surfactant always improves the extent of DR up to the PSP. Also the mixed PEO/ SDS system shows better resistance against shear degradation of the additive.