MICROWAVE: DESHYDRATATION AND DESALTING OF CRUDE OIL HEAVY
Ariana M. Vázquez Almaguer; Arturo López Marure
Instituto Politécnico Nacional, CICATA Altamira, Carretera Tampico-Puerto
Industrial Altamira Km 14.5, Industrial Altamira, 89600 Altamira, TAMPS.
Abstract
Microwave irradiation is an alternative demulsification process of water-oil (w / o)
and oil-water (o / w) emulsions. A heating of materials at a microwave frequency
depends of the frequency of the electromagnetic wave and the dielectric properties
of materials. In this way, a precise knowledge of the rheological properties of
water-oil Maya-salts system is needed to understand the behavior under the
influence of a electromagnetic field.
The objective of this research is to optimize the rheological parameters of the
water-oil Maya-salts that contribute to a reduction of energy consumption in crude
oil dehydration and desalting using microwave radiation. For this purpose, were
selected sampling points in the circuit extraction Tamaulipas Field Constituciones
and Cacalilao, in the area of Altamira of PEMEX Exploration and Production.
Protocols for preparation of prototype emulsions were determined in laboratory,
varying water concentrations (50%, 20%, 10%) and different types of crude oil
(crude Altamira 14.7 °API, Cacalilao 7.2 °API and Tamaulipas 13.6 ° API).
The charactetization of the physical, chemical and rheological properties of the
water-Maya crude-salts systems wash established. The results show, a wide
spectrum of information about the behavior of emulsions obtained before and after
microwave irradiation, which is to be used to design microwave applicators.
This paper concludes that the best rate of dehydration is the obtained by a 20/80
water-oil dilution for crudes kind different three. The decrease in the density of oil
which is evidenced by an increase in degrees API. The microwave irradiation alters
the main functional groups of the crude, but there is a fragmentation of the
hydrocarbon chains. In the case of 50/50 oil-water emulsions, the hydrocarbons
dissolved in the congenital water are recovered.
Keywords: Dehydratation, Desalting, Microwave.