Question:
The primary objective of the electrostatic grid in electrostatic heater-treater used in crude oil processing is to:
The primary objective of the electrostatic grid in electrostatic heater-treater used in crude oil processing is to:
Show Hint
Electrostatic treaters are primarily used for dehydration and desalting of crude oil, improving separation efficiency by coalescing fine water droplets.
Updated On: Aug 24, 2025
- separate sand particles.
- promote coalescence of water droplets.
- generate electrical energy from the kinetic energy of the feed.
- prevent corrosion by the cathodic protection.
Hide Solution
Verified By Collegedunia
The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Role of heater-treater.
In crude oil processing, a heater-treater is used to separate water and oil. The electrostatic grid provides an electric field inside the vessel. Step 2: Mechanism.
The electric field induces charges in water droplets suspended in the crude oil. Oppositely charged droplets attract each other, causing them to coalesce (merge). Larger droplets settle faster, enhancing water–oil separation. Step 3: Evaluate options. \begin{itemize} \item (A) Sand separation is done by desanders, not electrostatics. \item (B) Correct: The grid promotes water droplet coalescence. \item (C) No energy generation occurs here. \item (D) Cathodic protection is unrelated to heater-treaters. \end{itemize} Final Answer: \[ \boxed{\text{promote coalescence of water droplets}} \]
Was this answer helpful?
0
0
Top Questions on Oil Processing
- A Newtonian fluid is transported through a smooth horizontal pipe of diameter 1 m at a flow rate of 3.14 m³/s. The length of the pipe is 1 km. The viscosity of the oil is 0.02 Pa.s and its density is 800 kg/m³. Consider the Darcy friction factor (\( f \)) for turbulent flow in a smooth pipe is given as
\[ f = \frac{0.316}{{Re}^{0.25}} \] where \( {Re} \) is the Reynolds number.
Assuming fully-developed flow in the pipe, the pressure drop due to the frictional effect is .......... kPa (rounded off to two decimal places).
- An electrical submersible pump is to be installed to lift oil of 30° API in a 10000 ft deep well. The oil formation volume factor (\( B_o \)) is 1.25 rb/stb. The desired flow rate is 8000 stb/day. Minimum suction pressure of the chosen pump is 200 psi. Inflow performance relationship shows a flowing bottomhole pressure of 2820 psi at the desired flow rate.
Assuming casing pressure and weight of the gas in the annulus to be negligible, the minimum pump setting depth is .......... ft (rounded off to one decimal place).
- The laboratory analysis data obtained from the core is as follows:
Weight of clean dry core in air = 30 g
Weight of core completely saturated with oil = 32 g
Weight of saturated core completely immersed in oil = 24 g
If the density of oil used for saturation of core during the experiment is 0.88 g/cc, then the effective porosity of the core is .......... % (rounded off to two decimal places).
- Which of the following statement(s) is/are CORRECT about the chemicals used for the processing of sour crude oil and natural gas?
- The filter press commonly used in oil mill is:
- AP PGECET - 2025
- Food Technology
- Oil Processing
View More Questions
Questions Asked in GATE PE exam
- Classification of kerogen is based on the relative amount of Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H) and Oxygen (O). Which ONE of the following options is CORRECT about Type II kerogen?
- GATE PE - 2026
- Geochemistry
- Which of the following option(s) is/are CORRECT for well testing analysis of a reservoir?
- GATE PE - 2026
- Reservoir capacity
- In a capillary rise experiment with a capillary tube of length $l_1$, water rises to a height $h$ such that $h<l_1$. If the capillary tube is cut to a length $l_2$ such that $l_2<h$, and the experiment is repeated, which of the following statements is/are CORRECT?
- GATE PE - 2026
- Petroleum Exploration and Drilling Engineering
- The porosity of a formation with matrix density of 2.65 g/cc and fluid density of 1.0 g/cc is 0.15. The formation has shear modulus of 30 GPa and bulk modulus of 36 GPa. The compressional wave velocity in the formation is _________ $\times 10^3$ m/s (rounded off to two decimal places).
- GATE PE - 2026
- Rock Physics
- A vertical well is drilled up to a depth of 4000 ft. Further drilling starts with 10 ppg of fresh mud and 50000 lbf weight on bit (WOB). An equivalent circulation density (ECD) of 10.75 ppg was recorded. The total circulation pressure loss is estimated to be 110 psi. The steel density is 65.5 ppg. The decrease in hook load is _________ lbf (rounded off to one decimal place). (Note: 1 ppg mud is equivalent to 0.052 psi/ft.)
- GATE PE - 2026
- Petroleum Exploration and Drilling Engineering
View More Questions