Clariant Oil Services Demulsifier Improves Environmental Performance and Reduces Costs
Benefits
- Achieved target BS&W and overboard oil-in-water levels
- Reduced overall demulsifier spend by 40%
- Improved overall environmental performance
- Performed consistently better than the existing product, at a steady rate of 25 ppm
Background
A semi-submersible platform in the North Sea had been experiencing separation and oil-in-water problems. The incumbent demulsifier product had been used for 20 years but, due to changes in government legislation, had a substitution warning and was required to be replaced.
Although several chemical providers had attempted to replace the existing demulsifier with an environmentally-acceptable product, the conditions proved to be too challenging and each attempt ended in failure.
The cooler temperatures and considerably-changing field conditions required a demulsifier technology that could treat the difficult fluids, as well as handle the changes associated with a subsea field.
Clariant Oil Services Solutions and Value Delivered
After rigorous bottle testing and two successful field trials, Clariant Oil Services recommended PHASETREAT 6800 demulsifier as a suitable replacement for this challenging, semi-submersible platform. Results indicated that PHASETREAT 6800 exhibited outstanding performance, achieving favorable BS&W and final overboard oil-in-water levels.
Additionally, due to the complex nature of separation problems in the field, the operator decided to conduct a longer, 3-month field trial in order to judge PHASETREAT 6800 as truly suitable for use. During the field trial, the incumbent demulsifier was to be reintroduced at any time.
PHASETREAT 6800 was injected into the HP and MP separator at a rate of 25 ppm, based on total volumes, which was the same as the incumbent. However, the incumbent was frequently increased during periods of high oil-in-water levels. The effect of each change was monitored and, after three months, the platform decided to permanently replace the incumbent demulsifier with Clariant Oil Services’ PHASETREAT 6800 demulsifier (Table 1).
The application of PHASETREAT 6800 greatly improved the plant’s operating performance. Clariant Oil Services’ PHASETREAT 6800 demulsifier provided a 40% reduction in chemical spend and improved overall environmental performance. Furthermore, PHASETREAT 6800 continues to treat the fluids at a steady rate of 25 ppm, even during upset conditions.
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