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  Process for desalting crude oilUSPTO Application #: 20070175799Title: Process for desalting crude oil Abstract: The invention provides a process for desalting crude by combining water and raw crude oil in a mixer to produce a mixture. Desalted crude oil and a brine mixture are separated from the mixture. The water is obtained as a byproduct of a Fischer-Tropsch plant. (end of abstract) Agent: Baker & Mckenzie LLP - Houston, TX, US Inventors: H. Lynn Tomlinson, Ziad Ghandour, Ramin Abhari USPTO Applicaton #: 20070175799 - Class: 20825100R (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070175799. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
PRIOR RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/764,702, filed on Feb. 2, 2006, which is hereby incorporated in it's entirety. FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH STATEMENT [0002] Not applicable. REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX [0003] Not applicable. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0004] The invention relates to a desalting process for crude oil. More specifically, the invention relates to a desalting process for crude oil that uses water produced from a Fischer-Tropsch plant. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0005] Crude oil entering a petroleum refinery contains a number of impurities harmful to the efficient operation of the refinery and detrimental to the quality of the final petroleum products. Some impurities include, but are not limited to, salts of magnesium, sodium and calcium, potassium, nickel, vanadium, copper, iron and zinc, and are unstable at elevated temperatures. If allowed to remain in the crude oil, the salts contribute to corrosion in the main fractionator unit and other regions of the refinery system where temperatures are elevated, as well as any area where water condenses. These impurities also contribute to heat exchanger fouling, furnace coking, catalyst poisoning and end product degradation. [0006] Crude oil desalting removes most of the impurities and is a common emulsion breaking method where the emulsion is first intentionally formed. Water is added in an amount of approximately between 5% and 10% by volume of crude. The added water is intimately mixed with the crude oil to contact the impurities therein, thereby transferring these impurities into the water phase of the emulsion. The emulsion is usually resolved with the assistance of emulsion breaking chemicals, which are characteristically surfactants. Alternatively, the emulsion may be resolved by application of an electrical field to polarize the water droplets. Once the emulsion is broken, the water and petroleum media form distinct phases. The water phase is separated from the petroleum phase and subsequently removed from the desalter. The petroleum phase is directed further downstream for processing through the refinery operation. [0007] As oil refineries move to heavier crudes having higher inorganic salt content, the performance of the desalter is becoming increasingly important. Therefore, a clean water supply, free from metals and salts, which will improve the performance of the desalter is needed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] Large amounts of water, with very low inorganic content, are produced at a Fischer-Tropsch plant. The water normally has to be processed for discharge into the environment or transported offsite for disposal. Using the Fischer-Tropsch byproduct water in a desalting process unit would utilize existing crude desalting infrastructure facilities and utilities, lessen the environmental impact of the processing units and provide "cleaner" water to the desalter process thereby increasing desalter importance. [0009] Embodiments of the invention provide a process to desalt crude oil utilizing the water byproduct from a Fischer-Tropsch plant. Embodiments of the invention provide a process for desalting crude by combining water and raw crude oil in a mixer to produce a mixture. Desalted crude oil and a brine mixture are separated from the mixture. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0010] FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of an embodiment of an inventive crude desalting method. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION [0011] Unless otherwise specified, all quantities, percentages and ratios herein are by weight. [0012] The term "desalted crude oil" means a crude oil which following desalting treatment has less than 70% of the salt content present in the crude oil prior to desalting, or may be less than 75%, less than 80%, less than 90%, less than 95%, and most preferably 99.75% of the salt content present in the crude oil prior to desalting. [0013] The term "brine" means an aqueous stream containing inorganic salts. [0014] The term "FT water" means an aqueous stream which is produced by a Fischer-Tropsch plant. [0015] Referring to FIG. 1, a desalting unit 10 is described. Crude oil 12 and water 14 are fed into a static mixer 16. An emulsion 18 is formed and fed to a settling tank 20. Products from the settling tank 20 include a desalted crude oil 22 and a brine mixture 24. The conditions of the static mixer are around 250.degree. F. (121.1.degree. C.) and pressures high enough to prevent vaporization of either water or hydrocarbons. These conditions will vary depending on the make-up of the crude oil 12 and water 14. [0016] The water 14 fed to the static mixer 16 is from a Fischer-Tropsch (FT) plant, "FT water". FT plants produce about as much FT water as hydrocarbon product. Because the FT water originates from a process in which the feedstock is a natural gas, the FT water is virtually free of minerals and/or salts. Continue reading... Full patent description for Process for desalting crude oil Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Process for desalting crude oil patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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