Separating mixtures of oil and water
AssigneeTotal Separation Solutions, LLC
InventorsKevin W. Smith, Robert L. Sloan, Harry D. Smith, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cavitation device is used to heat and facilitation the separation of mixtures and emulsions of oil and water. Waste heat from the power source for the cavitation device may be utilized to elevate the temperature of incoming mixtures or emulsions. The heated mixture of emulsion is sent to a separation vessel where vapor may be removed and/or recovered, and where oil is removed as it separates into an identifiable layer. The separation vessel may be a flash tank.
Claims22
Method of treating an oil and water emulsion comprising (a) heating said oil and water emulsion in a cavitation device by creating a vacuum and forming shock waves which impart thermal energy to the emulsion, and generate water vapor or steam, and (b) removing water from said emulsion by drawing said water vapor or steam from the emulsion so heated.
Method of recovering oil from a mixture of oil and water produced from a well from one or more downhole formations comprising passing said mixture through a cavitation device to increase its temperature, thereby creating a vacuum and forming shock waves which impart thermal energy to the mixture, and forming at least some aqueous vapor from said mixture, separating said vapor from said mixture, and recovering produced oil from the remaining mixture by placing it in a vessel, allowing it to form a separate layer comprising oil in said vessel, and removing oil from said separate layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.