Determination of Soluble Water Content in Organic Oil Study

The objective ofthis project is to determine soluble water content in organic crude oil.
Generally, water needs to betaken out from crude as it has several effects such as:
• Cost of production will increase as water will have to be removed by deemulsification.
• Refineries do not accept crude with water content more than certain limit.
• Chances of corrosion of production facilities will increase.
• Production rate may be affected.
• Lifting cost will increase as water is also to be lifted.
• May lead to early requirement of artificial lift.
• Viscosity of produced fluid will increase, leading to higher pressure draw down.
• Degree of API of oil will be affected resulting in its selling price.
Afew methods on how to determine the water content in miscible organic substance
will be searched and will be tested as to see whether they are suitable to be used as a
method for determination of soluble water content on organic crude oil.
Thus, the collection of technical details and data regarding the methods on water content
determination in organic medium will be done. At the end of this study it is planned to
test all the methods found byusing any suitable and easy-to-get organic substance sample
as before testing the organic crude to compare the results. It is to make better
understanding and clarity of this study. Later, all the methods will be differentiated in
terms of simplicity, costs and accuracy to choose the best method in determining soluble
water content in organic crude oil.
Three methods which the equipments are available in UTP laboratories are searched
through; Thermogravimetry (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and UVVisible
Spectroscopy, besides the earlier suggested; Karl-Fischer as its titrator is not
available in UTP.