Patent · US Expired

Process and apparatus for eliminating oil field waste pits

US4774007A · kind A · utility

11Cited by
7References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 25, 1987
Grant dateSep 27, 1988
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 25, 2007

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE21B21/063
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

The apparatus provides for a housing mountable on a trailer for conducting the process in-situ. A pump withdraws substantially all hydrocarbon-contaminated matter from the oil waste pit and delivers it into a lower chamber formed in the housing, wherein the hydrocarbon-contaminated matter is separated from the heavy solid particles and heavy salt water. The hydrocarbon-containing mixture, after being separated in the lower housing is delivered into the upper chamber formed in the housing and heated to facilitate separation, by gravity, of hydrocarbons, water and fine particles into various layers for subsequent withdrawal from the housing. The process of withdrawal of the hydrocarbon-contaminated mixture continues until hydrocarbon content of the oil waste pit is reduced to such degree that the waste pit becomes substantially hydrocarbon-free and is environmentally safe.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.