The modified skimmer tanks have consistently demonstrated superior oil recovery characteristics compared to conventional design in an oil field tank battery system. The modified tanks have been in continuous service for more than 2 years in one of the oldest oil fields in the Arabian Gulf. The new design has helped recover skimmed oil from a mere 6 bpd (1.0 m3) to more than 55 bpd (8.75 m3) from produced water in a tank battery system alone. The recovery is expected to improve by upto 2U0 bpd (31.8 m3) once skimmer tanks in all the tank batteries are upgraded to the new design.

Keywords:
skimmer tank, tank, renovate produced-water-treating facility, wash tank, baffle, oil pad thickness, separation and treating, upstream oil & gas, spe 22831, weir
Subjects:
Processing Systems and Design, Environment, Separation and treating, Water use, produced water discharge and disposal
Copyright 1991, Society of Petroleum Engineers
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