Process for removing metal ions from crude oil
OwnerIan Ralph Collins, Simon Neil Duncum +1inventors
InventorsIan Ralph Collins, Simon Neil Duncum, Christopher George Osborne
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Abstract
A process for removing metal ions from crude oil comprising contacting a non-ionic amphiphilic solvent with the crude oil, optionally, in the presence of water, so as to produce a metal ion-containing phase, and separating the metal ion-containing phase from the crude oil.
Claims21
A process for removing metal ions from crude oil comprising
- a) contacting a non-ionic amphiphilic solvent with the crude oil, optionally, in the presence of water, so as to produce a metal ion-containing phase, and
- b) separating the metal ion-containing phase from the crude oil.
A process as claimed,,n any preceding claim, wherein the metal ion-containing phase is separated from the crude oil using a density separator.
A process as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein prior to separating the metal ion-containing phase from the crude oil, the reaction mixture of step a) is heated to at least 70° C.
A process as claimed in any preceding claim, which further comprises the step of recovering at least some of the non-ionic amphiphilic solvent from the metal-containing phase separated in step b) for re-use.
A process as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein step a) is carried out at between ambient temperature and 160° C.
A process as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the amount of non-ionic amphiphilic solvent employed forms 5 to 40 wt % of the total amount of oil, amphiphilic solvent and optional water in the reaction mixture of step a).
A process for reducing the acidity of crude oil, comprising contacting crude oil with
- i) a metal-containing neutralising agent in the presence of water, and
- ii) a non-ionic amphiphilic solvent, so as to produce a metal-containing phase, and optionally, separating the metal-containing phase from the crude oil.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.