Abstract：The emulsification influences the result of oil recovery to a great extent in the process of chemical flooding. However, the mechanisms of how the oil recovery is influenced by the type, size and composition characteristics of the emulsion remain a problem to be studied. Laser Confocal Scanning Microscope（LCSM）with its high amplification and high resolution is used in this paper for that purpose. The microstructure in depth of the sample can be observed accurately. Three - dimensional image can be rebuilt by serial layer scanning. Therefore, the type, size and other characteristics of the emulsion can be analyzed without damaging the crude oil emulsion. According to the tracking test results, including the oil composition, the oil-water ratio, average particle size and the viscosity of the produced emulsion from pilot fields, the simulated emulsion can be made under the laboratory conditions by inversion method and identified by LCSM. Results show that emulsion can be prepared precisely in laboratory by inversion method with similar microcosmic compositions of the crude oil emulsion from pilot fields. Liquid membrane of the W/O emulsion is shown to be mainly composed of saturated hydrocarbon and asphaltene, while the liquid drop is filled with nonhydrocarbon and aromatic hydrocarbon in discontinuous shape.
2010, Vol. 28 
