The Oil and Water Separation from Surfactant Produced Water by Using a Flotation Column

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to study the effect of amphoteric surfactant at different operating conditions concerning the oil–water separation from Dulang Oil field by using a laboratory-scale flotation column. A model has been developed to optimize the flotation process by using response surface method (RSM). The produced water containing surfactant was created by mixing the Dulang crude oil with the initial concentration of 1000 ppm, brines at 14000 ppm concentration, and MFOMAX amphoteric surfactant ranging from 0 to 500 ppm. A total of 32 experiments were conducted, and the effect of gas flowrate, MFOMAX concentration, and duration of flotation on the efficiency of oil removal from the flotation units has been analyzed. The experimental data results were then statistically analyzed, and the experiments were conducted for verification. The experimental results were found in fair agreement with the model’s predicted value, suggesting that the model could define the relationship between parameters. With the presence of MFOMAX, the optimal combination of parameters was at 4 L/min gas flowrate at the duration of 9 min with the efficiency of 87.3%. Confirmatory experiments were conducted at the optimum parameters to verify the model. The experimental value of 82.8% (STD 1.60) was obtained which indicated a good agreement with the predicted results.

Copyright 2018, Shaanxi Petroleum Society.

This paper was prepared for presentation at the 2018 International Field Exploration and Development Conference in Xi’an, China, 18–20 September, 2018.

This paper was selected for presentation by the IFEDC Committee following review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents of the paper, as presented, have not been reviewed by the IFEDC Committee and are subject to correction by the author(s). The material does not necessarily reflect any position of the IFEDC Committee, its members. Papers presented at the Conference are subject to publication review by Professional Committee of Petroleum Engineering of Shaanxi Petroleum Society. Electronic reproduction, distribution, or storage of any part of this paper for commercial purposes without the written consent of Shaanxi Petroleum Society is prohibited. Permission to reproduce in print is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300 words; illustrations may not be copied. The abstract must contain conspicuous acknowledgment of IFEDC. Contact email: paper@ifedc.org.