(21c) Controlling Quality Variations in the Feed to Desalters

The quality of crude oil charged to the desalter can vary day to day or even with in minutes to produce desalter upsets. Several tools and tests can be used to monitor crude quality and help in the development of mitigation strategies. One of the most useful mitigation strategies to control quality variations is crude oil pretreatment. Crude pretreatment resolves complex emulsions in the crude oil that could otherwise lead to desalter upsets. The pretreatment also conditions solids so that they may more easily be handled in the desalter.