Crude oil desalting method
US6228239A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 26, 1999 |
| Grant date | May 8, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 26, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC10G33/04
- WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
In one embodiment, the invention is related to a process for desalting crude oil that requires less wash water than conventional desalting methods. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a chemical demulsifier formulation comprising an emulsion-breaking chemical and a solvent carrier is added to the crude oil. Wash water is then added to the crude oil until the volume of water in the oil ranges from about 0.1 to about 3 vol. %. Subsequently, the mixture of crude oil, wash water, and chemical demulsifier formulation is subjected to opposed-flow mixing. Chemical emulsion-breakers useful in the invention have a hydrophobic tail group and a hydrophilic head group. Preferably, the emulsion breaker has the formula: ##STR1## x ranges from 1 to 5, y ranges from 0 to 2, and R is an alkyl group having 4-9 carbon atoms, and n ranges from 3 to 9.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.