ABSTRACT
The next stage in the treatment process of crude oil is desalting. Salt in crude oil is in most cases found dissolved in the remnant water within the oil. It is evident that the amount of salt found in crude oil is attributed to two factors:
1. The quantity of remnant water that is left in oil after normal dehydration 2. The salinity or the initial concentration of salt in the source of this
water
In this chapter, a detailed description of the desalting process is presented for single-stage and two-stage types along with some basic design considerations. Emphasis is placed on electrostatic desalting of crude oil. The effect of operating parameters in the desalting operation is discussed along with some tips on troubleshooting problems.
