(59c) Desalting Applications

Oil refineries use desalting, liquid-liquid electrostatic precipitation, to remove salt-containing water from crude oil streams. The same technology and equipment is used in oilfield production[1]. In refineries desalting reduces corrosion costs, increases capacity, improves reliability, and makes operation more stable.

This field guide reviews the state-of-the art on application of desalting technology. Topics covered include:

• Desalter types (high-velocity, three-grid, spherical, horizontal)
• Grid types (horizontal, vertical)
• Feed injection (between the grids, below the grids, in the water)
• Feed velocity (adjustable, fixed)
• Mud wash

[1] Oilfield production operations commonly call the operation dehydration instead of desalting.