Following a recent method which aims to characterize solvents in terms of given solute-solvent molecular interactions, a general solvation linear free energy relationship (LSER) equation was devised by Abraham and used in gas chromatography with crude oils as stationary phases to calculate molecular interaction terms. According to those terms and to information related to the bottle test, a new decision model has been set up to predict the stability of water-in-crude oil emulsions. It requires two discriminant functions taking into account two interaction terms characterizing hydrogen bonds and polar interactions. Of the 24 crude oils selected from miscellaneous geographical and geological origins 80% were correctly classified in three categories related to emulsion stability. Therefore, this model per;mits us to estimate the stability of water-in-crude oil emulsions and provides knowledge, which can be used in the selection of optimal conditions Fur the oil recovery process.