Real-time Crude Oil Quantification via In-line Phase Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for evaluating improved oil recovery in coreflooding systems are inefficient due to high noise and uncertainty in real-time monitoring of oil content, requiring expensive and complex equipment, skilled operators, and being unable to accurately measure trace amounts of oil in water.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that includes real-time continuous extraction of oil from mixed streams using solvents like toluene and xylenes, followed by in-line phase separation and analysis with continuous flow spectrophotometers to determine crude oil content, allowing for automated and accurate quantification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If visual observation or traditional analytical methods are used to determine oil content, then equipment complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to high noise and uncertainty in real-time monitoring
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the oil-water effluent stream into separate phases using an in-line centrifugal separator, allowing independent analysis of the oil phase. This segmentation enables precise measurement of trace oil amounts without interference from water, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and equipment complexity by using a modular approach with a centrifugal separator coupled to a flow analyzer
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary solvent extraction step where a hydrocarbon solvent extracts oil from the effluent stream before analysis. This intermediary extraction process concentrates trace oil amounts and removes water interference, enabling high-precision measurement without requiring overly complex direct analysis equipment
2Measurement precision
If traditional analytical methods such as NMR or OCMA-300 are used, then measurement capability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to requirement for skilled operators
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements automated self-service operation where the in-line centrifugal separator automatically separates oil and water phases, and the flow analyzer automatically measures oil content without manual intervention. The system performs self-calibration and continuous monitoring, eliminating the need for skilled operators to manually operate complex NMR or OCMA equipment while maintaining high measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations with automated instrumental systems. The centrifugal separator uses rotational mechanics to automatically separate phases, and the flow analyzer uses optical detection to automatically quantify oil content, substituting the need for skilled manual operation with automated systems that require minimal operator intervention
3Measurement precision
If fraction collection methods are used for oil quantification, then measurement capability is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to time-consuming multiple manual steps
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous action by processing the effluent stream continuously through the in-line centrifugal separator and flow analyzer without interruption. Oil is separated and measured in real-time as it flows through the system, eliminating the batch processing nature of fraction collection methods. This continuous operation maintains measurement precision while dramatically increasing productivity by analyzing every portion of the effluent stream
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary separation of oil and water phases using the in-line centrifugal separator before analysis. This preliminary action prepares the sample automatically and continuously, eliminating the need for subsequent manual fraction collection and processing steps. The preliminary separation enables direct, continuous measurement of oil content, improving both precision and productivity
4Productivity
If real-time monitoring of cumulative produced oil volumes is performed, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to noisy data
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the measurement process by first separating oil and water phases using the in-line centrifugal separator, then measuring only the oil phase volume with the flow analyzer. This segmentation eliminates water interference from the volume measurement, providing precise real-time monitoring of oil volumes without the noise that plagues cumulative volume measurements in mixed effluent streams
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach reduces errors and costs by providing accurate, real-time monitoring of oil content with high precision, enabling more effective evaluation of improved oil recovery methods and reducing solvent consumption during low oil production periods.
Implementation Method 1
passing the first stream to a continuous flow spectrophotometer to determine a plurality of absorption values corresponding to the crude oil content in the first stream
Implementation Method 2
blending the effluent stream with a solvent stream in the mixing device to produce a mixed stream
Implementation Method 3
supplying the mixed stream to an in-line phase separator to produce a first stream containing the solvent and the crude oil from the effluent stream and a second stream containing water and water-miscible components from the effluent stream
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, apparatuses, and computer-implemented methods are provided for the real-time quantification of crude oil in an effluent from coreflooding apparatus. Disclosed here is a method of determining the amount of crude oil in an effluent from a coreflooding apparatus by blending the effluent stream with a solvent stream in a mixing device to produce a mixed stream, supplying the mixed stream to an in-line phase separator to produce a first stream containing the solvent and the crude oil from the effluent stream and a second stream containing water and water-miscible components from the effluent stream; and passing the first stream to a continuous flow spectrophotometer to determine the amount of crude oil in the effluent stream.