Method for establishing core-flow in water-in-oil emulsions or dispersions
AssigneeShell Oil Company
InventorVitold R. Kruka
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A viscous liquid core in less viscous liquid annulus pipe flow with less viscous liquid in viscous liquid emulsions is created without the injection of additional less viscous liquid by establishing a sufficiently high shear rate, but not to exceed a certain value, for a sufficiently long time in pipe flow to break the emulsion and create a less viscous liquid rich zone near the pipe wall, thus reducing the flow pressure drop.
Claims2
A method for breaking an emulsion of a viscous liquid and less viscous liquid and establishing core-flow of the viscous liquid inside an annulus of the less viscous liquid comprising subjecting the emulsion to a high shear rate by laminar conduit flow and maintaining the shear rate for a residence time of the emulsion in the conduit sufficient to cause migration of a substantial quantity of the less viscous liquid to the proximity of the conduit wall and there agglomerate to form the less viscous liquid annulus, and continuing flow in a conduit of larger diameter without substantially disrupting core-flow of the viscous liquid inside the less viscous liquid by diffusing and slowing flow from the emulsion-breaking conduit into the larger conduit by means of a diffuser having an angle ranging from about 1.degree. to about 30.degree..
A method for breaking an emulsion of a viscous liquid and less viscous liquid and establishing core-flow of the viscous liquid inside an annulus of the less viscous liquid comprising subjecting the emulsion to a high shear rate by laminar conduit flow and maintaining the shear rate for a residence time of the emulsion in the conduit sufficient to cause migration of a substantial quantity of the less viscous liquid to the proximity of the conduit wall and there agglomerate to form the less viscous liquid annulus, and continuing flow in a conduit of larger diameter without substantially disrupting core-flow of the viscous liquid inside the less viscous liquid by diffusing and slowing flow from the emulsion-breaking conduit into the larger conduit by means of a diffuser having an angle ranging from about 1.degree. to about 9.degree..
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.