The object of the study is high-viscosity emulsions consisting of two immiscible liquids – oil and water. Factors affecting both the viscosity of such emulsions and the phase inversion point are considered. It was experimentally established that the phase inversion point is within the product water content from 50 to 80% and is characterized by the highest viscosity values of oil-water emulsions. However, under certain factors affecting the dispersion system, this range can increase to 85%. The influence of such parameters as water density, oil density, oil viscosity, mixing intensity, liquid shear rate, interfacial tension at the oil-water interface, acidity (pH) of the water phase on the rheological behavior of dispersed systems with respect to the displacement of the phase inversion point and the viscosity of oil-water emulsions is studied. The rheological dependences of the dynamic viscosity of oil-water emulsions on the above-mentioned factors were obtained. The factors that affect the phase inversion of dispersed systems and the value of the dynamic viscosity of oil-water emulsions are determined. The criteria for the influence of these factors on the displacement of the inversion point of the phases of the emulsions are revealed. An empirical equation is derived that takes into account the effect of the displacement of the phase inversion point as a function of the difference in the densities of oil and water. The main conclusions on the phase inversion offset are presented, which can be used to develop decision-making algorithms for predicting the phase inversion point and the dynamic viscosity of oil-water emulsions both during production and transportation, and during oil preparation.
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