Inventors:
Spencer S. Awbrey - Spring TX
Ronald W. Gropp - The Woodlands TX
Assignee:
Betz Laboratories, Inc. - Trevose PA
International Classification:
C10G 1700
Abstract:
Methods of diminishing the content of soluble and insoluble forms of iron from crude are disclosed. Crude and water soluble chelant are mixed prior to addition of wash water. After wash water addition, an emulsion is formed. After resolution of the emulsion, iron laden water phase is separated resulting in decreased iron content in the crude. In a two-step desalting process, water soluble chelant is mixed with crude separated from the resolved emulsion emanating from the first, upstream, desalter. After such mixing, fresh wash water is added, with the so-formed crude/chelant/wash water mixture being fed to the second, downstream, desalter, for resolution. Crude separated from the second desalter has substantially diminished iron content compared to crude fed to the first desalter.