VISCOUS CRUDE OIL TRANSPORTATION: THE PREPARATION OF BITUMEN, HEAVY AND EXTRA HEAVY CRUDE OIL-IN-WATER EMULSIONS.

This study investigated the emulsification process by comparisons between high shear mixing and low shear mixing and identified the important factors in each of these processes. In the particular case of viscous oils, low shear emulsification methods are more efficient and offer greater control over the physical characteristics of the emulsions produced, in terms of mean droplet size and distribution