Clariant Oil Services Assists with Successful New Field Start up

Benefits

• Comprehensive evaluation and maintenance repair of injection skid eliminated otherwise inevitable system failure
• Methodical chemical injection plan allowed for a smooth field start-up
• Exceptional product selection lead to the effective prevention of scale, corrosion and wax, as well as water quality and foaming issues

Background

A major offshore operator in the Caribbean was starting-up a new oilfield, projected to produce 50,000 to 60,000 barrels per day of 29 to 31° API crude oil. Clariant Oil Services was awarded a contract to provide production chemicals and laboratory services.

The contract required the deployment of a suite of production chemicals, including a demulsifier, defoamer, wax inhibitor, corrosion inhibitor, scale inhibitor, water clarifier and biocide. The chemicals were to be dosed from the operator’s pre-fabricated injection skid. The injection system worked on the principle of ‘off-takes’ from a pressurized ringmain, which supplied chemical from reservoir tanks via subsea lines to injection points at various well protector platforms.

However, immediately prior to start-up, some faults were found with the operator’s injection skid and corrections needed to be made.

Clariant Oil Services Solutions and Value Delivered

Given the large amount of work already required of the operator’s personnel, Clariant Oil Services’ technical experts offered to lead a comprehensive evaluation of the skid’s faults and provide solution options. The technicians worked around the clock to monitor pumps, check valves, flow gauges and filters and to trace lines throughout the injection system. Parts found to be missing were identified, ordered and installed. As the injection skid was still being upgraded on commencement of start-up, Clariant Oil Services recommended a prioritization of injection of the production chemicals according to criticality. This enabled a more concentrated effort on fewer chemical delivery systems to get them online. The most critical chemicals were determined to be:

• Demulsifier – high emulsion levels would cause out-of-spec BS&W
• Defoamer – high fluid levels in the HGOR and HP separators would cause a shut-down
• Wax inhibitor – the risk and consequence of wax deposition was not acceptable

Produced fluid testing and engineering predictions indicated that the fluids would not initially contain free water. It was therefore decided to implement the water treatment chemicals in a second stage. Due to this risk assessment and prioritization, commencement of injection of the oil treatment chemicals was facilitated on production start-up. Soon after start-up, the injection of the corrosion inhibitor, scale inhibitor, water clarifier and batch treatment with the biocide was facilitated.

This plan enabled a very smooth field start-up. Application of the suite of production chemicals was achieved and system upsets were avoided.

Following start-up, the production chemical program continued to operate very effectively. Oil and water parameters were maintained well within specification, and the corrosion management plan indicated good facility integrity. Additionally, accurate product selection and development prior to start-up prevented the need for a post start-up product re-formulation.

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