Union Oil Company of California

John Gerlach

Theodore C Frankiewicz

Charles R Bennett

Mercury is removed from crude oils, natural gas condensates and other liquid hydrocarbons by first removing colloidal mercury and solids that contain adsorbed mercury and then treating the hydrocarbons with an organic or inorganic compound containing at least one sulfur atom reactive with mercury. The sulfur compound reacts with dissolved mercury that contaminates the hydrocarbons to form mercury-containing particulates that are then removed from the hydrocarbons to produce a purified product having a reduced mercury content. Preferably, the treating agent is an organic sulfur-containing compound such as a dithiocarbamate or sulfurized isobutylene.

Process for removing mercury from liquid hydrocarbons using a sulfur-containing organic compound

Process for removing mercury from liquid hydrocarbons

A process is disclosed which involves removing hydrocarbons, arsenic and mercury from wastewater produced in oil and gas fields. An oxidant, ferric ions, and flocculent are sequentially added to the wastewater to form a removable sludge containing the arsenic, hydrocarbon, and mercury contaminants. The Oxidation-Reduction Potential of the wastewater is controlled by oxidant addition to allow the required arsenic oxidation to occur while maintaining the mercury in elemental form. The process requires relatively short residence times between chemical additions and provides for large wastewater throughputs. The cleaned wastewater is suitable for discharge to the environment.

Removal of hydrocarbons, mercury and arsenic from oil-field produced

The ability of a waste treatment process to remove selenium from a waste stream is improved by pretreating the waste with a compound selected from the group having the formula

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Las Vegas, NV, United States of America

John Gerlach