BS&W Reduction
Technical Profile
The objective of electrostatic treatment is to remove water and solids from oil prior to shipment.
Once the primary oil water separation is complete, oil is further treated to remove water and salt prior to shipment. Crude oil separated in the production separators or other primary separation equipment is heated and mixed with wash water from desalination or sulfate removal processes across a mixing value to help remove salt, generally chloride, from oil. Following mixing, the oil/water solution is sent to a pressurized vessel where it is separated.
To aid separation, an electric current is used to create an electric potential that helps break emulsions and separates oil and water. Particles will become electrically charged and move towards a plate that carries the opposite charge. On the way, they collide with other particles and become larger through coalescence. After water particles become large enough to overcome the electrical field that holds them in place, they will separate by gravity. Desalted and dehydrated oil is separated for shipment while water containing salt and solids is removed for further treatment prior to discharge or injection.
