A method for desalting produced hydrocarbons includes injecting reduced-salinity water into produced hydrocarbons in a production well or riser, to dilute high-salinity produced water contained in the produced hydrocarbons.

A method for desalting produced hydrocarbons includes injecting reduced-salinity water into produced hydrocarbons in a production well or riser, to dilute high-salinity produced water contained in the produced hydrocarbons.

Ionic liquid containing compositions may be used in the production, recovery and refining of oil and gas. In addition, they may be used to treat cooling water and/or to inhibit and/or prevent corrosion of metals.

The present invention relates to a process for removing sulfur (S)-containing compounds in crude oil material. The process comprises causing the crude oil material to react with a removing agent, which comprises a phosphoric acid ester, and an aqueous phase in the presence of microwaves. The process of the invention is applied at ambient pressure and relatively low temperature compared to the conventional desulfurization processes. The process of the invention can be readily scaled up and integrated into an industrial facility

A sequential mixer for mixing a heated hydrocarbon stream and a supercritical fluid to produce an intimately mixed stream upstream of a supercritical reactor. The sequential mixer comprising a body having a body length and a body diameter; a hydrocarbon inlet physically connected to the body, having an inlet diameter, the heated hydrocarbon stream is introduced through the hydrocarbon inlet; a mixed stream outlet physically connected to the body and fluidly connected to the supercritical reactor, having an outlet diameter; a traversing axis extending through the center of the body from the hydrocarbon inlet to the mixed stream outlet; and a plurality of fluid ports physically connected to the body, the plurality of fluid ports are arranged in a port alignment arrayed along the traversing axis, each fluid port has a port diameter and a port angle, the supercritical fluid is injected through the plurality of fluid ports.

A sequential mixer for mixing a heated hydrocarbon stream and a supercritical fluid to produce an intimately mixed stream upstream of a supercritical reactor. The sequential mixer comprising a body having a body length and a body diameter; a hydrocarbon inlet physically connected to the body, having an inlet diameter, the heated hydrocarbon stream is introduced through the hydrocarbon inlet; a mixed stream outlet physically connected to the body and fluidly connected to the supercritical reactor, having an outlet diameter; a traversing axis extending through the center of the body from the hydrocarbon inlet to the mixed stream outlet; and a plurality of fluid ports physically connected to the body, the plurality of fluid ports are arranged in a port alignment arrayed along the traversing axis, each fluid port has a port diameter and a port angle, the supercritical fluid is injected through the plurality of fluid ports.

A method of demulsifying an emulsion with an ionic liquid having a nitrogen or phosphorus cation.

It has been discovered that nanoparticles and/or functionalized polymers are effective in removing metal contaminants from a hydrocarbon phase into an aqueous phase. In particular, the nanoparticles and/or functionalized polymers can remove iron contaminants from crude oil into an aqueous phase in a refinery desalter. Suitable nanoparticles can include graphene oxide and/or titanium dioxide. Suitable functionalized polymers include iodododecane-functionalized vinylpyrrolidone/vinylimidazole copolymers, sulfonated-functionalized vinylpyrrolidone/vinylimidazole copolymers, sulfonated polyether ether ketones, imidazole polymers, imidazole copolymers, and/or 3-(1-pyridino)-1-propanesulfonate.

It has been discovered that nanoparticles and/or functionalized polymers are effective in removing metal contaminants from a hydrocarbon phase into an aqueous phase. In particular, the nanoparticles and/or functionalized polymers can remove iron contaminants from crude oil into an aqueous phase in a refinery desalter. Suitable nanoparticles can include graphene oxide and/or titanium dioxide. Suitable functionalized polymers include iodododecane-functionalized vinylpyrrolidone/vinylimidazole copolymers, sulfonated-functionalized vinylpyrrolidone/vinylimidazole copolymers, sulfonated polyether ether ketones, imidazole polymers, imidazole copolymers, and/or 3-(1-pyridino)-1-propanesulfonate.

A process and system for reducing contaminants contained in a contaminated feedstock comprising mixing the contaminated feedstock with water and at least one of metal scavengers or reactants, to form a feedstock-water-reactant mixture, feeding the mixture under pressure into a hydrothermal purification reactor, wherein the mixture is subject to heat, pressure, and turbulent flow conditions to cause rapid reaction of the inorganic contaminants with the metal scavengers or reactants to form inorganic salts that partition into an aqueous phase and maintaining the temperature, pressure, and turbulent flow conditions of the feedstock-water-reactant mixture for a predetermined space time to prevent the organic portion of the feedstock in the mixture from undergoing a conversion reaction and to form a hydrothermal reactor effluent; and separating the effluent into the aqueous phase containing salts of the inorganic contaminants and an organic phase that contains a lower concentration of inorganic contaminants than the contaminated feedstock.