Methods and systems for removing fines from hydrocarbon-containing fluids
View Patent ↗A method of removing fines from a hydrocarbon-containing fluid can include preparing a bed media of particulate earthen material ( 12 ). The hydrocarbon-containing fluid having fines therein can be passed through the bed media ( 12 ) at a flow rate such that a portion of the fines are retained in the bed media ( 12 ) to form a filtered hydrocarbon-containing fluid. The flow rate is sufficient to maintain a wetting film of the hydrocarbon-containing fluid across at least a majority portion of the particulate earthen material which is contacted by the hydrocarbon-containing fluid. The filtered hydrocarbon-containing fluid can be recovered from the bed media ( 12 ) via a suitable outlet ( 16 ) having substantially reduced or eliminated fines content.
1. A method of removing fines from a hydrocarbon-containing fluid, comprising:
a. preparing a bed media of particulate earthen material;
b. passing the hydrocarbon-containing fluid having fines therein through the bed media at a flow rate such that a portion of the fines are retained in the bed media to form a filtered hydrocarbon-containing fluid, said flow rate being sufficient to maintain a wetting film coated on individual particles of the particulate earthen material, the wetting film comprising a liquid of the hydrocarbon-containing fluid across at least a majority portion of the particulate earthen material which is contacted by the hydrocarbon-containing fluid; and
c. recovering the filtered hydrocarbon-containing fluid from the bed media.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the passing the hydrocarbon-containing fluid includes introducing the hydrocarbon-containing fluid into the bed media subsequent to production of the hydrocarbon-containing fluid from a hydrocarbonaceous material.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon-containing fluid is produced from a hydro carbonaceous material and the particulate earthen material is of the same material type as the hydrocarbonaceous material.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the particulate earthen material is selected from the group consisting of oil shale, tar sands, coal, and combinations thereof.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the particulate earthen material is oil shale.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the particulate earthen material has an average particle diameter from about 0.06 mm to about 1 m.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the average size particle diameter is from about 2 cm to about 1 m.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the average size particle diameter is from about 0.06 mm to about 5 mm.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon-containing fluid is selected from the group consisting of shale oil, tar sand tailings, coal liquefaction product, and combinations thereof.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wetting film has a thickness less than about 1 mm.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the flow rate is sufficient to provide a residence time of the hydrocarbon-containing fluid from about 2 days to about 4 months.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the wetting film has a thickness which does not exceed an equilibrium film thickness.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the portion of the wetting film is at least 10% by volume of the particulate earthen material.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bed media is substantially stationary during the passing the hydrocarbon-containing fluid through the bed media.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein retention of the portion of fines in the bed media is primarily through adsorption rather than filtration.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the filtered hydrocarbon-containing fluid is substantially free of fines.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fines have an average particle diameter of less than about 0.2 mm.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fines have an average particle diameter of less than about 20 μm.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bed media has a vertical depth from about 1 m to about 40 m.
20. The method of claim 1 , wherein void spaces are present between at least a majority of neighboring wetted particles.
21. A method of removing fines from a hydrocarbon-containing fluid, comprising:
a. preparing a bed media of particulate hydrocarbonaceous material;
b. producing a hydrocarbon-containing fluid having fines therein from the particulate hydrocarbonaceous material such that while the production is occurring the hydrocarbon-containing fluid passes through the bed media at a flow rate such that a portion of the fines are retained in the bed media to form a filtered hydrocarbon-containing fluid, said flow rate being sufficient to maintain a wetting film coated on individual particles of the particulate earthen material, the wetting film comprising a liquid of the hydrocarbon-containing fluid across at least a majority portion of the particulate hydrocarbonaceous material which is contacted by the hydrocarbon-containing fluid; and
c. recovering the filtered hydrocarbon-containing fluid from the bed media.