To solve the problem of low-temperature demulsification and dehydration of crude oil at a target joint station, the influence of crude oil components on emulsion stability was first investigated.Crude oil components were separated to prepare model oils, and the interfacial properties, zeta potential, particle size distribution and microstructure of the corresponding emulsions were systematically characterized.The results show that the effects of different components on the stability of water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions follow the order: paraffin wax > resins > aromatics > saturates.Subsequently, the changes in interfacial properties, particle size distribution and microstructure of the crude oil emulsion under the action of demulsifier PR-1 were investigated.Mechanism analysis reveals that the demulsification and dehydration process of the crude oil emulsion mainly undergoes three stages: flocculation, coalescence and sedimentation of emulsified water droplets.The demulsifier first dissolves in the oil phase, then diffuses to the oil-water interface and adsorbs there via molecular motion. It displaces the native active components in crude oil and rearranges to form a new interfacial film with lower strength.This leads to the rupture of the interfacial film and the release of the encapsulated emulsified water droplets, ultimately achieving low-temperature demulsification and dehydration for the target joint station.