Crude Contamination Sources

Crude oil contains formation sand, drilling mud, scale from production equipment, rust from storage tanks, paraffin wax particles, asphaltenes, water droplets with suspended solids, and biological material from storage.

Filter Configuration

Horizontal or vertical pressure vessel with crude inlet, coarse strainer stage removing large debris, fine filter stage capturing smaller particles, filtered crude outlet to processing, differential pressure monitoring, drain for accumulated solids.

Dual-Stage Design

Basket strainer or perforated plate removes particles above 500-2000 microns protecting fine filters. Cartridge or bag filters capture 25-100 microns. Staged approach extends fine filter life handling varying crude quality.

Operating Conditions

Pressure 50-300 psig matching crude transfer systems. Temperature 40-120C depending on crude viscosity and heating requirements. Design accommodates high-temperature heavy crude service.

Material Selection

Carbon steel construction for crude oil service. Internal coating optional for corrosive crudes containing salts and water. Materials resist H2S and naphthenic acid in sour crudes.

Particle Types

Formation sand highly abrasive damaging pumps and heat exchangers. Rust and scale from storage and transport. Paraffin and wax crystals in waxy crudes. Asphaltene precipitates. Salt crystals from brine contamination.

Differential Pressure

DP monitoring indicates filter loading. Clean DP 10-20 psi. High DP 40-60 psi signals cleaning or element replacement. Excessive DP reduces flow affecting downstream processing.

Applications

Refinery crude charge filtration before desalting, crude storage tank outlet protection, pipeline receiving filtration, crude transfer pump protection, and any crude processing requiring contamination removal.

Coarse Stage Maintenance

Basket strainers require periodic cleaning. System shutdown or bypass enables debris removal. High sand content crudes need frequent cleaning - daily to weekly. Automated backflush systems available for continuous operation.

Fine Filter Elements

Cartridge or bag filters rated 25-100 microns. Selection based on crude quality and downstream equipment protection requirements. Elements disposable or cleanable depending on design.

Heat Exchanger Protection

Crude preheat exchangers foul from particulates reducing heat transfer. Filtration prevents fouling maintaining thermal efficiency. Critical for crude distillation energy optimization.

Desalter Protection

Sand and solids interfere with water-crude emulsion in desalters reducing salt removal efficiency. Pre-filtration improves desalting performance. Protects desalter internals and electrodes.

Pump Protection

Removes abrasive sand protecting crude charge pump impellers and seals. Extends mechanical seal life. Prevents premature pump failures maintaining production reliability.

Heavy Crude Challenges

High viscosity crudes require heating for filtration. Asphaltenes precipitate at low temperatures plugging filters. Temperature control critical. Proper heating maintains flowability.

Filter Life

Element life varies with crude quality - hours for high-sand crudes to weeks for clean crude. Regular monitoring and maintenance essential. Spare elements maintained for rapid replacement.

Performance Benefits

Protects expensive refinery equipment from abrasive wear and fouling. Improves downstream processing efficiency. Prevents unscheduled shutdowns from crude contamination. Essential crude preparation.

Construction Standards

Pressure vessels per ASME Section VIII. Materials for crude oil service including H2S environments. Design accommodates high temperatures for heavy crudes. Complete documentation with filtration specifications.

ERGIL crude oil filters provide essential contamination removal protecting refinery equipment and ensuring reliable crude processing operations.