Demulsification key to production efficiency
- Exxon Chemical Co., Oklahoma City, OK (US)
Concern over the declining profitability in the petroleum industry has generated renewed interest in reducing costs and enhancing profits. This article discusses one are often overlooked when trying to optimize profits, the process of demulsification. Resolving crude oil emulsions is a costly operational problem in most producing fields. Because it is one of the least understood facets of the petroleum industry, the costs associated with demulsification are often excessive. Although there are many similarities, desalting is a separate subject from demulsification. The removal of produced water from crude oil is the primary goal of demulsification, while minimizing the salt content in crude oil is the object of a desalting program. Understanding demulsification and desalting concepts is important to design engineers. The author discusses how this knowledge enables them to design systems that minimize operating costs while meeting present, as well as future, needs.
- OSTI ID:
- 7156100
- Journal Information:
- Petroleum Engineer International; (USA), Journal Name: Petroleum Engineer International; (USA) Vol. 61:8; ISSN 0031-6466; ISSN PEEID
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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