Abstract: A method for treating an interface rag includes the steps of removing a volume of rag at a controlled rate from an upstream rag source and passing the rag through a high pressure pump and a heater. The heater heats the rag to a temperature of at least 350° F. to thermally decomposing any chemicals that had been added to the interface rag to promote separation. Diluent is then mixed with the heated rag to cool the rag to a temperature less than 300° F. and produce a 30 API rag. The cooled diluted rag is then treated in an electrostatic treater or sent directly to a hydrocyclone cluster. The electrostatic treater is preferably a vertical electrostatic treater with a conical-shaped lower portion and a means for agitating the solid-laden water within the treater to prevent the solids from settling on the bottom of the treater.

Abstract: A method of separating gaseous components, heavier liquid components and lighter liquid components of a stream including the steps of conducting the stream between spaced apart electrodes in a treatment vessel, supplying from a voltage source an AC voltage of at least one base frequency F1 to at least one of the electrodes to establish an electric field within the vessel through which the stream passes, modulating the frequency F1 of the AC voltage at a modulation frequency F2, and withdrawing separated gaseous components from an upper portion of the vessel, heavier stream components from a lower portion of the vessel, and lighter liquid components from an intermediate portion of said vessel.

Abstract: A vertical electrostatic coalescer comprises a first and second electrode surface and a horizontally disposed foraminous surface. The first electrode surface and horizontally disposed foraminous surface are at ground potential. The first and second electrode surfaces share the same planar orientation relative to the central longitudinal axis of the vessel. The unique arrangement of the vessel and opposing pairs of first and second electrode surfaces provides for a substantially uniform voltage field around a perimeter of the vessel and an effective voltage field for coalescence within a center of the vessel. A circular-shaped distributor pipe or a distributor housing serves to absorb momentum of the incoming emulsion stream and distribute the stream into an interior of the vessel.

Abstract: A method and system for reducing the salt content of a crude oil stream includes using a quill to disperse a water stream into the crude oil and then routing the mixed oil/water stream through a plurality of mixing stages. The water stream may include a wash water that has been preconditioned with recycled effluent water. Each mixing stage increases the homogeneity of the mixed oil/water stream. The first and third mixing stages are preferably lower pressure stages relative to the second mixing stage, which provides pressure effective for flowing the mixed oil/water stream through the third and fourth mixing stages. Upon exiting the fourth mixing stage, the mixed oil/water stream is electrostatically treated in a dual frequency separator vessel or a dual polarity separator vessel.

Abstract: A centrifugal separator for separating immiscible components of a wet gas stream is formed by an upright cylindrical vortex tube having an internal wall surface, a top with a gas outlet opening therein, a bottom providing a liquid outlet opening and a wet gas stream inlet tangential to the internal wall surface, the inlet being spaced below the top. A helical baffle is secured to the vortex tube internal wall surface and extends from below the top but above the inlet to a lower end spaced above the vortex tube bottom. A plurality of spaced apart vertical outlet fins are affixed to and extending radially from the internal wall surface adjacent the vortex tube bottom, each outlet fin having a top end spaced below the helical baffle lower end.

Abstract: This invention teaches a process that includes extraction of gas in which the presence of foam results in the carry over in the outlet gas stream of excessive liquids and/or solids, including the steps of injecting the foam laden gas stream tangentially into a cyclonic separator having an axial gas outlet and a liquid outlet, under conditions in which the inlet stream is subjected to at least about 150 G's, the outlet gas being substantially liquids/solids free and the outlet liquid stream being conveyed for disposal or further processing.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating water from a water-in-oil mixture having an elongated inlet vessel with a lower outlet end and an upper inlet end, the length thereof being a multiple of the largest vessel cross-sectional dimension. A separation vessel having an oil outlet and a divergent water outlet has an inlet passageway in communication with the inlet vessel lower outlet end. At least one electrode is positioned within the inlet vessel by which a mixture flowing therethrough is subjected to an electric field.

Abstract: A method of augmenting the separation of immiscible heavier and lighter components of an emulsion including the steps of conducting the emulsion into a treatment vessel, providing an AC voltage source, employing from the source an AC voltage of at least one selected frequency F1 to establish at least one electric filed within the vessel through which the emulsion passes, and cyclically modulating the AC voltage with a method of modulation selected from: (a) amplitude modulation; (b) frequency modulation; and (c) combined amplitude and frequency modulation.

Abstract: A method of augmenting the separation of immiscible heavier and lighter components of an emulsion including the steps of conducting the emulsion into a treatment vessel, providing an AC voltage source, employing from the source an AC voltage of at least one selected frequency F1 to establish at least one electric filed within the vessel through which the emulsion passes, and cyclically modulating the AC voltage with a method of modulation selected from: (a) amplitude modulation; (b) frequency modulation; and (c) combined amplitude and frequency modulation.

Abstract: This invention teaches a process that includes extraction of gas in which the presence of foam results in the carry over in the outlet gas stream of excessive liquids and/or solids, including the steps of injecting the foam laden gas stream tangentially into a cyclonic separator having an axial gas outlet and a liquid outlet, under conditions in which the inlet stream is subjected to at least about 150 G's, the outlet gas being substantially liquids/solids free and the outlet liquid stream being conveyed for disposal or further processing.

Abstract: A method of augmenting the separation of immiscible heavier and lighter components of an emulsion including the steps of passing the emulsion into a treatment vessel, establishing at least one dual frequency electric field within the vessel and selectably varying the electric field at a frequency F1 modulated in intensity at a frequency F2 where F1 is greater than F2.

Abstract: A method of augmenting the separation of immiscible heavier and lighter components of an emulsion including the steps of passing the emulsion into a treatment vessel, establishing at least one dual frequency electric field within the vessel and selectably varying the electric field at a frequency F1 modulated in intensity at a frequency F2 where F1 is greater than F2.

Abstract: A gas burner is provided for use on the inlet end of a fire tube, and includes a mixer having attached to it a gas delivery pipe, fuel gas and air being combined in the mixer to provide mixed gas and air. A venturi is secured at its inlet end to the mixer to receive the flow of gas and air, the venturi serving to draw air into the mixer. A burner nozzle is affixed to the venturi outlet end and the burner nozzle and extends within the fire tube. A perforated tube surrounds the mixer/venturi and at least a portion of the burner nozzle. A sound absorbing flame cell housing surrounds the perforated tube. A flame arrestor closes an air inlet opening in the flame cell housing air and serves to permit air to pass into the flame cell housing but prohibits the passage of flame therethrough so that flame is confined within the interior of the flame cell housing.

Abstract: A system and method of use thereof for separating commingled heavier and lighter components of a liquid stream, employing a vessel having a liquid inlet, a lighter component outlet communicating with an interior upper portion of the vessel and a heavier component outlet communicating with an interior lower portion of the vessel, a distribution conduit positioned within the vessel in communication with the liquid inlet and having a plurality of spaced apart small diameter openings through which liquid is discharged as small streams and at least one momentum attenuator supported within the vessel adjacent the distribution conduit and configured to intercept the small streams to dissipate the kinetic energies thereof.

Abstract: A system for controlling organic contaminants released from a regenerator during the process of liquid dehydration of natural gas where contaminants are vaporized into a gaseous mixture. The system includes conducting the vaporized mixture from the regenerator to a heater, heating the vaporized mixture in the heater, conducting the vaporized mixture from the heater to a liquid collection chamber where suspended liquid particles are separated out from the vaporized mixture, drawing the vaporized mixture from the liquid chamber using fuel gas as an aspirator, mixing atmospheric air with the vaporized mixture, and combusting the vaporized mixture in order to incinerate the vaporized mixture.

Abstract: A system for heating a process fluid having an elongated horizontal shell filled with a heat transfer liquid, an elongated horizontal firetube and an elongated horizontal process coil of heat conducting pipe through which process fluid passes, the firetube being positioned within a lower interior portion of the shell and the process coil being positioned within an upper interior portion of the shell above the firetube and a baffle system between the firetube and the process coil forming an elongated higher elevation up flow passageway and a spaced apart elongated lower elevation down flow passageway so that when heat is supplied to the firetube convection flow of heat transfer liquid is continually channeled from the shell lower portion through the up flow passageway into the shell upper portion and past the process coil and channeled from the shell upper portion through the down flow passageway into the shell lower portion.

Abstract: A method of augmenting the coalescence of water in an emulsion having a heavier water component that is relatively electrically conductive and a lighter oil component that is relatively non-conductive, including the steps of tangentially injecting the emulsion into the interior of a cylindrical vessel and tangentially withdrawing the emulsion from the vessel interior to cause the emulsion to flow circumferentially within the vessel to thereby impart centrifugal force on the emulsion to create a first area within the vessel adjacent the vessel sidewall in which the heavier water component of the emulsion is maintained and a second area within the vessel interior towards which the lighter oil component migrates and imposing an electrical potential on a concentrically positioned electrode within the vessel interior and thereby on the areas within the vessel having the circumferentially flowing emulsion to cause at least a portion of the water component of the emulsion to coalescence, the lighter, relatively non-

Abstract: A method and apparatus for augmenting the coalescence of water in a water-in-oil emulsion. The apparatus includes a tubular vessel having a cylindrical side wall and opposed ends. A tangential inlet in the cylindrical side wall is adjacent one of the vessel ends. A tubular electrode having an external diameter less than the internal diameter of the vessel extends concentrically within the vessel from the one end less than the entire length of the vessel. An elongated electrode extends axially and concentrically within the tubular electrode from the one end. An outlet is provided in the one end between the tubular electrode and the elongated electrode. The inlet and outlet serve to cause fluid to initially flow through the vessel in a circumferential path outside the tubular electrode and thereafter axially through the tubular electrode to the outlet. An electrical potential is applied between the electrodes and the vessel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of augmenting the coalescence of water in a water-in-oil emulsion in which the emulsion is tangentially ejected into the interior of a cylindrically walled vessel to cause the emulsion to flow circumferentially within the vessel and to thereby cause the water component of the emulsions to migrate towards the vessel cylindrical wall, the vessel having an axially positioned electrode therein. A voltage, preferably a pulsating DC voltage, is imposed between the electrode and the vessel to thereby subject the swirling water-in-oil emulsion to an electrical potential to cause the water components to coalescence from smaller to larger droplets. The water-in-oil emulsion is passed from the vessel where the water component can be more effectively separated from the emulsion by gravitational or centrifugal separation.

Abstract: A system for controlling organic contaminants released from a regenerator during the process of liquid dehydration of natural gas where contaminants are vaporized into a gaseous mixture. The system includes conducting the vaporized mixture from the regenerator to a heater, heating the vaporized mixture in the heater, conducting the vaporized mixture from the heater to a liquid collection chamber where suspended liquid particles are separated out from the vaporized mixture, drawing the vaporized mixture from the liquid chamber using fuel gas as an aspirator, mixing atmospheric air with the vaporized mixture, and combusting the vaporized mixture in order to incinerate the vaporized mixture.