Emulsion Definition
A mixture in which one liquid, termed the dispersed phase, is uniformly distributed (usually as minute globules) in another liquid, called the continuous phase or dispersion medium. in an oil-water emulsion, the oil is the dispersed phase and the water the dispersion medium; in a water-oil emulsion, the reverse holds. a typical product of oilwells, water-oil emulsion is also used as a drilling fluid.
Related Oil & Gas Terms
Oil-emulsion mud
A water-base mud in which water is the continuous phase and oil is the dispersed phase. the oil is spread out, or dispersed, in the water in small droplets, which are tightly emulsified so that they do not settle out. because of its lubricating abilities, an oil-emulsion mud increases the drilling rate and ensures better...
Emulsifying agent
A material that causes water and oil to form an emulsion. water normally occurs separately from oil; if, however, an emulsifying agent is present, the water becomes dispersed in the oil as tiny droplets. or, rarely, the oil may be dispersed in the water. in either case, the emulsion must be treated to separate the...
Flipped
When the opposite occurs of what is intended in a drilling fluid. in an invert water-in-oil emulsion, the emulsion is said to be flipped when the continuous and dispersed phases reverse....
Water-base mud
A drilling mud in which the continuous phase is water. in water-gas muds, any additives are dispersed in the water. compare oil-base mud....
Oil-in-water emulsion mud
Any conventional or special water-base mud to which oil has been added. the oil becomes the dispersed phase and may be emulsified into the mud either mechanically or chemically. also called oil-emulsion mud....
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