WATER-BASED METHOD FOR THE GRAVITATIONAL SEPARATION OF ASPHALTENES FROM CRUDE OILS, AND DEVICES FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION THEREOF

摘要

The invention relates to a method for removing asphaltenes from crude oils, and to devices for the implementation thereof. The method uses water as an agent for gravitational separation and product rectification. The method comprises three steps and one optional step. The resulting products are an improved crude oil and asphaltenes. The first step aims to modify the crude oil, destabilise the asphaltenes by means of thermodynamic disturbance, and form an emulsion of modified crude and water, which, in a second step, undergoes a first gravitational separation that produces streams promoting improved crude oil and asphaltenes. The method ends with a third step, in which each product-promoting stream undergoes rectification before emulsion with water. The method includes an optional step with a second gravitational separation of each stream of improved crude oil and asphaltenes, between the second and third steps, when the characteristics of the crude oil require it.