New Amphiphilic Polymer with Emulsifying Capability for Extra Heavy Crude Oil

A new amphiphilic polymer was synthesized by allowing polyethylenimine to react with benzyl bromide, and it was used as an emulsifier for the viscosity reduction of Shengli extra heavy crude oil. The hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity of the polymer can be easily regulated by changing the number of grated benzyl on the polymer. The formation of a stable oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion depends on the hydrophilicity of the polymer, the oil-to-water mass ratio, the emulsifier concentration, and temperature. The polymers with higher hydrophile–lipophile balance values can induce forming stable Shengli heavy oil-in-water emulsions with low viscosities of less than 100 mPa·s at 50 °C. The addition of the required amount of emulsifier can greatly decrease the oil–water interfacial tension and form small O/W droplets, thereby leading to the viscosity reduction of the oil.