Process for the treatment of crude oil, process for the separation of a water-in-oil hydrocarbon emulsion and apparatus for implementing the same

1. A process for the treatment of production crude comprising:

separating the production crude into a gas and a degassed emulsion;

passing the degassed emulsion into a vessel;

washing the degassed emulsion with water at an oil/water interface through a water distribution system within the vessel and located at the oil/water interface or just above, the water distribution system comprising a main pipe and a plurality of secondary pipes, the secondary pipes in fluid communication with the main pipe in a manifold arrangement;

washing the degassed emulsion with water at a gas/oil interface; and

separating the degassed emulsion into water and oil.

2. The process according to claim 1 , further comprising:

stripping the degassed emulsion with gas.

3. The process according to claim 1 , further comprising:

settling the oil.

4. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the separating the degassed emulsion operation comprises settling the degassed emulsion.

5. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the degassed emulsion has a water content ranging from 15 to 35 vol %.

6. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the separating the production crude operation comprises:

separating the production crude using a relatively medium to high pressure; and

degassing the production crude using a relatively low pressure.

7. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the production crude is separated at a temperature ranging between 35 and 75° C.

8. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the production crude is separated in less than 10 minutes.

9. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the production crude is a complex crude.

10. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the separating the degassed emulsion operation is performed without recovery of a flow from the oil/water interface.

11. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the degassed emulsion is passed near a bottom of the vessel.

12. The process according to claim 11 , further comprising passing the degassed emulsion into a water leg having a height ranging from 3 to 15 meters as measured from a bottom of the vessel to the oil/water interface.

13. The process of claim 1 , wherein the separating the degassed emulsion operation comprises a residence time in the vessel ranging from 4 to 24 hours.

14. An apparatus for the treatment of production crude comprising:

a separator configured to separate the production crude into a gas and a degassed emulsion, and

a vessel configured to separate the degassed emulsion into water and oil, the vessel comprising a water distribution system configured to wash the degassed emulsion with water at an oil/water interface and a second water distribution system to wash the degassed emulsion with water at a gas/oil interface, where the water distribution system is located at the oil/water interface or just above, the water distribution system comprising a main pipe and a plurality of secondary pipes, the secondary pipes in fluid communication with the main pipe in a manifold arrangement.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 , further comprising:

a distributor configured to strip gas near the bottom of the vessel.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14 , further comprising:

a settler positioned downstream from the vessel, the settler being configured to settle the oil.

17. The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the vessel comprises a settler configured to settle the degassed emulsion.

18. The apparatus according to claim 14 , further comprising:

a water make-up device configured to provide water to the vessel.

19. The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the unit comprises a high or medium pressure separator and a low pressure separator.

20. The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the unit is positioned on a topsides portion of a floating support and the vessel is positioned in a hull of the floating support.

21. The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein there is no recovery of a flow from the oil/water interface in the vessel.

22. The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the degassed emulsion is separated using a water leg having a height ranging from 3 to 15 meters as measured from a bottom of the vessel to the oil/water interface.

23. The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the vessel is configured to receive the degassed emulsion near the bottom of the vessel.

24. The apparatus according to claim 14 , further comprising a water leg having a height ranging from 3 to 15 meters as measured from a bottom of the vessel to the oil/water interface.

25. A process for the separation of a water-in-oil hydrocarbon emulsion comprising:

passing a degassed emulsion to a bottom of a vessel;

washing the degassed emulsion with water at an oil/water interface through a water distribution system within the vessel, the water distribution system being located at the oil/water interface or just above and comprising a main pipe and a plurality of secondary pipes, the secondary pipes in fluid communication with the main pipe in a manifold arrangement;

washing the degassed emulsion with water at a gas/oil interface; and

recovering a flow of oil and a flow of water.

26. The process according to claim 25 , wherein the degassed emulsion has a water content ranging from 15 to 35 vol %.

27. The process according to claim 25 , further comprising:

separating the degassed emulsion without recovery of a flow from the oil/water interface.

28. The process according to claim 25 , wherein the degassed emulsion is passed into a water leg having a height ranging from 3 to 15 meters as measured from a bottom of a vessel to the oil/water interface.

29. The process according to claim 25 , wherein the degassed emulsion is passed into a water leg near the bottom of the vessel.

30. The process according to claim 25 , wherein separating the degassed emulsion comprises a residence time in the vessel ranging from 4 to 24 hours.

31. An apparatus for the treatment of production crude comprising:

a separator configured to separate the production crude into a gas and a degassed emulsion, and

a vessel configured to separate the degassed emulsion into water and oil, the vessel comprising a pipe configured to pass the degassed emulsion into a water leg at a bottom of the vessel, the water leg having a height ranging from 3 to 15 meters to separate the degassed emulsion by causing the oil to rise substantially through the height of the water leg to an oil/water interface, the water leg improving coalescence between water-in-oil or oil-in-water droplets.