Separation performance of an oil-water hydrocyclone depends very much on the physical properties of the feed emulsion or dispersion. These properties can be influenced by numerous factors, particularly water cut and the type of emulsion. In this exploratory work, the effects of water cut and flowrate on de-watering capabilities of a hydrocyclone with a complex emulsion in the feed line are investigated. Two flow rates of 25 and 35L/min were studied and the water cut was varied from about 8 to 65%. For each case separation, efficiency was measured, the emulsion characterized and its stability checked for the three hydrocyclone streams. Drop size distribution was also examined. Comparison of performance with a simple emulsion was also made.