Desalter

Abstract: A sheet nano-porous membrane (PAN), nominal pore size 10 nm is experimentally employed in order to treat the oily wastewater in a desalter plant. Response surface methodology (RSM) based on Box–Behnken method is used to design the experiment and analyze five operating parameters including; trans-membrane pressure (TMP), salt concentration, cross flow velocity (CFV), pH and feed temperature. The maximum permeation flux of 180.1 L/m 2 h is identified by RSM at feed temperature of 45 °C, TMP of 4 bar, CFV of 1.3 m/s, pH of 10 and salt concentration of 11.2 g/L. The results show that nano-porous membrane is efficient for treatment of petroleum refinery waste water, so that total suspended solids, total dissolved solids, oil and grease content and chemical and biochemical oxygen demand are increased to 100%, 44.4%, 99.9%, 80.3% and 76.9%, respectively. The treated water by the proposed method meets the process and industrial water quality requirements for the discharge to the environment or reuse as agricultural water.

Abstract: A process for upgrading heavy crude oil production is described which involves adding a diluent, or solvent, which is a light hydrocarbon to reduce the viscosity and specific gravity of the crude oil being processed. After dilution, the emulsions in the crude are broken and the separation of the crude into the components follows, aided by a second injection of diluent. This upgrades the crude and enhances the amount recovered for processing at a refinery. A high asphalt content of a heavy crude can also be tolerated in the practice of this invention resulting in environmentally-benign solids and water exiting a process which due to the modularization of equipment can be practiced at the well-head itself.

Abstract: Four research crude oil spills discharged on the open ocean off the New Jersey coast were chemically treated with a dispersant. The underlying water was then analyzed to determine the dispersion of oil into the water column and the rate of loss (weathering) of low molecular weight hydrocarbons from the dispersed oil. The highest concentrations of oil were 3 mg/l for La Rose crude oil and 18 mg/l for Murban crude oil. The dispersed oil weathered very rapidly, with evaporation of C1-C10 hydrocarbons greatly exceeding solution. Dissolved hydrocarbons were not found at the method detection limit of 0.01