Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D11/00—Solvent extraction
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
  • C10G—CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION; RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES
  • C10G31/00—Refining of hydrocarbon oils, in the absence of hydrogen, by methods not otherwise provided for
  • C10G31/08—Refining of hydrocarbon oils, in the absence of hydrogen, by methods not otherwise provided for by treating with water
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P25/00—Drugs for disorders of the nervous system
  • A61P25/18—Antipsychotics, i.e. neuroleptics; Drugs for mania or schizophrenia
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P25/00—Drugs for disorders of the nervous system
  • A61P25/24—Antidepressants
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P25/00—Drugs for disorders of the nervous system
  • A61P25/28—Drugs for disorders of the nervous system for treating neurodegenerative disorders of the central nervous system, e.g. nootropic agents, cognition enhancers, drugs for treating Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
  • B01F23/00—Mixing according to the phases to be mixed, e.g. dispersing or emulsifying
  • B01F23/40—Mixing liquids with liquids; Emulsifying
  • B01F23/49—Mixing systems, i.e. flow charts or diagrams
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
  • B01F25/00—Flow mixers; Mixers for falling materials, e.g. solid particles
  • B01F25/30—Injector mixers
  • B01F25/31—Injector mixers in conduits or tubes through which the main component flows
  • B01F25/314—Injector mixers in conduits or tubes through which the main component flows wherein additional components are introduced at the circumference of the conduit
  • B01F25/3141—Injector mixers in conduits or tubes through which the main component flows wherein additional components are introduced at the circumference of the conduit with additional mixing means other than injector mixers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01F—MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING
  • B01F25/00—Flow mixers; Mixers for falling materials, e.g. solid particles
  • B01F25/40—Static mixers
  • B01F25/42—Static mixers in which the mixing is affected by moving the components jointly in changing directions, e.g. in tubes provided with baffles or obstructions
  • B01F25/43—Mixing tubes, e.g. wherein the material is moved in a radial or partly reversed direction
  • B01F25/431—Straight mixing tubes with baffles or obstructions that do not cause substantial pressure drop; Baffles therefor
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
  • C10G—CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION; RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES
  • C10G17/00—Refining of hydrocarbon oils in the absence of hydrogen, with acids, acid-forming compounds or acid-containing liquids, e.g. acid sludge
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C10—PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
  • C10G—CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION; RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES
  • C10G31/00—Refining of hydrocarbon oils, in the absence of hydrogen, by methods not otherwise provided for

Definitions

• the typical process for desalting crude oil involves mixing fresh water into a crude oil stream and taking a pressure drop across a mixing valve. In this way the fresh water "washes" the salt out of the oil. Once the oil and water are mixed, the water is extracted from the oil by flowing the mixture through an electrostatic dehydrator. To avoid creating an emulsion that an electrostatic field cannot process, the pressure drop across the mixing valve is typically limited to less than 15 psi.
• As production and processing techniques for crude oil have evolved it has become common for the techniques to create salt crystals in the crude oil. Because these crystals cannot be removed directly by the electrostatic process, the crystals must first be dissolved or wetted by the fresh water. However, the crystals are difficult to dissolve because they are oil-coated. Use of pressure drops higher than 15 psi, therefore, is required to dissolve the salt out of the oil prior to extraction by the electrostatic field.
• Dual frequency is a new electrostatic technology; dual polarity is an older technology.
• the dual frequency process coupled to a three-stage mix system easily met the salt limit, thus showing the superiority of using the dual frequency process.
• the data support a finding that higher mixer energy is required to dissolve salt crystals but at the same time it creates an emulsion that is more difficult to resolve. This test suggests that some portion of the mix energy can be provided by a pump. Table 1.
• a method and system for reducing the salt content of a crude oil stream includes using a quill to disperse a fresh water stream into the crude oil stream and then routing the mixed oil/water stream through four mixing stages. Each mixing stage increases the homogeneity of the mixed oil/water stream.
• the first mixing stage produces the only backpressure the crude charge pump needs to overcome.
• the mixed oil/water stream is electrostatically treated in a separator vessel.
• the separator vessel may be a dual frequency separator vessel or a dual polarity separator vessel (desalter).
• the desalted oil is removed from an upper portion of the vessel and the effluent water is extracted from a lower portion of the vessel.
• the first and third mixing stages include static mixers and are lower pressure mixing stages relative to the second mixing stage.
• the pressure drop across the first and third mixing stages may be in the range of 3 to 5 psi.
• the second mixing stage provides a pressure increase effective for flowing the mixed oil/water stream through the third and fourth mixing stages.
• This second stage preferably includes a boost pump and provides a pressure increase of about 25 psi.
• the fourth mixing stage includes a mixing valve and is capable of providing higher mix energy than the third stage.
• the pressure drop across the valve may be in the range of 5 to 20 psi.
• one or more four-stage mixing systems and separator vessels in series may be required. Similarly, the first and second mixing stages may be bypassed.
• the water stream may include a wash water that has been preconditioned with an effluent water.
• the effluent water that is extracted from the separator vessel may be recycled and used in the preconditioning step.
• a static mixer may be used to precondition the wash water by mixing the wash water with the effluent water.
• a portion of the recycled effluent water may also be routed to a second four-stage mixing system and separator vessel.
• Figure 1 is a diagram of a mix system that includes a water mixer, a water injection quill, a boost pump, two oil/water mixers positioned upstream and downstream of the boost pump, and a mix valve.
• Figure 2 is a diagram of a two stage desalting process.
• a first mix system of Figure 1, represented by the first dashed outline and including the mix valve, is positioned ahead of the first separator vessel.
• a second mix system of Figure 1 represented by the second dashed outline and including the wash water and mix valve, is positioned ahead of the second separator vessel.
• Figure 3 is a diagram of a single stage desalting process employing a single mix system.
• the mix system is represented by the dashed outline including the wash water and mix valve.
• Figure 4 is an arrangement of a piping system configured for connecting the various components of the mix system. Pressure gauges, isolation valves and bypass piping are provided.
• an oil/water mix system 10 includes a boost pump 36, static mixers 24, 28, and 38, and a mix valve 46.
• a crude charge pump 12 supplies a crude oil stream that flows through a heat exchanger 16 at a predetermined rate and into a water injection quill 18.
• Quill 18 is of a type well-known in the art for dispersing water into the crude.
• a primary function of quill 18 is to disperse water received from a water mixer 24 into the center of the crude stream for maximum mixing effect.
• Water mixer 24 mixes recycled water 22 with wash water 20 prior to waters 20, 22 being injected into the crude stream.
• Water mixer 24 is preferably configured so that a substantially homogeneous water stream is produced.
• Recycled water 22 is preferably drawn from a bottom portion of a desalting vessel (see Figure 2). If the recycled water 22 is of a very low salinity, it can be used effectively to extract and dilute additional salt in the crude stream.
• Wash water 20 is preferably fresh water which may come from any number of sources. Because wash water 20 is fresh water, it fails to disperse as rapidly in crude and contact the crystallized salt as does recycled water 22. Recycled water 22 may disperse more readily because it has been previously contacted by the crude, making it more compatible with the crude.
• Mixing the two water sources 20, 22 in mixer 24 prior to injection has the advantage of preconditioning the wash water 20, making wash water 20 easier to disperse into the crude and contact the crystalline salt.
• a wetting agent may be added to wash water 20 to improve the efficiency of droplet-crystal contact.
• the pressure drop across mixer 24 is preferably in a range of 3 to 5 psi.
• the water stream exiting water mixer 24 is routed through injection quill 18 to oil/water mixer 28.
• Mixer 28 is of a type well-known in the ait and preferably comprises several short stationary vanes arranged in series. Each vane rotates the oil/water emulsion stream 90 degrees and subsequent vanes are set at a 90 degree angle to split the flow of the stream.
• Mixer 28 provides a first stage of mixing to increase homogeneity of the oil/water emulsion.
• the pressure drop across mixer 28 is preferably in a range of 3 to 5 psi. This pressure drop represents the only pressure drop that crude charge pump 12 must overcome.
• Pump 36 is of a type well-known in the art and typically used to increase pressure in a pipeline. Pump 36 is preferably a variable frequency drive pump and the differential pressure across pump 36 is preferably about 25 psi. Pump 36 provides two primary functions for mix system 10. First, pump 36 provides a second stage of mixing between the crude oil and the substantially homogenous mix of waters 20, 22. To avoid excessive shearing, pump 36 is a closed impeller type pump, but because pump 36 is mixing as well as pumping an open impeller might prove better in certain applications. Second, pump 36 increases pressure of the flowing oil/water emulsion.
• Mixer 38 which is preferably similar to mixer 28, further homogenizes the oil/water emulsion.
• Mixer 38 is required in case pump 36 should promote centrifugal separation of the waters 20, 22 from the crude oil.
• Mixer 38 represents a third stage of mixing.
• Mix valve 46 is of a type well-known in the art and typically is a single or double port globe valve or a ball valve. The style of valve used is not critical to the process but preferably mix valve 46 is suitable for creating pressure drops ranging from 5 to 20 psi. Mix valve 46 represents a fourth and final stage of mixing.
• a first stage includes a separator vessel 48 in communication with mix valve 46.
• Separator vessel 48 is of a type well-known in the art and oys an electrostatic process.
• a National Tank Company DUAL POLARITY® treater has been used as separator vessel 48.
• a recycle pump 62 provides recycled water 22 drawn from a bottom portion of a second separator vessel 58. Brine extracted from a bottom portion of vessel 48 may be sent to a discharge sewer. Crude extracted from a top portion of vessel 48 is then routed to second mix system 10 positioned ahead of second stage vessel 58.
• the second stage includes a separator vessel 58 in communication with a second mix valve 46. Separator vessel 58 is preferably similar to vessel 48. Because the second stage typically uses wash water 20 and recycled water 22, water mixer 24 (not shown) is included in the second mix system 10. Desalted oil is then discharged from a top portion of vessel 58.
• mix system 10 may also be used ahead of a single stage desalting process.
• a recycle pump 62 provides recycled water 22 drawn from a bottom portion of separator vessel 48. Because wash water 20 is also provided, mix system 10 preferably includes a water mixer 24. Desalted oil is discharged from a top portion of vessel 48.
• Vessel 48 preferably includes a dual frequency electrostatic process such as the National Tank Company DUAL FREQUENCY® electrostatic process.
• a set of isolation valves 26, 40 may be provided to isolate the first oil/water mixer 28 and pump 36 from the oil/water emulsion exiting quill 18.
• the oil/water emulsion then flows through a bypass piping 64 and into the second oil/water mixer 38.
• Flow of the oil/water emulsion is controlled by a bypass valve 32.
• Pressure gauges 30, 34 monitor the pressure within the bypass piping 64 upstream and downstream of bypass valve 32.
• a pressure gauge 42 monitors the pressure at pump 36.
• isolation valves 50 and 52 may be provided to isolate wash water 20 and recycled water 22, respectively, from mixer 24.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Bioinformatics & Cheminformatics (AREA)
• Biomedical Technology (AREA)
• Neurology (AREA)
• Neurosurgery (AREA)
• Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
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• Pharmacology & Pharmacy (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
• Hospice & Palliative Care (AREA)
• Pain & Pain Management (AREA)
• Production Of Liquid Hydrocarbon Mixture For Refining Petroleum (AREA)
• Extraction Or Liquid Replacement (AREA)

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• 2009
  • 2009-03-25 US US12/411,114 patent/US20090242384A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2009-03-26 BR BRPI0910313A patent/BRPI0910313A2/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2009-03-26 JP JP2011502037A patent/JP5509191B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2009-03-26 SG SG2013018072A patent/SG188888A1/en unknown
  • 2009-03-26 GB GB1015438A patent/GB2470858A/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2009-03-26 CA CA2718522A patent/CA2718522A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2009-03-26 WO PCT/US2009/038336 patent/WO2009120822A2/en not_active Ceased
• 2010
  • 2010-09-02 NO NO20101228A patent/NO20101228L/no not_active Application Discontinuation

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