Clariant Oil Services Demulsifier Improves Separation Performance Reduces Cost

• Achieved favorable BS&W and overboard oil-in-water levels
• 25% Reduction of demulsifier chemical spend
• Improved overall environmental performance
• Outperformed existing product, continuously treating fluids at a steady rate of 95 ppm

Background

A major offshore platform in the South China Sea was experiencing frequent, unstable interface and off-spec cargo oil problems. Clariant Oil Services was requested to identify a suitable chemical treatment program to resolve this problem.

The platform produces 23,000 bbls of crude per day and 260,000 bbls of water per day from 20 wells. The platform performs from a two-train process system, comprising of just one separator for each process. After separation on the platform, the fluids are transferred for further separation to an FPSO, containing two separators and one EDD. See Table 1 on page 2 for system conditions.

Table 1: System Conditions

Clariant Oil Services Solutions and Value Delivered

After rigorous bottle testing and multiple successful field trials, Clariant Oil Services recommended its PHASETREAT™ 6635 demulsifier as a suitable replacement for this oilfield. Results indicated that PHASETREAT 6635 exhibited outstanding performance, achieving favorable BS&W and final overboard oil-in-water levels.

PHASETREAT 6635 was injected into the manifold of the platform at a rate of 95 ppm, based on crude oil production, which was 25% less than the incumbent demulsifier. However, the incumbent was frequently increased during periods of high oil-in-water levels.

The application of PHASETREAT 6635 greatly improved operating performance. Clariant Oil Services’ PHASETREAT 6635 demulsifier provided a more than 25% reduction in chemical spend and improved the overall environmental performance. Furthermore, PHASETREAT 6635 continues to treat the fluids at a steady rate of 95 ppm, even during upset conditions.

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