Abstract Heavy oil, commonly defined by high density, viscosity, and heavy components distinguishing it from light oil, has a peculiar nature with respect to emulsification. In this article, we delve into the colloid and interface aspects of heavy oil emulsions and their types (heavy oil-in-water emulsion and water in-heavy oil emulsion) along with their industrial applications and occurrences. We observe the paradoxical roles heavy oil emulsions play at different stages of heavy oil production such as upstream, midstream, downstream (and other related areas). First, indigenous surface-active agents in the heavy oil are discussed along with the upstream efforts to generate chemically stable in-situ oil-in-water emulsion in the reservoir to improve displacement efficiency of heavy oil. Functions of naturally formed heavy oil emulsions encountered at the different stages of thermal recovery applications are also presented. This is followed by the review of mid-stream demulsification and emulsification efforts during the oil processing and production periods. The paper is then finalized with the discussion on the final demulsification attempts in the downstream sector defined by the refining process and wastewater management—along with other relevant areas of oil spill and aquifer remediation. With this comprehensive overview of the roles that heavy oil emulsions play in the heavy oil industry, we hope to interconnect the separate, detached views of heavy oil emulsions existing in distinct heavy oil industry sectors and provide a globalized, big-picture view for enhanced understanding of heavy oil emulsions and their applications. The results from this investigation demonstrate that a comparative approach towards heavy oil emulsions is necessary to bolster a more optimal and dynamic manipulation of functions and properties of heavy oil emulsion throughout the industry.

中文翻译：

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重油乳液综合综述：胶体科学与实际应用

摘要 重油通常被定义为高密度、高粘度和重质组分以区别于轻油，在乳化方面具有独特的性质。在本文中，我们深入研究了稠油乳液及其类型（重水包油乳液和重油包水乳液）的胶体和界面方面，以及它们的工业应用和发生情况。我们观察到重油乳液在重油生产的不同阶段（例如上游、中游、下游（和其他相关区域））扮演的矛盾角色。首先，讨论了稠油中的原生表面活性剂以及上游努力在油藏中生成化学稳定的原位水包油乳液以提高稠油的驱替效率。还介绍了在热采应用的不同阶段遇到的天然形成的重油乳液的功能。随后是对石油加工和生产期间中游破乳和乳化工作的审查。然后，论文最后讨论了由炼油过程和废水管理定义的下游部门的最终破乳尝试，以及其他相关领域的漏油和含水层修复。通过对重油乳状液在重油工业中的作用的全面概述，我们希望将存在于不同重油工业部门的重油乳状液的独立、独立的观点相互联系起来，并提供一个全球化的、全局的观点，以增强理解重油乳液及其应用.