Abstract
In the context of the need to improve oil processing efficiency and ensure the stable operation of oil production facilities, the selection of effective demulsifiers is an important decision. The article presents the results of laboratory studies on the selection of a demulsifier for breaking water-oil emulsions of crude oil from the «Saltanat Balgimbayev» field. The efficiency of five demulsifiers was evaluated using the bottle test method under different dosages and temperature conditions. The highest efficiency was demonstrated by demulsifier №3: intensive water separation was observed at the initial stage of settling, and by the end of the experiment, the residual water content in the oil was 2,8%. For the other demulsifiers, the residual water content ranged from 6-7%, indicating the presence of a stable intermediate layer. The study of temperature effects showed the increasing the temperature from 10°С to 25°С had a more significant impact on phase separation dynamics than increasing the reagent dosage, reducing the residual water content from 5-16% to 2-4%. The obtained results justify the selection of the optimal demulsifier and temperature conditions for pilot-industrial tests, increasing equipment productivity and reducing energy consumption during processing. The study confirms the advisability of individual selection of demulsifiers for specific oil composition and production conditions.