Jeff Schmoll, Chevron Texaco and David Cowie, Planet Chemical Engineering
In-line measurement techniques were used during an offshore heavy oil trial (droplet distribution characterization and viscosity) and an earlier onshore light oil trial (droplet distribution characterization) to quantify the separation performance of the novel separation equipment in black oil systems under process conditions.
The equipment options investigated comprise:
The effect of gravitation separators
Residence times are reduced by heat, de-emulsifier chemicals, or electrostatic fields to lower viscosity and/or promote water droplet coalescence.
FBRM® Real Time Droplet Characterization Technology was used to monitor changes in droplet size process fluid.
The FBRM® analyzers are unique in their ability to make real-time, in-line mearsurements of the droplet chord length distribution in black process fluids at elevated pressures and temperatures. Operating experience has shown them to be hte most useful in measuring system changes, and this is how they were set up on all laboratory field trials. Micrographs provided order-of-magnitude confirmation of the FBRM droplet chord length distributions obtained.
Integrating this novel facility design as part of a topsides facility could benefit both new and existing assets through reductions in equipment CAPEX and OPEX (heating and installation costs) for new build and retrofit installations. Major savings should be evident in two main areas:
In this case study, "Partec" or PT-Series refers to an early generation of FBRM® technology.
