The invention relates to removing salt from crude oil via two steps of adding water with harsh mixing of the added water with the crude oil and gravity separating the salty water between steps where the process additionally includes a step of injecting steam into the crude oil after the first of the two water adding and harsh mixing desalting steps, but upstream of the gravity separation of the first step. The steam separates salt by transferring the salt into the condensed water from the steam.

A method of preventing formation of a water and oil emulsion in a downhole formation containing oil, the method comprises preparing a dispersion of water and a plurality of non-functionalized nanoparticles, each nanoparticle in the plurality of nanoparticles having a size of at least 300 nanometers, and injecting the mixture downhole into contact with the oil downhole. Presence of the plurality of nanoparticles prevents formation of an emulsion between the injected water and the oil.

An oil spill recovery vessel (10) is provided that comprises a catamaran bow section (12) with twin hulls between which an oil skimmer unit (11) is arranged for displacement between a lowered, operating, position in oil-polluted water and a raised, non-operational, position clear of the water. Aft of the catamaran bow section (12) is a trimaran main section (13) made up of a central hull interposed between two outer hulls formed by aft continuations of the twin hulls of the catamaran bow section (12); the three hulls of the trimaran main section have conjoined upper portions. A propulsion unit (53) is operative to move the vessel (10) forward at slow speed for skimming operations, and, with the skimmer unit (11) in its raised position, at a fast speed in which the vessel planes on its trimaran main section (13).

A system includes a vessel containing a crude oil inlet for introducing crude oil into the vessel; a fixed super-hydrophobic mesh subsystem comprising a fixed super-hydrophobic mesh; an inductor cup set system comprising at plurality of inductor cups, each of the plurality of inductor cups comprising a primary coil and a secondary coil, the inductor cups to determine an amount of water in the crude oil based on a comparison of the induced voltage between the primary coil and the secondary coil; a movable super-hydrophobic mesh subsystem comprising a super-hydrophobic mesh coupled to at least one stepper motor, the stepper motor to rotate the mesh by a predefined angle based on the comparison of the induced voltage determined by the inductor cups; and a metal grid subsystem comprising a metal grid electrically coupled to a transformer residing outside of the vessel, the metal grid to electrostatically dehydrate the crude oil.

A filter system for removing and/or neutralizing undissolved oils, greases, and salts on/in water-containing emulsions from, in particular, tanks and baths that are used to hold and store emulsions, which are used to cool and lubricate workpieces and tools during machining, comprising at least one emulsifier filter, a downstream suction/pressure pump, a unit for gas enrichment, an adhesion filter having an automatic deaerator, a downstream oil-collecting vessel, and a capillary filter, wherein these are combined as a unit, such that the oil/grease film and the emulsion can be mechanically, chemically, and biologically treated.

A variable oil field fluid treatment system and method of use which utilizes a pump, a desanding hydrocydone, and or a non-consumable or consumable mechanical solids filter, a membrane unit, a pump and/or combinations therein.

A method of preventing formation of a water and oil emulsion in a downhole formation containing oil, the method comprises preparing a dispersion of water and a plurality of non-functionalized nanoparticles, each nanoparticle in the plurality of nanoparticles having a size of at least 300 nanometers, and injecting the dispersion into contact with the oil downhole. Presence of the plurality of nanoparticles prevents formation of an emulsion between the injected water and the oil.

A process for separating a mixture of components is disclosed. A liquid mixture is provided to a separation vessel substantially near a temperature at which a product component freezes. The liquid mixture comprises the product component and a carrier component. The product component and the carrier component are essentially immiscible substantially near the temperature. The liquid mixture is separated into two or more phases, the two or more phases comprising a product component-rich liquid phase and a product component-depleted liquid phase. In this manner, a mixture of components is separated.

The present invention provides a method for the separation of a mixture having a first component and a second component, the method comprising the steps of: (a) applying at least two destabilizing energy forms to the mixture to destabilize the mixture, wherein the destabilizing energy forms are chosen from the list comprising: mechanical shear force, thermal energy, and/or surface energy; and (b) applying at least one enriching energy form to the mixture to form a first region that is enriched in a first component relative to the second component and a second region that is enriched in the second component relative to the first component, wherein the enriching energy form is surface energy.

An oil skimming device for the removal of oil located at the surface of a body of water includes a float, at least one skimming surface, a sorbent material, at least one scraper, and a motor. The float is arranged such that the device rests on the surface of the body of water from which the oil is to be removed. The at least one skimming surface is rotatable about an axis such that when the device is floating in the water a portion of the ridged skimming surface is above and a portion of the skimming surface is below the water surface. The sorbent material is removably attached to and substantially covers the skimming surface. The sorbent material is configured to rotate with the skimming surface and to sorb oil as the skimming surface is rotated.