Patent ID: 9023213
Filing Date: 2015-05-05
Classification: B01D,C10G

Abstract:
1. A method for treating an oil/water interface (“rag”) extracted from separation, dehydration and desalting equipment, the method comprising the steps of: (i) removing a volume of rag from a rag source; (ii) passing the volume of rag through a pump to provide pressurized rag, the pressure provided by the pump being effective for preventing boiling a water content of the rag and preventing vaporizing a light hydrocarbon content of the rag; (iii) decomposing one or more separation-producing chemicals contained in the volume of rag by heating the pressurized rag to a first temperature of at least 350° F.; (iv) mixing an amount of diluent with the heated pressurized rag, the amount of diluent being effective for producing a rag of about 30 API; (v) cooling the 30 API rag to a second temperature of less than about 300° F.; and (vi) treating the cooled 30 API rag in a separator device to remove at least a substantial portion of water and solids therefrom without a flashing step.