Start Date
June 2011

Background
This project is examining the ability of analytical tools to characterize difficult emulsions. An analytical protocol is to be derived that will allow the user to establish the nature of a given emulsion and its likely source/mechanism. The intent of the project is to develop a series of analytical tests to perform on any given desalter emulsion that will allow an understanding of the nature of the emulsion and its root causes. Knowledge of the root causes of an emulsion will assist a refinery, and potentially a crude oil producer, in developing an effective strategy for breaking the emulsion.

Milestones as of August 2023

• Developed and issued a sample request letter for samples of tank bottoms.
  
• Results of tank bottoms testing was reviewed at the December 2019 project meeting.
  
• Results from recent tank cleaning operations were presented at the September 2020 project meeting. This included diluent, dilbit and crude tanks.
  
• Characterization and analysis protocols for emulsions and tank bottoms were presented at the March 2021 project meeting and published publicly on the CCQTA website in April 2021.
  
• The emulsion protocol is separated into: Screening, Detailed and Liquid/Liquid extraction protocols. Each technique is used for varying purposes depending on the situation.
  
• Two tank bottom protocols were developed based on the type of sample material available. One for Primarily liquid with Some Solids and the second one for Primarily Solid with Some Liquid. Both are available in the Emulsion Characterization project on the CCQTA website.
  
• Included with the protocols are lists of tests, reference methods and the significance and use of each method.
  
• Project was moved to “Project Maintenance Activities” as opposed to a stand-alone project.
  
• Three samples of tank bottoms taken during cleaning operations were supplied in 2021 for evaluation. The characterization was presented at the June 2022 Project Maintenance meeting.
  
• A summary of all the tank bottoms data to date has been compiled to determine if any patterns emerge. The protocol has changed over time, so the data is not very consistent. Now that the protocol has been refined, data should become more consistent.
  

• This project has been closed.