Method of removing water and contaminants from crude oil containing same
First Claim
1. A method of removing water and solids from crude oil containing water and solids, comprising:
- a dehydration phase and a separation phase, said dehydration phase including;
providing a source of crude oil containing water;
providing a dehydrator for dehydrating said crude oil containing water, said dehydrator having an inlet and an outlet and a vaporizing surface of dry crude oil at temperatures sufficient to vaporize water contacting said surface;
exposing said source of crude oil to said dry crude;
vaporizing said water in said source;
said separation phase including;
isolating within said dehydrator solids present in dehydrated crude from said dehydrated crude; and
re-circulating at least a portion of dehydrated and solid separated crude for contact with at least one of said dehydrator or said source of crude oil for maintaining a substantially uniform temperature at said vaporizing surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for contaminant and water removal from crude oil. The method involves recirculating at least a portion of the dewatered crude into a dehydrator. The dehydrator contains a heated dehydrated crude oil and the surface or adjacent thereto is maintained at a temperature sufficient to vaporize any water contacting the surface from crude oil to be treated in the dehydrator. It has been found important to maintain a substantially uniform temperature at or below the vaporizing surface in order to effectively treat crude oil for dewatering purposes. Significant temperature fluctuations are typically realized by dehydrators since heat enthalpy is removed in order to vaporize the water in the crude oil. Such fluctuations lead to process complications and upset and are therefore undesirable. The instant invention recognizes this limitation and substantially reduces foaming and provides for a smoothly running and efficient dehydration process.
10 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of removing water and solids from crude oil containing water and solids, comprising:
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a dehydration phase and a separation phase, said dehydration phase including;
providing a source of crude oil containing water;
providing a dehydrator for dehydrating said crude oil containing water, said dehydrator having an inlet and an outlet and a vaporizing surface of dry crude oil at temperatures sufficient to vaporize water contacting said surface;
exposing said source of crude oil to said dry crude;
vaporizing said water in said source;
said separation phase including;
isolating within said dehydrator solids present in dehydrated crude from said dehydrated crude; and
re-circulating at least a portion of dehydrated and solid separated crude for contact with at least one of said dehydrator or said source of crude oil for maintaining a substantially uniform temperature at said vaporizing surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of removing water and solids from a crude oil containing water and solids, comprising:
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a dehydration phase and a separation phase, said dehydration phase including;
providing a source of crude oil containing water;
providing a dehydrator for dehydrating said crude oil, said dehydrator having an inlet and an outlet and a vaporizing surface of dry crude oil at a temperature sufficient to vaporize water contacting said surface;
contacting said source and said dry crude oil to flash water from said source to thereby remove said water from said source;
said separation phase including;
isolating within said dehydrator solids present in dehydrated crude from said dehydrated crude;
re-circulating said dehydrated crude oil for contact immediately below said vaporizing surface; and
re-circulating said dehydrated crude oil for mixing with said source of crude oil, whereby said vaporizing surface is selectively heated to return heat energy lost from flash evaporating water from said source. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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17. A method of upgrading effluent containing crude oil to dehydrated crude oil, comprising:
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a conditioning phase, a dehydration phase, and a separation phase, said conditioning phase including;
providing a source of effluent at least containing crude oil with water entrained therein and solids;
pretreating said effluent to remove at least some of said water and solids to thereby concentrate the crude oil;
said dehydration phase including;
providing a dehydrator for dehydrating said crude oil, said dehydrator having an inlet and an outlet and a vaporizing surface of dry crude oil at temperatures sufficient to vaporize water contacting said surface;
exposing said crude oil to said dry crude;
vaporizing said water in said crude oil to dehydrate said crude oil; and
said separation phase including;
isolating within said dehydrator solids present in dehydrated crude to form clean dehydrated crude oil.
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Specification