Method of evaluating foaming agents and surfactants

A method of evaluating a surfactant, comprising:

• a. ultrasonicating a mixture of oil, water, and the surfactant to form at least one of the following:
• a sub-macroemulsion, a macroemulsion phase or a combination of the aforementioned;
• b. separating the sub-macroemulsion from the macroemulsion phase;
• c. introducing the sub-macroemulsion into a foam container;
• d. performing a first automated phase identification of the sub-macroemulsion;
• e. introducing a gas into the sub-macroemulsion to generate a column of foam, where the column of foam has a height in the foam container;
• f. performing a second automated phase identification of the sub-macroemulsion;
• g. measuring the height of the column of foam in the foam container, where the first and second automated phase identifications are configured to quantify one or more liquid phases and a foam phase in the column;
• and
• h. determining a change in the height of the column of the foam after sonication and after introduction of the gas in the foam container.