PROCESS FOR DESALTING CRUDE OIL
The invention provides a process for desalting crude by combining water and raw crude oil in a mixer to produce a mixture. Desalted crude oil and a brine mixture are separated from the mixture. The water is obtained as a byproduct of a Fischer-Tropsch plant.
1 . A process for desalting crude comprising:
a) combining water and raw crude oil in a mixer to produce a mixture;
b) separating from the mixture a desalted crude oil and a brine mixture;
wherein the water is obtained as a byproduct of a Fischer-Tropsch plant.
2 . The process of claim 1 , further comprising preheating the water and/or the raw crude oil before combining them.
3 . The process of claim 1 , further comprising adding a demulsifier to the mixer.
4 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the process occurs at an oil producing site.
5 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the process occurs at an oil refining site.
6 . The process of claim 4 , further comprising re-injecting the brine mixture into a hydrocarbon formation at the oil producing site.
7 . The process of claim 1 , further comprising processing the brine mixture for reuse.
8 . The process of claim 1 , further comprising processing the brine mixture for discharge.
9 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the process occurs on a movable platform.
10 . A process for desalting crude comprising:
a) forming an emulsion of crude oil and Fischer-Tropsch water; and
b) breaking the emulsion to obtain a desalted crude oil and a brine mixture.
11 . The process of claim 1 wherein the Fischer-Tropsch water contains less than 1% inorganic salts.
12 . The process of claim 1 wherein the Fischer-Tropsch water contains less than 0.5% inorganic salts.
13 . The process of claim 1 wherein the Fischer-Tropsch water contains less than 0.01% inorganic salts.
14 . The process of claim 1 wherein the desalted crude oil contains less than 40 wppb inorganic salts.
15 . The process of claim 1 wherein the desalted crude oil contains less than 10 wppb inorganic salts.