Electrostatic coalescence
-
Electrostatic coalescer prewash
An electrostatic coalescer prewash removes entrained caustic from kerosene after the caustic prewash of a kerosene sweetening unit. A high-voltage direct current (DC) field makes the fine caustic droplets merge and settle,…
-
Emulsion (water-in-oil)
A water-in-oil emulsion is a dispersion of small water droplets in crude oil, held apart by natural surface-active films of asphaltenes, resins, waxes and fine solids. The droplets will not settle until…
-
Electrostatic coalescence
Electrostatic coalescence is the use of a high-voltage electric field to make small water droplets dispersed in oil collide and merge into larger droplets. Larger droplets settle much faster under gravity, so…
-
Electrostatic coalescer
An electrostatic coalescer is a pressure vessel with energised electrode grids, in which a high-voltage field coalesces water droplets in crude oil so they settle. Used without wash water it is a…
-
Entrance bushing
An entrance bushing is the insulated, pressure-rated feedthrough that carries the high-voltage conductor from the external transformer through the vessel wall of an electrostatic coalescer to the electrode grid. It must hold…
-
A structured method for diagnosing high BS&W at a dehydrator or desalter outlet
High basic sediment and water (BS&W) at the outlet of an electrostatic dehydrator or desalter has a short list of possible causes. This paper sets out an order in which to check…
-
Electrostatic coalescers
An electrostatic coalescer is a pressure vessel that uses a high-voltage electric field to merge small water droplets in crude oil into drops large enough to settle by gravity. The same equipment…
-
Crude oil dehydrators
A crude oil dehydrator is an electrostatic coalescer used to remove produced water from crude so that it meets its basic sediment and water (BS&W) specification. It is the same equipment as…
-
Crude oil desalters
A crude oil desalter removes salt from crude by mixing in low-salinity wash water to dilute the brine, then removing the water in an electrostatic coalescer. Salt leaves dissolved in the water.…
-
Crude oil treatment
A crude oil treatment system removes water, salt and sediment so that crude meets its sales or refinery specification. It works as a train: separation, heating, then dehydration and desalting in electrostatic…