Correlation between phase

behavior and IFT

Leslie Zhang
 Phase behavior after 2 months with 0.2% (left) and

0.5% (right) NI blend.

0.2% NI blend/1% Na2CO3/x% NaCl @ 0.5% NI blend/1% Na2CO3/x% NaCl @
soap/synthetic surfactant ratio of 0.35 (WOR=3:1) soap/synthetic surfactant ratio of 0.14 (WOR=3:1)
2 months settling at room temperature 2 months settling at room temperature
x= 2.0 3.0 3.2 3.4 3.6 3.8 4.0 x= 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.3 4.5 4.7 5.0
Solubility ratios of 0.2% NI blend /
1% Na2CO3 / NaCl
 Huh Correlation, 1979

c
 l3  2
Rl 3
 3interfacial tension between excess oil or aqueous phase
and middle phase,

Rl3: solubility ratio of oil or water by surfactant

c: a constant with a typical value of 0.3.

Comparison of IFT measured by spinning drop measurements
using standard procedure and that estimated by Chun-Huh

correlation of 0.2% NI blend/1% Na2CO3/NaCl. c=0.3.

Solubility ratios of 0.5% NI blend /
1% Na2CO3 / NaCl
 IFT estimated by Chun-Huh correlation
of 0.5% NI blend/1% Na2CO3/NaCl, c=0.3.
Phase behavior of 0.2% NI blend/1% Na2CO3/x% NaCl, 40 days of settling.

Thin creamed oil-rich layers exist at salinity of 2-3.4% NaCl.

S/SR=1 Soap / Synthetic surfactant ratio = 0.35
x= 2.0 2.0 3.0 3.2 3.4 3.6 3.8 4.0
 Conclusions
• The measured low IFT over a wide range of
salinity is consistent with the solubility ratio
data.
• The thin layer of oil-rich emulsion may be
responsible for the above observation.
• The dependence of this layer on the amount
of oil present suggests that it may be due to
the presence of the naphthenic soaps.