Abstract:

This dataset contains observations of the growth rate of methane-saturated oil droplets under depressurization in a counter-current flow channel filled with artificial seawater. Droplet growth rate was captured through photographic imaging with back-lit illumination, and size evaluation was processed in ImageJ. A time series of the ratio of instantaneous to initial droplet size is presented for four different experiments with different combinations of initial droplet size and pressure.

Suggested Citation:

Michael Schlüter; Simeon Pesch. 2019. Laboratory observations of the behavior of gas-saturated crude oil droplets rising in seawater. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/n7-x0tx-1g35

Purpose:

Experiments are carried out in order to get information on the rising behavior of gas-saturated crude oil droplets. The degassing and growth of the droplets are crucial parameters for oil distribution/far field modeling.

Data Parameters and Units:

The data are contained in an Excel spreadsheet organized into three worksheets: 1. General Information contains a description of the experimental set-up and methodology. 2. An experimental_overview summarizes the results. Parameters: Experiment number, initial droplet diameter [d_p,0, mm], and droplet growth factor [d_p/d_p,0, nondimensional]. 3. An experimental_data details time series of each experiment as pressure is released. Parameters: time [minutes], pressure [bar], droplet growth factor d_p/d_p,0, nondimensional]. The final observation for each experiment occurs at decimal minute observations; although times and predicted pressures are present, no observations were made.

Methods:

Louisiana Sweet Crude oil (LSC) was saturated with methane at a pressure of 250 +/- 0.1 MPa. The LSC sample was sourced from Marline Platform Dorado, Request ID: 19494.01, and the artificial seawater was prepared according to the recipe of Kester et al (1967). The oil/methane mixture was depressured to the desired initial pressure for an experiment using a back-pressure regulator. The pressure of the oil/methane/seawater mixture was then released at a constant rate of 10 bar/min, with observations of the ratio of instantaneous to the initial droplet diameter recorded once a minute. The experiments were carried out at 20C +/- 0.3C.

Instruments:

High-pressure counter-current flow channel with optical access. Oil presaturation unit for the saturation of LSC with methane. Back-pressure regulator for depressurization of gas-saturated oil from saturation pressure (~250 bar) to initial pressure of experiment.

Provenance and Historical References:

Kester, D. R., I. W. Duedall, D. N. Connors, R. M. Pytkowicz (1967). Preparation of artificial seawater. Limnology and Oceanography 12(1), 176-179. doi:10.4319/lo.1967.12.1.0176

Individual Files: