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A brief consideration in using and installing watercut analyzers and the
EESIFLO MBW system
Phil Hughes (EESIFLO International Pte Ltd)
Water in hydrocarbons has always been something to consider carefully
in the oil industry and a common problem is water in crude oil. How it
is measured or reported can affect either the buyer or seller financially.
This may include:
- Custody Transfer
- Allocation
- Plant Balance (refinery input)
- Product Quality
- Sediment & Water
- Shrinkage (entrained gas)
- API gravity
- Contractual requirements
A barrel of water, can cost considerably more than a barrel of oil.
Someone has to pay for the oil, pay for the water, pay for the disposal
of water and pay for the process contamination. Everyone is looking for
a quick fix and even today we find contracts written around spot sampling
which can be completely unreliable if the sample is non representative
of the liquids in the process stream. The lab results are thus invalid
and the frustration simply increases because the measurements unfairly
affect someone’s wallet. Could this be your wallet?
Fig. 1.0 Separation occurs in oil/water processes and spot sampling using
the above method misses “bottom” water.
Laboratory analyses are generally accurate but are quite useless if the
sample being analyzed is not representative of the TOTAL FLUID FLOW
The same applies online. Fig 1.1 World class watercut meter measuring
a non-representative distribution of water and oil. Inevitable and problematic
watercut measurements ,arguments, doubts and wasted time and money.
Additionally we have problematic calibration if watercut meters are calibrated
to lab results from non representative spot sampling. Spending the money
on a highly accurate instrument that is not sensing at a point where we
have a homogeneous mixture is an exercise in futility.
The problem becomes chronic as oil wells depressurize and watercut increases
to the point when there is more water than oil being produced . In small
pipes the chances of getting proper mixing in a higher watercut situation
is doubtful and in large (greater than 6 inches) pipes it is a pipe dream.
Honest field operators will be familiar with the problems of laboratory
prepared spot samples for calibration never tallying with the reported watercut
.
The only known solution is to mix, so that our sampling or watercut instruments
are gathering samples or data in a volume area where sample is representative
and homogeneous! Whether we are taking spot samples, grab sampling or installing
watercut meters, the same will apply if we have an uneven or unpredictable
water distribution in the crude oil stream. Manufacturers of static mixers
have proved this fact time and time again over the years. There is adequate
data to show that mixing should not be considered an option.
EESIFLO manufactures the EASZ-1 loop powered watercut monitors and inline
static mixers and complete MBW systems which can incorporate any measuring
instrument that we manufacture or the measurement instruments of your choice
.The complete spool pieces can be fabricated and shipped and installed as
a one piece system.
MBW systems are manufactured or fabricated in EESIFLO’s Singapore
fabrication facility but can be supplied as a complete package through
our global network .For more information, send an email with your basic
requirements to
Dave Hughes
EESIFLO International Pte Ltd
Oil and Gas Division Manager
60 Kaki Bukit Place #02-19 Eunos TechPark Singapore, SG 415979
Singapore 415979
Telephone: +65-6748 6911 Fax: +65-6748 6912
Email dave@eesiflo.com
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