Heat Exchanger Descaling System Using Blowdown

摘要

A system for descaling a heat exchanger utilized in a produced water system of a steam-based thermal hydrocarbon recovery operation is provided. The system comprises a heat exchanger for acting on a produced water; a steam separator in fluid communication with a steam generator for separating steam of a steam quality suitable for injection into a hydrocarbon reservoir and blowdown of a lower steam quality, the blowdown being caustic; and a blowdown loop in fluid communication with the steam separator for collecting the caustic blowdown, the blowdown loop also in fluid communication with the heat exchanger for directing the caustic blowdown through the heat exchanger for descaling the heat exchanger.

主权项

1. A system for descaling a heat exchanger in a produced water system of a hydrocarbon production operation using caustic heated water to descale the heat exchanger, the system comprising:
a) a heat exchanger for acting on a produced water; b) a caustic heated water supply; steam separator in fluid communication with a steam generator for separating steam of a steam quality suitable for injection into a hydrocarbon reservoir and blowdown of a lower steam quality, the blowdown being caustic; c) a caustic heated water loop in fluid communication with the caustic heated water supply, the caustic heated water loop loop also in fluid communication with the heat exchanger for directing the caustic heating water through the heat exchanger for descaling the heat exchanger; d) a valve for controlling the rate of flow of the caustic heated water through the heat exchanger; and e) a valve for preventing flow of a produced water through the heat exchanger during descaling of the heat exchanger.