6 replies to this topic

[daffe]

Hi everybody,A storage tank for crude oil-water separation should be designed. Does anybody know how? Any guidline for sizing this storage tank(including equations and sample calculation) will be appricaited?The tank should be sized for 15 ppm water in crude.
Thanks

[ankur2061]

daffe,

Crude Oil Storage tanks are designed for storage and not for separation. Oil-water separation is done using liquid-liquid separators which function on separation principles related to stokes law for settling based on the density of the oil and water phases.

That separation takes place in a storage tank due to settling of the heavier water phase over a period of time (residence time) is incidental and not a design parameter for a storage tank. In all probability there is confusion from your side regarding separation equipment (liquid-liquid separators) and storage tanks.

In fact settling of water in a storage tank provides its own set of problems such as removal and disposal of the water since any settled water in a crude oil storage tank can lead to corrosion of the tank wetted portion in contact with water.

If you are expecting water in appreciable quantities in your storage tank then some of the design features would include:

1. Level measurement of the oil-water interface for determining the water content in your crude oil

2. A boot system at the tank bottom for collection and disposal of the separated produced water.

3. Appropriate location of outlet nozzles on the tank for oil and water collection depending on the oil-water interphase level.

Regards,
Ankur.

[anuraggupta76]

Ankur,

I am trying to find type of level gauge to be mounted on the tank which has crude oil. As crude being viscous what type of level gauge would be suitable for mounting

[baishnab]

Dear all,

• Instead of investing your resources in level gauges just to monitor oil water interface level, u can rely on manual gauging of tanks. Because eventually the level gauges show erreneous readings. This is because water is not only present as a continuous phase but it is also present as a dispersed phase. So it must be drained from the crude storage tanks either by draining to OWS or to an auxilary crude- water storage tank. This is my personal experience that level gauges fail to do this perticular job.

Thanks

[kkala]

Past thread http://www.cheresour...crude-oil-tanks '> http://www.cheresour...crude-oil-tanks , could be useful (dewatering of crude oil tanks).

[hedgie]

Anyone have or could provide me the info where can i get a template or data sheet or sample of calculation for the whole refining process?

Sorry for interupting this topic.really need the help.

Thank you.

[ankur2061]

hedgie,

You are not supposed to hijack a thread with your own unrelated query. Start a separate thread for your query.

Ankur.