(220a) Key Parameters Effecting the Desalting Operation of Unconventional Crude Oil

To increase the efficiency of the oil reservoirs, there are a number of methods employed for the recovery of the unconventional crude oil from the reservoir. There are various impurities such as water, inorganic salts, suspended solids, and water-soluble trace metals often available as a composition of the unconventional crude oil. These impurities are required to be removed before processing the crude further in the process. The most common process employed for the process is the desalting operation. Desalting operation will be requiring the emulsifying and demulsifying process as a main part of it. A number of researchers have studied about the various emulsifying agents.

A number of studies are available to study the framework for the removal of water from crude oil. to get the process more and more efficient, there is a dire need to understand the parameters which are affecting the desalting process. In the present study, the various parameters such as operating temperature, amount & quality of water, water & oil mixing, mud washing, chemical treatment and desalter design are studied. The operating temperature can vary from 240 - 290°F depending upon the feed or type of the unconventional oil to be processed. The rate of water for the overall desalter can vary from 7-14 volume % of the crude. At the time of processing the crude, viscosity also plays an important role. A number of times, when an unconventional crude oil with the density of approx 19 API is to be treated, a thermal treatment is given first to melt off the viscosity and then to act in the desalting process.