12″ Pipeline connecting offshore platform to onshore facility, South East Asia
Merus has offshore equipped a 52 km long pipeline. This trunkline is a 12″ pipe (DN300) connecting a sending offshore platform with a separation plant. The line follows the seabed and make landfall near the plant.
The crude oil pumped through this line has a pour point of about 30°C. The crude oil leaves the platform at more than 60°C. The offshore operation is close to the equator, so the water temperature at the seabed is all year 22 to 24°C. The crude oils reach onshore at about 35°C. This applies if the crude oil flows normally all the time. But if the oil does not flow, for example because of a technical problem with a pump, then the temperature of the oil in the pipe continues to drop. When the crude oil reaches a temperature that closes the pour point, the oil begins to gel. And it is no longer pumpable. This is an unpleasant problem and a very expensive one. The only thing to get the pipe line working again, is to flood the pipeline with chemicals. This is very time consuming.
PPD Pour point depressant is used
People use chemicals to over come the problem of geeling. These chemicals are able to lower the our point of the oil.
On the table and the graph below, you can see how much Merus was able to improve the usage of the PPD.
We compare the data from May and June (blue), these are the data where Merus has not been used. The Orange data are from July and Augsut are taken after the installation of the Merus Ring. The data are calculated condsidering the overall production BOPD and the injection of the PPD. The left graph the absolute amount of PPD is displayed, the right graph shows the relative injection rate of PPD in ppm.
Pigging frequency increased
Since Merus Technology is in place, the pipeline pressure increase has been taking longer lead time after each pigging activity.
Lead time to reach the pressure 650 PSI:
June (without Merus) : 3-4 days
July (With Merus) : 6-7 days
2″ Flow Lines connecting oil wells with gathering station, India
In the north of India at the foothills of the Himalayas, we have a customer who has problem with paraffin wax build up in the winter month. In summer it is boiling hot, but from November until February nights can get very cold. This is the time, when the flowline causing problems. Adding PPD is not feasable, as there are a lot of smaller flowlines. The crude oil must be heated to avoid gelling of the wax and blocking of the pipe.