Abstract:
Trace amount levels of heavy metals such as mercury in crude oil are reduced by contacting the crude oil with a sufficient amount of a reducing agent to convert at least a portion of the non-volatile mercury into a volatile form of mercury, which can be subsequently removed by any of stripping, scrubbing, adsorption, and combinations thereof. In one embodiment, at least 50% of the mercury is removed. In another embodiment, the removal rate is at least 99%. In one embodiment, the reducing agent is selected from sulfur compounds containing at least one sulfur atom having an oxidation state less than +6; ferrous compounds; stannous compounds; oxalates; cuprous compounds; organic acids which decompose to form CO2 and/or H2 upon heating; hydroxylamine compounds; hydrazine compounds; sodium borohydride; diisobutylaluminium hydride; thiourea; transition metal halides; and mixtures thereof.
Abstract:
A predictive tool is provided for estimating the mercury content of hydrocarbons to be produced from a wellbore in a newly investigated subterranean hydrocarbon producing formation based on the mercury content of an inorganic sample recovered from the wellbore. The mercaptans content of liquid hydrocarbons and/or the hydrogen sulfide content of natural gas produced from the formation may also be used to enhance the prediction. Based on the predicted value, a mercury mitigation treatment may be provided to mitigate the mercury content of hydrocarbons produced from the formation.
Abstract:
A method is provided for recovering mercury from a crude oil into an alkaline ammonium sulfide contacting solution. Soluble mercury complexes in the contacting solution are converted to particulate mercury. The particulate mercury can be recovered by filtering, and the ammonium sulfide in the contacting solution recycled to the aqueous contacting solution.
Abstract:
Particulate mercury, in the form of metacinnabar, is removed from crude oil by thermally treating the crude oil at temperatures in a range from 150° C. to 350° C. and at a pressure sufficient to limit the amount of crude vaporizing to no more than 10 wt. %. In the thermal treatment, the particulate mercury is converted into elemental mercury, which can be removed by directly adsorption from the crude onto a support. In one embodiment, the elemental mercury can be removed by stripping the crude with a gas, and then adsorbing the mercury onto a support. The crude oil can be optionally treated prior to stabilization and contains 0.1 wt. % or more of C4-hydrocarbons. Following the thermal treatment, the treated crude is cooled and the pressure is reduced. The C4-hydrocarbons then vaporize from the crude and carry the elemental mercury with them. The elemental mercury in this hydrocarbon gas stream may then be removed by a solid adsorbent.
Abstract:
A process and system for separating CO2 from a flue gas stream is disclosed. The process involves (a) contacting a flue gas stream containing water vapor and CO2 with an ionic absorbent under absorption conditions to absorb at least a portion of the CO2 from the flue gas stream and form a CO2-absorbent complex; wherein the ionic absorbent comprises a cation and an anion comprising an amine moiety; and (b) recovering a gaseous product having a reduced CO2 content.
Abstract:
Particulate mercury is removed from crude oil by thermally treating the crude oil or condensate at temperatures in a range from 150° C. to 350° C. and at a sufficient pressure with subsequent cooling under maintenance of pressure to provide irreversible conversion to elemental mercury, which may be preferentially removed in a mercury removal unit.
Abstract:
A process and system for separating CO2 from a flue gas stream is disclosed. The process involves (a) contacting a flue gas stream containing water vapor and CO2 with an ionic absorbent under absorption conditions to absorb at least a portion of the CO2 from the flue gas stream and form a CO2-absorbent complex; wherein the ionic absorbent comprises a cation and an anion comprising an amine moiety; and (b) recovering a gaseous product having a reduced CO2 content.
Abstract:
Methods and systems relate to the in-situ removal of heavy metals such as mercury, arsenic, etc., from produced fluids such as gases and crudes from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation. A sufficient amount of a fixing agent is injected into formation with a dilution fluid. The fixing agent reacts with the heavy metals forming precipitate, or is extracted heavy metals into the dilution fluid as soluble complexes. In one embodiment, the heavy metal precipitates remain in the formation. After the recovery of the produced fluid, the dilution fluid containing the heavy metal complexes is separated from the produced fluid, generating a treated produced fluid having a reduced concentration of heavy metals. In one embodiment, the dilution fluid is water, and the wastewater containing the heavy metal complexes after recovery can be recycled by injection into a reservoir.
Abstract:
A predictive tool is provided for estimating the mercury content of hydrocarbons to be produced from a wellbore in a newly investigated subterranean hydrocarbon producing formation based on the mercury content of an inorganic sample recovered from the wellbore. The mercaptans content of liquid hydrocarbons and/or the hydrogen sulfide content of natural gas produced from the formation may also be used to enhance the prediction. Based on the predicted value, a mercury mitigation treatment may be provided to mitigate the mercury content of hydrocarbons produced from the formation.
Abstract:
Particulate mercury, in the form of metacinnabar, is removed from crude oil by thermally treating the crude oil at temperatures in a range from 150° C. to 350° C. and at a pressure sufficient to limit the amount of crude vaporizing to no more than 10 wt. %. In the thermal treatment, the particulate mercury is converted into elemental mercury, which can be removed by directly adsorption from the crude onto a support. In one embodiment, the elemental mercury can be removed by stripping the crude with a gas, and then adsorbing the mercury onto a support. The crude oil can be optionally treated prior to stabilization and contains 0.1 wt. % or more of C4-hydrocarbons. Following the thermal treatment, the treated crude is cooled and the pressure is reduced. The C4-hydrocarbons then vaporize from the crude and carry the elemental mercury with them. The elemental mercury in this hydrocarbon gas stream may then be removed by a solid adsorbent.