New method prevents desalter upsets from blending incompatible crudes

Combining a proprietary asphaltene stability index and a laboratory simulation of the desalting process can predict desalter problems in a refinery when incompatible crude blends are suspected. These tests can determine corrective action that includes blending strategies to avoid asphaltene instabil...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Oil & gas journal 2002-03, Vol.100 (11), p.89
Main Authors: Stark, Joseph L, Nguyen, Joe, Kremer, Lawrence N
Format: Magazinearticle
Language:English
Subjects:
Asphalt
Chemical treatment
Crude oil
Experiments
Flocculation
Foaming
Laboratories
Lasers
Petroleum refineries
Refineries
Simulation
Solvents
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Summary:Combining a proprietary asphaltene stability index and a laboratory simulation of the desalting process can predict desalter problems in a refinery when incompatible crude blends are suspected. These tests can determine corrective action that includes blending strategies to avoid asphaltene instability and chemical treatment programs that enable the refinery to run difficult blends. Refineries are processing more opportunity crude oils due to fluctuating oil prices and the squeeze on profit margins. In some cases, the crude unit is required to run crude oils for which the operators have no experience so that potential problems are unknown. Often, stable crude oils can form unstable mixtures when blended together. When a paraffinic crude is blended with an asphaltenic crude, asphaltenes can destabilize and precipitate for some blend ratios. Even small amounts of precipitation can lead to fouling, foaming, and desalter upsets.
ISSN:0030-1388
1944-9151