A Cyclone-Based Low Shear Valve for Enhanced Oil-Water Separation

Husveg, Trygve; Bilstad, Torleiv; Guinee, Peter; Jernsletten, Jo; Knudsen, Borre; Nordbø, Hans Tore

doi:10.4043/20029-ms

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…This volume can be expressed as an area (S) times a dissipation length (L), and the mass of fluid in dissipation zone is obtained multiplying this term by fluid density. Thus, the mean dissipation energy per unit mass can be calculated, as shown in equation 12 (Husveg et al, 2009;van der Zande, 2000):…”

Section: Break Up In a Turbulent Flowmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental study of water droplet break up in water in oil dispersions using an apparatus that produces localized pressure drops

Silva¹,

Medronho²,

Barca³

2019

Oil Gas Sci. Technol. – Rev. IFP Energies nouvelles

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Oil production facilities have choke/control valves to control production and protect downstream equipment against over pressurization. This process is responsible for droplets break up and the formation of emulsions which are difficult to treat. An experimental study of water in oil dispersion droplets break up in localized pressure drop is presented. To accomplish that, an apparatus simulating a gate valve was constructed. Droplet Size Distribution (DSD) was measured by laser light scattering. Oil physical properties were controlled and three different break up models were compared with the experimental results. All experimental maximum diameters (dmax) were above Kolmogorov length scale. The results show that dmax decreases with increase of energy dissipation rate (ε) according to the relation dmax ∝ ε−0.42. The Hinze (1955, AIChE J.1, 3, 289–295) model failed to predict the experimental results, although, it was able to adjust reasonably well those points when the original proportional constant was changed. It was observed that increasing the dispersed phase concentration increases dmax due to turbulence suppression and/or coalescence phenomenon. Turbulent viscous break up model gave fairly good prediction.

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Section: Break Up In a Turbulent Flowmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental study of water droplet break up in water in oil dispersions using an apparatus that produces localized pressure drops

Silva¹,

Medronho²,

Barca³

2019

Oil Gas Sci. Technol. – Rev. IFP Energies nouvelles

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Reviewing Cyclonic Low-Shear Choke and Control Valve Field Experiences

Husveg

Teeffelen

et al. 2021

SPE Production &Amp; Operations

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Summary In hydrocarbon production and processing, choke and control valves mix and emulsify petroleum phases. The consequence is often that the efficiency of separation processes is affected and finally that the quality of oil and water phases is degraded. Over the last few years, low-shear valves targeting petroleum processes have emerged on the market. This paper presents four separate live-fluid experiences from low-shear valve installations, each surveyed and documented by an independent third party. Three of the installations refer to choke valves, whereas the fourth installation refers to a control valve. For each installation, standard choke and control valves were used as reference valves. In terms of downstream separation efficiency, the low-shear choke valves reduced oil-in-water concentrations respectively by 70, 45, and 60%, by total average. In the control valve application, the low-shear valve, which was located between the hydrocyclones and a compact flotation unit, reduced the oil-in-water concentration by 23%. In sum, the field installations have demonstrated that low-shear valves significantly and consistently reduce oil-in-water concentrations and thus improve the produced water quality. The results signify that low-shear valves may be used in debottlenecking separation and produced water treatment processes, reducing the environmental influence from produced water discharges. Because the low-shear technology enables processing of petroleum phases with less effort, energy, and chemicals, it also reduces emissions to air.

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Design Considerations to Minimize Hydrocarbon Entrainment in the Aqueous Phase

Latta¹,

Acosta

Teeffelen

et al. 2018

Day 1 Mon, April 30, 2018

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It is critical to minimize the amount of free hydrocarbon entrained in the aqueous phase (i.e., Produced Water or Rich Monoethylene Glycol (MEG) streams) in order to mitigate impact on the operational performance of the Effluent Water Treatment and MEG Recovery Unit facilities. Hydrocarbon entrainment in Produced Water or Rich MEG is often the result of process conditions that favour emulsion formation and/or hinder emulsion separation. Consequently there is a need to look at the process and equipment design employed, along the flow path that the hydrocarbon/aqueous phase travels through, prior to entering the separation equipment used for hydrocarbon removal from the aqueous phase, as well as the separation equipment itself. The paper will present a roadmap of the overall route that the aqueous stream can take to offer insight into the process units affected by improper hydrocarbon removal. Operational situations arising from the impact of excessive hydrocarbon entrainment will be given as well as a summary of wellhead operating parameters that need to be considered in terms of their impact on equipment selection/design. The flow path, to be focused on, starts at the reservoir/wellhead and ends where the aqueous stream leaves the final hydrocarbon removal equipment, just upstream of either the Effluent Water Treatment or MEG Recovery Unit facilities. Factors concerning emulsion formation and separation are introduced as required to describe how process fluid properties and flow conditions influence the formation of emulsions and the separation of hydrocarbons from the aqueous phase. How to improve on existing methods for the selection/design of liquid-liquid separators by considering and trying to estimate the entire droplet size distribution (DSD) of the dispersed phase in the stream entering the separation equipment, along with estimating the amount of coalescence, will be elaborated on. This is paramount to ensure the correct equipment is selected, especially when the low end of the distribution, particularly drops below 20 μm, can be quite difficult to remove. Design considerations to minimize hydrocarbon content in the aqueous phase will be discussed and involve looking at key areas of energy dissipation (e.g., choke and control valves) regarding the range of fluid properties and process conditions, and the estimation/influence of drop size distribution/fractional interface coalescence efficiency (fICE) on the selection/sizing of fluid-fluid separator technology. Examples of dealing with emulsion issues occurring in industry, as per vendor experience, will be presented as well as available vendor equipment technology. General recommendations concerning lab bench testing, modelling, and equipment/chemical vendor testing will also be discussed.

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A Cyclone-Based Low Shear Valve for Enhanced Oil-Water Separation

Cited by 4 publications

References 0 publications

Experimental study of water droplet break up in water in oil dispersions using an apparatus that produces localized pressure drops

Experimental study of water droplet break up in water in oil dispersions using an apparatus that produces localized pressure drops

Reviewing Cyclonic Low-Shear Choke and Control Valve Field Experiences

Design Considerations to Minimize Hydrocarbon Entrainment in the Aqueous Phase

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