The effect of water on the properties of crude oil
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Crude oil contains water; how does the water that settles during storage affect the properties of the crude oil? If crude oil contains a high amount of water when it enters the processing stage, what impact will that have on production?
The water content differs between the upper and lower parts of the storage tank; the lower part contains more water. Water in the crude oil can lead to high pressure at the top of the tower, low temperatures, delayed removal of water from the top of the tower, and pump cavitation； In severe cases, it can also cause tower surging and the safety valve to activate, affecting normal operation
It has a significant impact on production: 1. Electrodesalination system trips; 2. Tower pressure rises; 3. The pressure of crude oil in the heat exchanger increases while the flow rate decreases, and the temperature of the crude oil after heat exchange drops; 4. The reflux volume at the top of the tower increases, resulting in higher dry points at the top of the tower and along the side streams; 5. Severe water contamination causes leaks in the heat exchangers, safety valves activate, there is backflow into the tower, and the pump at the bottom of the tower becomes empty
Over time, moisture deposits in the crude oil tank, resulting in less water in the upper part of the tank and more water in the lower part. A high water content in crude oil can lead to: 1) the crude oil pump running dry; 2) an increased amount of water being removed through electrodesalination, which raises the liquid level and may even cause the electrodesalination system to shut down or the electrodes to be damaged; 3) a decrease in temperature and an increase in pressure after the crude oil is replaced, which can result in leaks in the heat exchangers. 4. An increase in vaporization volume leads to an elevation in tower pressure, which can cause the side-stream oil to turn black or even result in a tower overflow. 5. The water volume in the oil-water separation tank at the top of the tower increases; 6. The pump at the bottom of the tower becomes vacuumed
Well, the impact on the production process is basically clear now. But what are the effects of water on the properties of crude oil, such as its physical and chemical properties?
Crude oil is a complex hydrocarbon composed of carbon and hydrogen atoms. During the production process, crude oil undergoes reactions such as cracking, pyrolysis, polymerization, and condensation, resulting in the formation of various polycyclic chain molecules. Those that can combine with water turn into carbohydrates. Plants and animals in nature are all composed of carbohydrates. Biodiesel is made from plant and animal materials; both hydrocarbons and carbohydrates belong to organic compounds