Basic_sediment_and_water
Basic sediment and water (BS&W) is a both a technical specification of certain impurities in crude oil and the method for measuring it. When extracted from an oil reservoir, the crude oil will contain some amount of water and suspended solids from the reservoir formation. The particulate matter is known as sediment or mud. The water content can vary greatly from field to field, and may be present in large quantities for older fields, or if oil extraction is enhanced using water injection technology. The bulk of the water and sediment is usually separated at the field to minimize the quantity that needs to be transported further. The residual content of these unwanted impurities is measured as BS&W. Oil refineries may either buy crude to a certain BS&W specification or may alternatively have initial crude oil dehydration and desalting process units that reduce the BS&W to acceptable limits, or a combination thereof.
There are several ways to reduce the amount of water and sediment in a crude oil.[1] Gravity settling over several days allows water and solids settle out. Heating crude oil reduces its viscosity aiding further separation of these components. Certain chemicals added to crude oil can act to aid separation. Surfactants help water to separate from the oil. Paraffin thinners allow heavier fractions in the oil to flow more easily. Demulsifiers breakdown the oil/water emulsions that may have formed and thereby help to separate different elements of the crude oil.[1]