Surface tension is a property of the surface of a liquid. It is what causes the surface portion of liquid to be attracted to another surface, such as that of another portion of liquid (as in connecting bits of water or as in a drop of mercury that forms a cohesive ball).
Separation of oil and water is caused by a tension in the surface between dissimilar liquids. This type of surface tension is called “interface tension“, but its physics are the same.
spectrophotometry is the quantifiable study of electromagnetic spectra. More specific than the general term electromagnetic spectroscopy in that spectrophotometry deals with visible light, near-ultraviolet, and near-infrared.
Surfactants (surface-active agents) are wetting agents that lower the surface tension of a liquid, allowing easier spreading, and lower the interfacial tension between two liquids
huff and puff: to breathe very hard; to pant as one exerts effort
Cyclic steam stimulation (steam injection): (1) injection, (2) soaking and (3)production.
Steam is first injected into a well for a certain amount of time to heat the oil in the surrounding reservoir to a temperature at which it flows. Left to “soak” for some time after. Oil is produced out at first by natural flow.