Marion Alyssa F.

Japitana BSPE 5D

Crude Oil Treating Systems

Removing water from crude oil often requires additional processing beyond gravitational separation. In
selecting a treating system, several factors should be considered to determine the most desirable
methods of treating the crude oil to contract requirements.

Emulsion Treating Theory

Forming Emulsions
For an emulsion to exist there must be two mutually immiscible liquids, an emulsifying agent, and
sufficient agitation to disperse the discontinuous phase into the continuous phase. In oil production, oil
and water are the two mutually immiscible liquids. An emulsifying agent in the form of small solid
particles, paraffins, asphaltenes, etc., is almost always present in the formation fluids, and sufficient
agitation always occurs as fluid makes its way into the well bore, up the tubing, and through the surface
choke.

Emulsifying Agent
An emulsifying agent has a surface active behavior. Some element in the emulsifier has a preference for
the oil, and other elements are more attracted to the water. An emulsifier tends to be insoluble in one
of the liquid phases. It thus concentrates at the interface.

Demulsifiers
Chemical demulsifiers sold under various trade names, such as Tretolite, Visco, and Breaxit, are
highly useful in resolving emulsions. Demulsifiers act to neutralize the effect of emulsifying agents.
Typically, they are surface active agents and thus their excessive use can decrease the surface tension of
water droplets and actually create more stable emulsions.
There are four important actions required of a demulsifier:
1. Strong attraction to the oil-water interface.
2. Flocculation.
3. Coalescence.
4. Solid wetting.

TREATING EQUIPMENT
Vertical Treaters
The most commonly used single-well lease treater is the vertical treater as shown in Figure 6-8. Flow
enters the top of the treater into a gas separation section. Care must be exercised to size this section so
that it has adequate dimensions to separate the gas from the inlet flow. If the treater is located
downstream of a separator, this chamber can be very small. The gas separation section should have an
inlet diverter and a mist extractor.
Marion Alyssa F. Japitana BSPE 5D

Horizontal Treaters
For most multi-well situations horizontal treaters are normally required. Flow enters the front section of
the treater where gas is flashed. The liquid falls around the outside to the vicinity of the oil-water
interface where the liquid is "water washed" and the free water is separated. Oil and emulsion rise past
the fire tubes and are skimmed into the oil surge chamber. The oil-water interface in the inlet section of
the vessel is controlled by an interface level controller, which operates a dump valve for the free water.

Electrostatic Treaters
Some treaters use an electrode section. The flow path in an electrostatic treater is the same as a
horizontal treater. The only difference is that an AC and/or DC electrostatic field is used to promote
coalescence of the water droplets.