Patent EA-004424-B1 (EA)
Title: Method of removing water and contaminants from crude oil containing same
Inventor: KRESNYAK STEVE
IPC: C10G33/00
Filed: 2000-06-27
Abstract: 1. A method of removing water from crude oil containing water, comprising of steps of: a) providing a source of crude oil containing water to a dehydrator for dehydrating said crude oil containing water, said dehydrator having an inlet and an outlet at temperatures sufficient to vaporize water from said surface; b) exposing said source of crude oil to said dry crude oil; c) vaporizing at least a portion of water in said source; and d) re-circulating at least a portion of dehydrated crude oil for contact with at least one of said dehydrator or said source of crude oil for maintaining a substantially uniform temperature at said vaporizing surface. 2. The method as defined in Claim 1, wherein said temperature is a flash evaporating temperature for water. 3. The method as defined in Claim 1, including pre-conditioning said source for removal of solids and minerals. 4. The method as defined in Claim 1, including pre-conditioning with separation means for separating said solids and minerals from said source crude oil. 5. The method as defined in Claim 1, further including the step of collecting gaseous components from said vaporizing and condensing said components. 6. The method as defined in Claim 1, further including the step of regulating heat content of said dehydrated crude oil re-circulated with heating means. 7. The method as defined in Claim 1, wherein said source of said dry crude oil has an API index of between 7 degree API and 20 degree API. 8. The method as defined in Claim 1, wherein in said dehydrated crude oil has a basic sediment water content of less than 0.5% by volume water. 9. The method as defined in Claim 1, wherein said source of crude oil contains greater than 5% by volume water. 10. The method as defined in Claim 1, further including step of collecting and condensing vaporized water. 11. The method as defined in Claim 1, further including a step of collecting and condensing light hydrocarbon fluid. 12. The method as defined in Claim 10, farther including the step of purifying said condensed water. 13. The method as defined in Claim 10, further including the step of re-circulating condensed light hydrocarbon fluid to said source of crude oil. 14. The method as defined in Claim 11, further including the step of diluting said source of crude oil with condensed light hydrocarbon fluid. 15. A method of removing water from crude oil containing water, comprising of steps of: a). maintaining a temperature at an inlet and an outlet sufficient to vaporize water from said surface; b) contacting said source and said dry crude oil to flash water from said source to thereby remove said water from said source; and d) selectively heating said surface of said dry crude oil to return heat energy lost from flash evaporating water from said source. 16. The method as defined in Claim 15, wherein said heating is provided by at least one of re-circulating dehydrated crude oil into said dry crude oil and re-circulating dry dehydrated crude oil into contact with said source of crude oil. 17. The method as defined in Claim 15, wherein prior to step b), said source is pre-conditioned. 18. The method as defined in Claim 17, wherein in pre-conditioning includes removal of solid and mineral from said source. 19. A method of removing water from crude oil containing water, comprising of steps of: a) providing a source of crude oil containing water to a dehydrator for dehydrating said crude oil containing water, said dehydrator having an inlet and an outlet and a vaporizing surface of dry crude oil at a temperature sufficient to vaporize water contacting said surface; b) pre-washing said source of crude oil containing water to remove alkali metals and alkaline earth metals; c) separating said alkali metals and said alkaline earth metals and oil in a preliminary separation step; d) passing washed oil into said dehydrator to flash evaporate water from said washed oil to remove water therefrom; e) selectively pre-heating crude oil to be treated in said dehydrator with treated dehydrated crude oil from said dehydrator to return heat energy lost from flash evaporating water; and f) maintaining a uniform surface temperature. 20. The method as defined in Claim 17, further including the step of collecting gaseous vapors evolving from said dehydrator. 21. The method as defined in Claim 17, further including the step of collecting light hydrocarbon liquids formed during dehydration. 22. The method as defined in Claim 17, wherein separated minerals are collected in a concentrated brine.