Method for utilization of oil field waste brine to develop a salt gradient solar pond
US4479486A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 24, 1983 |
| Grant date | Oct 30, 1984 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 24, 2003 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S159/903
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A process and method is disclosed for utilizing oil field waste brine to develop and maintain a salt gradient solar pond which in turn provides thermal energy for doing work, including improved separation of oil/brine emulsions into waste brine, crude oil, and natural gas; hot brine from the storage layer of the developed solar pond provides heat to a process heat exchanger which is intended to elevate the temperature of a working fluid such as an emulsion of crude oil and brine coming from producing oil wells prior to a separation process within a conventional heater treater. Less fuel is required to operate the heater treater. Waste brine from the crude oil process is utilized to develop and maintain the solar pond rather than simply being disposed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.