During deep-sea oil leaks, dispersants may be used to break up the oil into droplets smaller than about 70 mu m, which may then be bioremediated by bacteria before they reach: the oceaft surface. To investigate the mechanism of droplet formation as a function of dispersant type, concentration, and jet velocity, a flowing oleophilic stream containing amphiphiles Was mixed With flowing dodecane and then atomized through a 0.25 mm circular nozzle. The minimum droplet diameters were 2.2, 4.5, and 24 mu m for only 5 w:v % amphiphile in the oil phase for Corexit 9500A, Tergitol 15-S-7 (C12H25CH(OCH2CH2)(7)OH), and a silica nanoparticle/Span 20 mixture, respectively. For Tergitol 15-S-7, the droplet size exhibited the expected scaling with Weber riuniber (We) at low viscosity numbers (Vi < 50); where inertial forces,overcome interfacial forces, and Reynolds number (Re) at high Vi numbers (Vi > 50); where inertial forces overcome viscous forces. However; in the case of the silica nanoparticle/ Span 20 mixture, the magnitude of the exponent of We scaling was found to be smaller than -3/5. A better understanding of how low concentrations of dispersants (with relatively high Oil water interfacial tensions) may be used to provide- a sufficient We with high inertial forces (high Re) in jets to form small oil droplets, which is of interest for advancing environmental protection in the undesired event of a deep-sea oil leak.