ENV-17-08 Desalter Brine Effluent Pretreatment – An Emerging Process for Heavy Crude Refiners

Description:

Many petroleum refiners in the United States (U.S.) are refining more “advantaged” (i.e., heavy) crudes as a part of their crude slates. These advantaged crudes can pose significant challenges to refiners (e.g., bottlenecks in sulfur processing, limited or no coking ability, limited hydroprocessing capabilities, higher residuals, etc.). One often overlooked and indirect impact of processing heavier crude slates is the impact they can have on the refinery’s wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The most common impact is increased oil and grease loading outside of the design capabilities of the secondary oil-water separation system (OWS). Moreover, problems can persist beyond the secondary OWS system to the secondary treatment process (i.e., biological treatment system). As a result of the challenges posed by processing the advantaged crudes, many refineries are exploring or have implemented options to mitigate desalter upsets in the form of technologies for desalter brine effluent and mudwash (DBE+MW) pretreatment. DBE+MW pretreatment is increasingly being viewed as a necessary step to protect the WWTP as crude quality continues to decline and advantaged crudes make up more of the crude slates. AECOM compiled information obtained from various client contacts and project activities on 52 refineries and upgraders in North America. The information focused on the configuration and technologies employed at refinery and upgrader WWTPs with a particular focus on DBE+MW pretreatment. This paper provides an overview of the emerging treatment approaches and technologies for DBE+MW pretreatment along with summary performance data for a refinery implementing DBE+MW pretreatment.