Method and device for separating emulsions

A system for separating emulsions containing water, an emulsifying agent, petroleum products and possible contaminants, wherein emulsion is fed under controlled laminar flow into at least one separation chamber containing previously separated water and a petroleum layer floating thereon. The emulsion is fed into the separation chamber immediately below the petroleum layer, while the temperature of the emulsion is maintained above the temperature of the previously separated water. The emulsion is thus caused to propagate freely and horizontally in a thin layer between the petroleum layer and the previously separated water, whereby the emulsion self-separates while being substantially stagnant.