Oil in Water emulsion specialists
Oil in Water emulsion specialists
(OP)
I am involved in an issue regarding the formation of an emulsion on a gas production platform. Currently, an emulsion forms downstream of the production separator due to high oil carry-under with the produced water being accelarated through the Pressure Control Valve.
We are in the process of changing the operating conditions of the platform, this will result in increased velocities in the production flowlines - there is a concern that an emulsion could be formed as a result of the increased velocities.
Does anyone have any experience of this probelm themselves, or can anyone suggest a specialist company or consultant who can help predict the likely hood of an emulsion forming and formulate a solution/preventative action?
Thanks





RE: Oil in Water emulsion specialists
1.- How much emulsion are we expecting, GPM? approx?
2- Approximate % oil in the water (range)?
3- If you can obtain a 1 gal sample i can refer you to 3 or 4 companies that will gladly do the tests for you and recommend an EMULSION BREAKER compound for your specific emulsion.
In other words, i recommend to wait for the emulsion to form and then break it. You will get an oil phase (mostly oil with some water) and and an oil-free(relatively speaking) water phase.
RE: Oil in Water emulsion specialists
Thanks
RE: Oil in Water emulsion specialists
As for any companies that specialize in oil/water separation, contact any of the manufacturers of API Separators or associated types of equipment.
Hope this helps.
saxon
RE: Oil in Water emulsion specialists
ONDEO NALCO
PETROLITE
TRAMFLOC (www.tramfloc.com)
GE BETZ
RE: Oil in Water emulsion specialists
RE: Oil in Water emulsion specialists
Dave Orlebeke/Aquatic Technologies
RE: Oil in Water emulsion specialists
Emulsions are actually asphaltenes, and not formed by mixing oil and water. It structure contains oxygen, nitrogen and sometime sulfur. You cannot separate as oil and water. These are the characteristics of your reservoirs. The only way to combat these is reduce flowrates from the identified wells.
209larry
RE: Oil in Water emulsion specialists
Have spent some time recently working on gas platforms and their produced water systems I can safely say that I have NEVER thought that emulsions were asphaltenes. I have read extensively on subject of produced water in general and gas/cond platforms specifically and never seen any reference to this. I have also spent a significant amount of time working on oil platform produced water systems (although not so recently).
In my experience emulsions tend to be formed by high shearing (due to high pressure drops or pumping) of one of the liquid phases. This problem can then be compounded by the presence of various chemicals such as corrosion inhibitor. Emulsions can also be formed by overdosing some other production chemicals.
I have no doubt that asphaltenes do form and that in some cases this exacerbates the emulsion problem, but in the overwhelming majority of cases (and the one asked about in this thread) it is not the cause of the problem.
Regards
Nosey
RE: Oil in Water emulsion specialists
Check if you can reduce the oil entering the solution before the pump, with olefhilic filters .
RE: Oil in Water emulsion specialists
RE: Oil in Water emulsion specialists
RE: Oil in Water emulsion specialists
Crude oil with high asphaltene content has a high probability of having permanent emulsions. Asphaltenes are usually in cluster formations with resins and oil. Asphaltene clusters when crushed and opened by mixing or by passing thru chokes, orifice and control valves, attracts water molecules. Thus you will have oil-asphaltene-water bonding together to form emulsion.
What I suggest is not to have three-phase(gas,water and oil) separation offshore. Separate your oil, water and emulsion onshore. Onshore, drain your water/emulsion via coriolis meter. For example, liquid with specific gravity >1.00 should be diverted to waste water treatment, 0.85 to 0.98 to emulsion and slops tank and shutoff valve when your coriolis meter is detecting oil.
209larry
RE: Oil in Water emulsion specialists
what sort of offshore facilities have you been working on that could possibly allow such a scheme? I would love to hear how we could justify removing all the processing offshore.