Heavy Oil Desalting

“Performance Issues”

Dr. Davis Taggart, NATCO R & D

 Desalting Steps
Desalter Flow Diagram
Oil Outlet Transformer
• Demulsifier Injection
• Process Heating Desalter
• Dil ti W
Dilution Water
t IInjection
j ti
Feed
• Mixing Stream
• Interface Control
Mixing
• Mud Wash Valve
• Electrostatic Dehydration
y
• Effluent Water Effluent
Water 
Dilution Recycle
Water  Pump
Demulsifiers z Higher Field Dosages
z Increased Refinery dosage
z Reverse Emulsion Breakers
1.6
z E
Easy tto Overtreat
O t t
Best z Electrostatic Compatibility
1.4
Over-Treat
BS&W, %

1.2
Under-Treat
1
Effluent B

08
0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0 50 100 150 200
Chemical Dosage, ppm
Process Heating

z Reduced heat transfer

z Increased temperature
p
required
z More heat demand
z Higher exchanger fouling
z Potential for crystalline
y salts
Dilution Water
z Increased water demand
z More heat demand
z Recycle water can be used
Electrostatic BS&W NaCl
Mix Technology
Technology % ptb
3 Static + Valve Deep-field AC 0.6 2.2
3 Static + Valve Dual Polarity 0.4 1.3
3 Static + Valve Dual Frequency 0.15 0.5
Dynamic Dual Frequency 0.3 1
 Mixing
200 z Reduced mixing intensity
S OF OIL)

z
OF SALT

Increased pressure drop

z Creates tighter emulsions
z Produces more interface rag
PTB (POUNDS O
000 BBLS

z Compromises electrostatic
100 dehydration
PER 10

TYPICAL FIELD 
0 REQUIREMENTS
0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 TYPICAL REFINERY 
RESIDUAL WATER (%)
RESIDUAL WATER (%) REQUIREMENTS
Q S
Interface Control

• Interface formation up to 15% of charge
Interface formation up to 15% of charge
• Heavy solids loading
Top View
• Potential asphaltene
i l h l
• Interface drains essential Interface Layer
y
Oil Layer

Water
Layer

Side View

Tool Stool Drain

Pipe Header
Mud Washing

z Continuous preferred over intermittent

z Heavier loading to water plant
z Higher organic content
Spray Nozzles

Recycle
Water

Sand Drain
T
Trough
h Water
Electrostatic Dehydration

z Desalter capacity
capacit is red
reduced
ced
z Slower water coalescence
z Hindered
Hi d d by b filterable
filt bl solids
lid
z Needs viscosity between 5 and 10 cp.
z Lower density differential
z Slower water separation
 AC/DC El
Electrostatic
t t ti Field
Fi ld
•Dual Polarityy®
•Modulated Dual Polarity ®
Electro Dynamic Desalter ®
•Electro-Dynamic
•Dual Frequency ® ux
Oil Flu

Bulk

}
W t
Water
Removal
 Desalting Technology
1000
Inlet Salt Outlet Salt %BSW
Cl (ptb)

100
ntent NaC

10
Salt Con

0.1
AC AC-AC DF DF-DF DF-EDD EDD-DF EDD-EDD

Desalting Technology
Effluent Water

z Heavy
Hea solids loading
z Heavy oil loading
z Slower
Sl rates
t ini a Biotreating
Bi t ti facility
f ilit