Optimization of process parameters for thermochemical dehydration of heavy oil with dilution

Key words:  heavy oil dehydration  parameter optimization  energy saving and consumption reduction

Abstract:

The optimization of the process parameters of thermochemical dehydration of heavy oil with dilution in a central processing station in Shengli Oilfield was studied in order to resolve the problems of high viscosity of Shengli heavy oil and high energy consumption of heavy oil dehydration. Through demulsifier optimization experiment, the water-soluble crude oil demulsifier PR-929 with better dehydration performance was selected by comparing ten common crude oil demulsifiers. The effects of dilution ratio, dehydration temperature and demulsifier concentration on the dehydration of heavy oil emulsion and its mechanism were studied. The results show that increasing the dilution ratio and dehydration temperature can improve the dehydration effect of emulsion. With the increase of demulsifier concentration, the dehydration effect of emulsion first increases and then decreases. On the premise that the water content of crude oil is lower than 2％ and the economic benefit is improved, when the dilution ratio is 1.0, the dehydration temperature is 80 ℃, the mass concentration of demulsifier is 120 mg/L, and the settling time is 24 h, the effect of the thermochemical dehydration of heavy oil with dilution is the best. After optimization, the annual cost can be saved about 3.822 million yuan.