Described are direct flame impingement shields for fire tubes in heater treaters which reduce corrosion of the fire tubes. The direct flame impingement shield is removable and replaceable. The direct flame impingement shield may be formed from a variety of types of stainless steel or other corrosion resistant material.

A method for producing a cracking product comprising a mixture of hydrocarbons, a thermal cracking feedstock, a cracking product comprising a mixture of hydrocarbons, and a method for producing polymers using the cracking product are provided.

The present invention relates to a method for treating a pyrolysis gasoline C5.sup.+ containing monoolefinic, diolefinic and sulfur hydrocarbons, comprising at least, and in any order: a) a step of hydrotreating the pyrolysis gasoline or a hydrocarbon fraction C6.sup.+ originating from the pyrolysis gasoline, in the presence of hydrogen and at least one hydrotreatment catalyst at a temperature ranging between 220 and 380 C. so as to produce a hydrotreated effluent; b) a step of separating the pyrolysis gasoline or the hydrotreated effluent originating from step a) when said step is completed before step b), into a separation column for separating into a top hydrocarbon fraction C5.sup. and a bottom hydrocarbon fraction C6.sup.+, said separation column comprising a reboiling section including two heat exchangers, at least one of the two exchangers being configured to perform a heat exchange with a portion of the bottom fraction that is recycled in the column via the reboiling section. According to the invention, one of the two heat exchangers of the reboiling section is supplied with at least one portion of the hydrotreated effluent so as to supply part of the heat required to operate the reboiling section.

A system for crude oil desalting and dehydration includes a separation vessel defining a cavity extending along a central axis having a substantially-vertical orientation. The separation vessel comprises a first distributor configured to distribute a mixture within the cavity of the separation vessel, and a second distributor configured to distribute a wash fluid within the cavity of the separation vessel. The mixture comprises crude oil, water, dissolved salts, free salts, or combinations thereof, and the wash fluid comprises an aqueous fluid. The first distributor is disposed within the cavity below the second distributor, and an interface level controller is configured to detect an interface between an oil phase and an aqueous phase and to maintain the interface within a predetermined range within the cavity.

The invention includes a gas processing system for transforming a hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into outflow gas products, where the system includes a gas delivery subsystem, a plasma reaction chamber, and a microwave subsystem, with the gas delivery subsystem in fluid communication with the plasma reaction chamber, so that the gas delivery subsystem directs the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into the plasma reaction chamber, and the microwave subsystem directs microwave energy into the plasma reaction chamber to energize the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas, thereby forming a plasma in the plasma reaction chamber, which plasma effects the transformation of a hydrocarbon in the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into the outflow gas products, which comprise acetylene and hydrogen. The invention also includes methods for the use of the gas processing system.

A method includes introducing a crude oil process stream into an electro-kinetic separator (EKS), passing the crude oil process stream through an electric field generated by the EKS, and removing at least a portion of salt and solid particles from the crude oil process stream as the crude oil process stream passes through the electric field. A product stream is discharged from the EKS with reduced salt and solid particle count as compared to the crude oil process stream.

Systems and methods of removing coke/tar from water in a quench water recycling loop of a steam cracker quench system are disclosed. The systems include a quench water separator that has a feed calming compartment for reducing eddies in feed to the quench water separator. The feed calming compartment is defined, at least in part, by a perforated baffle in the quench water separator. The methods include the use of the quench water separator with the perforated baffle and the calming compartment to separate coke/tar from quench water in the quench water recycling loop.

A method for fouling an injector of a gasoline direct injection engine, includes the steps of operating the direct injection engine on at least a first stationary engine mode which is defined by a pre-established engine load and a pre-established engine speed. Both the pre-established engine load and the speed are within 35% and 65% of their maximum values, this at least first stationary engine mode being characterized by high particulate matter generation. The direct injection engine is operated on the at least first engine mode for less than ten hours.

A method for evaluating the fouling effect of a gasoline formulation in a gasoline direct injection engine uses the above-described fouling method.

A method of separating hydrocarbons from an oil field production stream may include providing a production stream having a gas phase and a liquid phase, the production stream including oil, hydrocarbon gas, carbon dioxide, and water; substantially separating the gas phase from the liquid phase; separating the liquid phase into a stream composed substantially of oil and a stream substantially composed of water, the stream substantially composed of water containing carbon dioxide absorbed therein; pressurizing the water stream containing carbon dioxide absorbed therein; and injecting the pressurized water stream containing carbon dioxide absorbed therein to a downhole injection location; the method may include operating each step at a pressure above 150 psig.

A system for crude oil desalting and dehydration in a single vessel is disclosed. The system comprises a pressure vessel defining a cavity and comprising a sealed bulkhead separating the cavity into a first compartment and a second compartment. Disposed within the first compartment is a first distributor disposed within the first compartment, a first electrical grid assembly, and a transfer conduit that passes through the bulkhead from the first compartment to the second compartment, the second compartment being in fluid communication with the first compartment via the transfer conduit. The pressure vessel may further comprise an overflow weir in the first compartment and a second electrical grid assembly disposed within the second compartment and aligned substantially transverse to a flow path extending from the transfer conduit to the crude collection header.