Refining

EXCALIBUR Contaminant Removal Technology

EXCALIBUR Technology Removes Contaminants from Opportunity Crudes

Baker Hughes has developed a patent pending chemical treating process that removes certain contaminants from crude oils in the crude unit desalting operation. For example, calcium removal efficiencies as high as 95% have been achieved in units processing crude oils high in calcium naphthenate content, such as Doba crude from Chad. Crude oil iron removal efficiencies greater than 70% have also been achieved in commercial applications of EXCALIBUR technology. EXCALIBUR technology also removes amines, ammonia and other alkaline contaminants from crude unit feedstocks.

EXCALIBUR Technology Benefits

EXCALIBUR technology allows refiners to significantly improve plant profitability by increasing flexibility in selection of crude oil types that can be processed without causing operational or product quality problems. By using EXCALIBUR technology, refiners can process higher rates of lower cost, opportunity crude oils, while continuing to produce on-specification coke and heavy fuel oils. Refiners have also been able to maintain target rates of reduced crudes to their resid FCCUs while processing high metals crudes.

EXCALIBUR Technology Overview EXCALIBUR technology involves the injection of water soluble EXCALIBUR complexing agents into the crude unit desalter wash water to increase the solubility of many common contaminants in the aqueous phase. Dissolved contaminants are removed from the desalter with the effluent water drained from the bottom of the vessel.

EXCALIBUR additives contain corrosion inhibitors that allow their safe use in crude unit desalting equipment. Specially formulated Baker Hughes emulsion breaking chemicals are also used to break naphthenate-stabilized emulsions and to maximize crude oil dehydration, thereby minimizing carry over of dissolved contaminants into the desalted crude oil stream. For certain crude oil types, Baker Hughes calcium scale inhibitor is applied to prevent deposition of calcium carbonates and sulfates in the desalter effluent water removal system.

EXCALIBUR Technology Performance

Europe

• 28 to 119 ppm Ca in Doba crude blend
• Current target of <20 ppm Ca in desalted crude being obtained
• Over 95% Ca removal when desalter effluent pH < 6
• Reduction in atmospheric resid Ca level allows refinery to feed up to 80m3/h resid to FCC Unit

USA

• 41 ppm Ca in Doba crude blend
• 1.5 ppm Ca in desalted crude at pH 5.2 in desalter effluent water
  (96% removal efficiency)