Treatment of interface rag produced during heavy crude oil processing

摘要

A method for treating an interface rag includes the steps of removing a volume of rag at a controlled rate from an upstream rag source and passing the rag through a high pressure pump and a heater. The heater heats the rag to a temperature of at least 350° F. to thermally decomposing any chemicals that had been added to the interface rag to promote separation. Diluent is then mixed with the heated rag to cool the rag to a temperature less than 300° F. and produce a 30 API rag. The cooled diluted rag is then treated in an electrostatic treater or sent directly to a hydrocyclone cluster. The electrostatic treater is preferably a vertical electrostatic treater with a conical-shaped lower portion and a means for agitating the solid-laden water within the treater to prevent the solids from settling on the bottom of the treater.

主权项

1. A method for treating an oil/water interface (“rag”) extracted from separation, dehydration and desalting equipment, the method comprising the steps of:
(i) removing a volume of rag from a rag source; (ii) passing the volume of rag through a pump to provide pressurized rag, the pressure provided by the pump being effective for preventing boiling a water content of the rag and preventing vaporizing a light hydrocarbon content of the rag; (iii) decomposing one or more separation-producing chemicals contained in the volume of rag by heating the pressurized rag to a first temperature of at least 350° F.; (iv) mixing an amount of diluent with the heated pressurized rag, the amount of diluent being effective for producing a rag of about 30 API; (v) cooling the 30 API rag to a second temperature of less than about 300° F.; and (vi) treating the cooled 30 API rag in a separator device to remove at least a substantial portion of water and solids therefrom without a flashing step.