Conoco Inc.

James E Stolhand

David A Flanigan

Elwyn Shimoda

Lisa A Cantu

Robert L Coffee

Marvin E Yost

Phil A Boyd

A system is provided for the separation of oil from oily water, particularly where the oily water is available only at relatively low pressures insufficient ot drive a hydrocyclone separator. Particular combinations of pumps and hydrocyclones can be effective in these low pressure situations where the pressure boost required is not substantially greater than a differential pressure at which the pump begins to substantially degrade the volumetric mean size of droplets of oil in the oily water passing therethrough. This is achieved by operating the pump at relatively near its maximum flow rate capacity to substantially reduce on a percentage basis the effect of fluid slippage within the pump. Improved techniques for analysis of oil droplet size distribution are also disclosed.

Low pressure hydrocyclone separator

A system is provided for the separation of oil from oily water, particularly where the oily water is available only at relatively low pressures insufficient to drive a hydrocyclone separator. Particular combinations of pumps and hydrocyclones can be effective in these low pressure situations where the pressure boost required is not substantially greater than a differential pressure at which the pump begins to substantially degrade the volumetric mean size of droplets of oil in the oily water passing therethrough. This is achieved by operating the pump at relatively near its maximum flow rate capacity to substantially reduce on a percentage basis the effect of fluid slippage within the pump. Improved techniques for analysis of oil droplet size distribution are also disclosed.

Saline source water containing dissolved oxygen is deoxygenated to form injection quality water in the disclosed process and apparatus. In accordance with the invention, saline source water is electrolyzed in an electrolytic cell which produces hydrogen and chlorine. The hydrogen is reacted with the dissolved oxygen in a catalyst resin bed to reduce the dissolved oxygen to the desired level. Optionally, evolved chlorine may be used as a biocide in the system.

Process and apparatus for removing dissolved oxygen

A method for the treatment of oil well production streams to process oil-contaminated sand to recover oil therefrom and produce an ecologically acceptable clean sand residue. The process involves separating the production fluid from an oil well having sand entrained therein into a plurality of components, one of which comprises an oil-contaminated sand. The contaminated sand is contacted with a light oil solvent to initiate a solvating action of the oil contaminant. The resulting mixture of oil-contaminated sand and solvent is then contacted with water and the system then gravity separated into discrete sand, water and oil phases. The oil and water phases may be removed from the sand and the sand phase again contacted with water and the resulting mixture then subjected to gravity separation to produce separate sand and water phases. The water phase is then removed and the sand passed to a suitable disposal facility.

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Ponca City, OK, United States of America

James E Stolhand