The stability of heavy crude oil emulsion is very important in the heavy crude oil transportation. However, in the pipeline transportation process, the oil⁃water volume ratio, water content (water quality fraction) and other factors have a certain influence on the stability of the heavy crude oil emulsion. The microstructure, stability mechanism of emulsion and the role of focused beam reflection measurement (FBRM) technology in the study of stability of emulsion were introduced. The comprehensive effects of different factors such as oil⁃water ratio, water content and additives on emulsion stability were comprehensively analyzed. Finally, the research status of dynamic stability of emulsions was introduced. The main factors affecting the stability of heavy crude oil emulsions are oil⁃water volume ratio, water content, emulsification temperature and salinity, surfactants, alkaline agents. High molecular polymer used to enhance recovery of heavy crude oil also have effect on the stability of emulsion. The dynamic stability of the emulsion was studied by different simulation methods, and the results were similar. Among them, the loop simulation method had the most reference value

Taking the heavy oil production liquid in a block of Liaohe oilfield as the research object, a compound viscosity reducer was formulated according to the current situation, and the effect of the ratio and amount of such viscosity reducer on the viscosity of heavy oil emulsion was studied. The emulsified viscosity reducing agent is composed of non⁃ionic surfactant Triton X⁃100 and zwitterionic surfactant dodecyldimethyl betaine (BS⁃12).The experimental results show that when the mass fraction of 1.6% Triton X⁃100 is added into the heavy oil alone, the viscosity reduction rate of the heavy oil can reach 75.93%; BS⁃12 with a mass fraction of 0.6% and Triton with a mass fraction of 1.6%. Triton X⁃100 is compounded by a volume ratio of 1∶1, and the viscosity reduction rate of heavy oil can be increased to 92.63%. In addition, when the complex system is added in a volume ratio of 1∶1∶1, weak alkali sodium carbonate with a mass fraction of 0.4% is added. After the aqueous solution, the viscosity reducing rate of heavy oil can be further increased to 93.14%, and the stability of the compounding system is also improved.