New electrostatic technology improves water separation from emulsions

Conference · Wed Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:124659

Manning, D K; Sams, G W ^[1]

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1. NATCO Research and Development, Tulsa, OK (United States)

A new technology introduced to the oil producing industry combines electrostatic and centrifugal separation techniques resulting in a coalescence device operable in high water cut emulsions. The equipment can be installed into existing units to de-bottleneck water choked systems or incorporated in new offshore or onshore production facilities. Introduced by NATCO under the name EPICTM (Electro-Pulsed Inductive Coalescer), the devices applies a pulsating DC field across the fluid stream. The dynamics of the electrical flux, voltage and pulse frequency allow optimizing the process to the fluid stream conditions. The use of an insulated electrode allows the unit to function in water-in-oil emulsions near the inversion point, usually 60--65% water content by volume. The application of a pulsed electrostatic field results in increased phase separation rates for most water-in-oil emulsions. Water droplet growths of 300 to 400% have been proven through the increased performance of downstream separation equipment and water droplet distribution analysis.

• OSTI ID: 124659
• Report Number(s): CONF-9503132--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
CENTRIFUGATION
COALESCENCE
DESIGN
ELECTRODES
ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION
EMULSIONS
PERFORMANCE
PETROLEUM
PULSE TECHNIQUES
SEPARATION EQUIPMENT
WATER REMOVAL