Systems and methods for treating a rag layer in a gas oil separation plant. The method includes withdrawing the rag layer from a vessel proximate an oil water interface, conveying the rag layer to a separation device, and recycling separated oil from the separation device back to the gas oil separation plant process.

Systems and methods for treating a rag layer in a gas oil separation plant. The method includes withdrawing the rag layer from a vessel proximate an oil water interface, conveying the rag layer to a separation device, and recycling separated oil from the separation device back to the gas oil separation plant process.

Systems and methods for crude oil separations including degassing, dewatering, desalting, and stabilization, one method including separating crude oil into a crude oil off-gas and a partially degassed crude oil output; compressing the crude oil off-gas; applying the compressed crude oil off-gas for indirect heating of the partially degassed crude oil output; further heating the partially degassed crude oil output indirectly with compressed low pressure gas; directly mixing with the partially degassed crude oil output a compressed atmospheric pressure gas; separating from the partially degassed crude oil output a low pressure gas for use in the step of further heating; and separating from the partially degassed crude oil output an atmospheric pressure gas for use in the step of directly mixing.

An emulsion separation device including a plurality of inclined plates, a buoyancy device, and an electric field generation system. Also disclosed are systems and methods for the separation of an emulsion into a continuous aqueous phase and a continuous oil phase. The systems may include: a vessel having an emulsion inlet, a continuous aqueous phase outlet, and a continuous oil phase outlet. A separation device may be disposed in the vessel, the separation device including: a plurality of inclined plates and a buoyancy device configured to maintain the plurality of inclined plates between the continuous aqueous phase and the continuous oil phase. An electric field generation system may also be provided and configured to expose the emulsion to an electric field.

An emulsion separation device including a plurality of inclined plates, a buoyancy device, and an electric field generation system. Also disclosed are systems and methods for the separation of an emulsion into a continuous aqueous phase and a continuous oil phase. The systems may include: a vessel having an emulsion inlet, a continuous aqueous phase outlet, and a continuous oil phase outlet. A separation device may be disposed in the vessel, the separation device including: a plurality of inclined plates and a buoyancy device configured to maintain the plurality of inclined plates between the continuous aqueous phase and the continuous oil phase. An electric field generation system may also be provided and configured to expose the emulsion to an electric field.

A power supply device includes a power conversion circuit configured to convert an input voltage into an output voltage, a controller, and an output switch. The controller is coupled to the power conversion circuit and configured to control the power conversion circuit to generate the output voltage for causing electrical coalescence of a multi-phase liquid mixture when the output voltage is applied to the multi-phase liquid mixture. The output switch is coupled between an output of the power conversion circuit and a terminal of the power supply device. The output switch is switchable among a first position at which the output of the power conversion circuit is coupled to the terminal, a second position at which the output of the power conversion circuit is grounded, and a third position at which the output of the power conversion circuit is electrically isolated from the terminal and the ground.

The present invention relates to a system for the separation of oil/water emulsions by electrocoalescence having a fluid conduction means or tubing, at least one cathode, at least one electrode, at least one anode, at least one power source and at least one spark gap for a cathode and a spark gap for the anode. Furthermore, the present invention also relates to a method for the separation of oil/water emulsions by electrocoalescence carried out by a system according to the invention.

The present invention relates to a system for the separation of oil/water emulsions by electrocoalescence having a fluid conduction means or tubing, at least one cathode, at least one electrode, at least one anode, at least one power source and at least one spark gap for a cathode and a spark gap for the anode. Furthermore, the present invention also relates to a method for the separation of oil/water emulsions by electrocoalescence carried out by a system according to the invention.

A crude oil demulsification system includes a vessel. A cyclonic separator is disposed outside the vessel. The cyclonic separator is configured to receive and separate phases of a multi-phase fluid stream into a gaseous stream and a liquid stream that includes a first liquid phase and a second liquid phase by inducing cyclonic flow. A heat exchanger is fluidically connected to the cyclonic separator. The heat exchanger is disposed outside the vessel, and is configured to receive the liquid stream and to heat the liquid stream by exchanging heat with a heating medium flowed through the heat exchanger. An electrostatic coalescer is fluidically connected to the heat exchanger and is disposed inside the vessel. The electrostatic coalescer is configured to receive the liquid stream heated by the heat exchanger and to demulsify the liquid stream by causing coalescence of liquid droplets of one of the first or second liquid phases.

A crude oil demulsification system includes a vessel. A cyclonic separator is disposed outside the vessel. The cyclonic separator is configured to receive and separate phases of a multi-phase fluid stream into a gaseous stream and a liquid stream that includes a first liquid phase and a second liquid phase by inducing cyclonic flow. A heat exchanger is fluidically connected to the cyclonic separator. The heat exchanger is disposed outside the vessel, and is configured to receive the liquid stream and to heat the liquid stream by exchanging heat with a heating medium flowed through the heat exchanger. An electrostatic coalescer is fluidically connected to the heat exchanger and is disposed inside the vessel. The electrostatic coalescer is configured to receive the liquid stream heated by the heat exchanger and to demulsify the liquid stream by causing coalescence of liquid droplets of one of the first or second liquid phases.