Oil, Gas & Mining / Solution Family

Demulsifiers / Deoilers

Crude/water separation chemistries u2014 EO/PO block copolymer demulsifier bases and glycol-ether carrier solvents u2014 for resolving production, desalter, and tank-bottom emulsions.

Overview

Demulsifiers are surface-active chemistries that destabilize water-in-oil emulsions soncrude and water separate cleanly in separators, treaters, and desalters. The activenclass for most production duty is the EO/PO block copolymer, often built on a glycol or resinnbackbone and delivered in a carrier solvent. They are formulated, not single-molecule products:na finished demulsifier is a blend tuned to a specific crude and emulsion.

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Because emulsion stability depends on the crude, the water cut, and the solids present,ndemulsifier selection is field-specific and screened by bottle test before a field trial. Thentrade-off shows up in what you optimize. A chemistry tuned for a fast, large water drop can leavena fuzzy oil-water interface and oily water, while one tuned for a clean interface may drop waternmore slowly. Match the selection to whichever the downstream spec penalizes.

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The carrier solvent u2014 commonly a glycol ether such as 2-butoxyethanol u2014 couples the activenpackage, sets pour point, and controls injection viscosity in cold service. RawSource suppliesnthe base chemistries and carrier solvents that go into these programs rather than named finishednblends. Confirm regulatory status for your application and jurisdiction, and validate anyndemulsifier by bottle test on your own emulsion before committing volume.

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Where it's used
  • Primary crude/water separation in production separators and treaters
  • Desalter emulsion breaking in refining
  • Tank-bottom and slop-oil emulsion resolution
  • Produced-water deoiling (oil-in-water reverse demulsifiers)
  • Heavy-oil and SAGD emulsion treatment
Frequently asked questions
What demulsifier chemistries does RawSource supply for oil and gas?
RawSource sources the base chemistries behind oilfield demulsifier programs: EO/PO block copolymers (the primary active class for production duty) and glycol-ether carrier solvents such as 2-butoxyethanol. Finished demulsifiers are proprietary blends; RawSource supplies the bulk base actives and solvents that go into them rather than named formulated products.
Does RawSource supply oilfield demulsifiers in bulk?
Yes. RawSource supplies demulsifier base chemistries and carrier solvents at drum, tote, IBC, and bulk scale with SDS, TDS, and CoA documentation. Submit your CAS or target application (production, desalter, tank-bottom, or produced-water deoiling) and volume for a bulk RFQ.
Why are demulsifiers selected by bottle test?
Emulsion stability is specific to the crude, water cut, temperature, and solids in each field, so no single demulsifier performs everywhere. A bottle test screens candidate chemistries on the actual emulsion to compare water-drop rate, interface quality, and water clarity before any field trial or volume commitment.
What does the carrier solvent in a demulsifier do?
The carrier solvent (commonly a glycol ether such as 2-butoxyethanol) dissolves and couples the active package, lowers the product pour point for cold-weather storage, and controls injection viscosity so the demulsifier pumps and disperses correctly at the injection point.
Disclaimer. Information on this page is provided for general reference and compiled from authoritative public sources (e.g. PubChem/ECHA). Values are typical and are not a guaranteed specification; the Certificate of Analysis (CoA) for the lot you purchase governs. Products are sold for industrial and professional use only. Nothing here is a medical, health, or efficacy claim. Always consult the current Safety Data Sheet (SDS) before handling, and confirm regulatory status, classification, and suitability for your application and jurisdiction.
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