Journal of Canadian Petroleum Technology, Vol.42, No.3, 15-17, 2003
A water-based analogue model for foamy oil experiments
Foamy oil is a phenomenon that is not yet fully understood. Studies often involve high pressure equipment that make experiments slow, expensive, and the equipment difficult to clean. A simple suggestion of wallpaper paste solution (carboxyl-methyl cellulose and water) and antacid mixture could be used to determine a number of the physical processes and properties needed to further understand foamy oil. The wallpaper paste solution when combined with antacid behaves similarly to that of foamy oil, but experiments can be conducted without the inconvenience of using the oil. Such experimental studies would be easier, low cost, and cleaner, and could be precursors to experiments on actual foamy oil.