公开(公告)号：US12053719B1

公开(公告)日：2024-08-06

申请号：US17494124

申请日：2021-10-05

Applicant: The University of Tulsa

Inventor： Ramin Dabirian ,  Ilias Gavrielatos ,  Srinivas Swaroop Kolla ,  Ram S. Mohan ,  Cristian Daniel Nunez ,  Ovadia Shoham

IPC: B01D17/04 ,  B01D17/02 ,  B01D17/12 ,  B04C5/04 ,  B04C5/081 ,  B04C5/30 ,  B04C9/00 ,  B04C11/00 ,  E21B43/34

CPC classification number: B01D17/04 ,  B01D17/0217 ,  B01D17/12 ,  B04C5/04 ,  B04C5/081 ,  B04C5/30 ,  B04C9/00 ,  B04C11/00 ,  E21B43/34 ,  B04C2009/008

Abstract: An oil-water emulsion breakup system. In one embodiment, the system includes an oil-water mixture inlet line configured to receive an oil and water liquid mixture, which may be stabilized by hydrophobic nanoparticles, surfactants of low HLB value, or both. A water injection inlet in communication with the oil-water mixture inlet is configured to direct water into the oil-water mixture inlet. A water sensor is in communication with the oil-water mixture inlet to sense percentage of water in the mixture. A water injection valve in the water injection inlet is in communication with the water sensor. A liquid-liquid separator has an inlet configured to receive a combination of the oil and water mixture and the water, with the separator separating liquid into an oil phase and a water phase. An upper leg in communication with the liquid-liquid separator receives oil separated from the separator. A lower leg in communication with the liquid-liquid separator receives water separated in the liquid-liquid separator.