Abstract: Metal naphthenate is removed from a crude hydrocarbon mixture by a process. The process includes mixing the crude hydrocarbon mixture comprising metal naphthenate with an acid in the presence of water, wherein the acid converts the metal naphthenate to naphthenic acid and metal salt; allowing the metal salt to partition into a water phase; and separating the crude heavy hydrocarbon mixture comprising naphthenic acid and the water phase comprising the metal salt.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for removing metal naphthenate from a crude hydrocarbon mixture comprising: —mixing said crude hydrocarbon mixture (1) comprising metal naphthenate with an acid (3) in the presence of water, wherein said acid converts said metal naphthenate to naphthenic acids and metal salts; —allowing said metal salt to partition into a water phase; —separating said crude heavy hydrocarbon mixture (5) comprising naphthenic acid and said water phase (6) comprising said metal salt; and —preferably pumping said water phase comprising metal salt to a formation.