Conceptual study of a salt gradient solar pond in the crude oil production industry. Final report
This project is a conceptual study of the application of Salt Gradient and Solar Pond (SGSP) technology to the crude oil production operation of the Double U Oil Company near Big Wells, Dimmit County, Texas. The SGSP is intended to provide 140/sup 0/F process heat to an emulsion of crude oil and brine that comes from several producing wells, in order to assist in the separation of the oil from the waste brine. A preliminary design of the facility has been prepared, including the sizing of the SGSP and all major equipment. Pond development processes have been established that use the waste brine from crude oil production as a low-cost source of salt water for the SGSP itself. An economic analysis has been conducted that includes the effects of capital/operating costs, energy and tax savings, and reduction or elimination of waste brine disposal fees currently paid by the crude oil producer. For the Big Wells application, i.e., production rates of 150 barrels per day (BPD) of crude oil plus 65 BPD of brine, a pond area of 16,500 square feet is appropriate. Overall pond depth is 11 1/2 feet and the storage layer depth if 6 1/2 feet. The initial capital cost of the SGSP facility is estimated to be about $91,000. Based on a 20-year system life, a current wellhead price of natural gas of $2.13 per thousand cubic feet, and brine disposal charges of $0.92 per barrel, the total net savings should exceed $339,000 in 1982 dollars. Approximately 75 million cubic feet of natural gas usage should be displaced during the life of the facility. The use of a solar pond in this application appears to be technically feasible and economically attractive. It is recommended that the Big Wells solar pond facility be designed in detail and then constructed.
- Research Organization:
- Applied Solar Engineering, Inc., San Antonio, TX (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5378601
- Report Number(s):
- TENRAC/EDF-086; ON: DE84900406
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Big Hill site named one of 1987's top engineering achievements
Future for geopressured-geothermal resources
Related Subjects
020300 -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
14 SOLAR ENERGY
140905*
BRINES
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
EMULSIONS
ENERGY
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUIPMENT
FEDERAL REGION VI
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HEAT
NORTH AMERICA
OIL WELLS
PERFORMANCE
PETROLEUM
PONDS
PROCESS HEAT
PRODUCTION
SALINITY GRADIENTS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SIMULATION
SIZING
SOLAR COLLECTORS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR PONDS
SOLAR PROCESS HEAT
SURFACE WATERS
TEXAS
USA
WELLS