Crude oil introduced to refinery processing contains many undesirable impurities, such as sand, inorganic salts, drilling mud, polymer, corrosion byproduct, etc. The salt content in the crude oil varies depending on source of the crude oil. When a mixture from many crude oil sources is processed in refinery, the salt content can vary greatly.

The purpose of desalting is to remove these undesirable impurities, especially salts and water, from the crude oil prior to distillation.

The most concerns of the impurities in crude oil:

• The Inorganic salts can be decomposed in the crude oil pre-heat exchangers and heaters. As a result, hydrogen chloride gas is formed which condenses to liquid hydrochloric acid at overhead system of distillation column, that may causes serious corrosion of equipment.
• To avoid corrosion due to salts in the crude oil, corrosion control can be used. But the byproduct from the corrosion control of oil field equipment consists of particulate iron sulfide and oxide. Precipitation of these materials can cause plugging of heat exchanger trains, tower trays, heater tubes, etc. In addition, these materials can cause corrosion to any surface they are precipitated on.
• The sand or silt can cause significant damage due to abrasion or erosion to pumps, pipelines, etc.
• The calcium naphthanate compound in the crude unit residue stream, if not removed can result in the production of lower grade coke and deactivation of catalyst of FCC unit

Benefits of Crude Oil Desalting

• Increase crude throughput
• Less plugging, scaling, coking of heat exchanger and furnace tubes
• Less corrosion in exchanger, fractionators, pipelines, etc.
• Better corrosion control in CDU overhead
• Less erosion by solids in control valves, exchanger, furnace, pumps
• Saving of oil from slops from waste oil

Petrofam has the knowledge and experience to meet the exacting desalting system. Petrofam desalting systems are designed and fabricated to meet the customer's specific needs, while keeping investment and operating costs to a minimum.
A system designed and manufactured by Petrofam is engineered with characteristics specifically suited for each unique application requirements. Petrofam employs seasoned engineers and fabricators, and utilizes advanced fabrication processes to ensure a superior product.

Desalting system can be provided as a complete package including piping, instrumentation/ electrical and valving requirements considering Client Specifications.