HYDROCARBONS RECOVERY

• US 20140008271A1
• Filed: 09/09/2011
• Published: 01/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Shell Oil Company (Shell Plc)
• Inventors: Moene, Robert, Nijmeijer, Arian, Mul, Wilhelmus Petrus
• Application Number:
  US13/821,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20140008271A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 208/188
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 17/0214 with removal of one of the phases
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 17/047 with separation aids
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 17/08 Thickening liquid suspensions by filtration
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 17/085 with membranes
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 2300/4081 Recycling aspects
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 31/08 by treating with water
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 33/04 with chemical means
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/40 Separation associated with re-injection of separated materials E21B43/385 takes precedence

Abstract

Methods and systems of separating a hydrocarbon phase from a mixture comprising an emulsion of water and hydrocarbons in the presence of a surfactant, comprising adjusting the salinity of the mixture to release hydrocarbons and water from the emulsion into a hydrocarbon phase and a salt-containing aqueous phase respectively; and separating at least a part of the hydrocarbon phase from the salt-containing aqueous phase wherein at least a part of the salt-containing aqueous phase is recovered for further use.

Claims

1. A method of separating a hydrocarbon phase from a mixture comprising an emulsion of water and hydrocarbons in the presence of a surfactant, the method comprising:

adjusting the salinity of the mixture to release hydrocarbons and water from the emulsion into a hydrocarbon phase and a salt-containing aqueous phase respectively; and

separating at least a part of the hydrocarbon phase from the salt-containing aqueous phase,

wherein at least a part of the salt-containing aqueous phase is recovered for further use.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising reusing at least a part of the salt-containing aqueous phase to adjust the salinity of the mixture.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the salinity of the mixture is adjusted by increasing the salinity of the mixture.

4. A method according to claim 1 further comprising desalinating the salt-containing aqueous phase to provide a first stream having a relatively high salinity and a second stream having a relatively low salinity.

5. A method according to claim 4 further comprising reusing the high salinity stream to increase the salinity of the mixture.

6. A method according to claim 4 further comprising reusing the low salinity stream to wash the hydrocarbon phase to recover surfactant.

14. A chemical enhanced oil recovery process comprising injecting surfactant recovered by the method of claim 5 into a hydrocarbon-bearing formation.

15. A chemical oil recovery process according to claim 14 wherein the surfactant is combined with salt from the high salinity stream.

7. A hydrocarbons separation system comprising:

an inlet for introducing a mixture comprising an emulsion of water and hydrocarbons in the presence of a surfactant;

a salinity adjustment station for adjusting the salinity of the mixture;

separating means for separating from the mixture a hydrocarbon phase and a salt-containing aqueous phase; and

recovery means for recovering at least a part of the salt-containing aqueous phase for further use.

8. A system according to claim 7 wherein the recovery means comprises a conduit for recycling at least a part of the salt-containing aqueous phase to the salinity adjustment station to adjust the salinity of the mixture.

9. A system according to claim 7 comprising a membrane for separating the hydrocarbon phase from the aqueous phase.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein the membrane acts as the separating means, either alone or in combination with a phase separation vessel.

11. A system according to any one of claim 7, further comprising desalination means for desalinating the salt-containing aqueous phase to provide a first stream with a relatively high salinity and a second stream with a relatively low salinity.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the desalination means comprises a reverse osmosis unit, a nanofiltration unit, or a nanofiltration unit upstream of a reverse osmosis unit.

13. A system according to claim 11 further comprising washing means for washing the hydrocarbon phase and recovering a surfactant recycle stream, and a conduit for channelling the second, low salinity stream to the washing means.