Novel De-Oiling of Oil-Water

Abstract

The study anchors on developing a mechanistic model for oil-water separation. Over the years, researchers have been working on how to improve the quality of produced water effluent especially from oil and gas operations sent to the receiving waters. Despite the standard set for compliance by regulatory bodies like united nation agency, ministry, departments and other agencies both state and federal government including non governmental agencies the problem of meeting stipulated bench marks still persist. This study however looks into some variables perceived as being relative to improving or affecting produced water effluent from oil-water separator. Modeling of oil-water separation was based on the philosophy that a mathematical model can be established for the physical problems under investigation. These mathematical problems formulated were based on laws of conservation. Solving the model equation analytically however pose some problems. Hence they were solved by simulation using a computer soft ware SIMULINK a graphical extension of MATLAB with positive outcome since it has the ability to model non-linear systems. From the simulated analysis, increased flow rate creates turbulence in the system with resultant poor effluent quality, whereas also, from the simulated analysis, gradual increases in temperature improves oil-water separation from lower temperature of the fluid upstream thereby aiding improvement in effluent quality.