REALIZING OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENT
Liquid-liquid separation is fundamental throughout the Oil & Gas value chains. Level measurement is the primary method of tracking fluid interface and the following are a few core applications with thick/dynamic emulsion layers where enhanced multiphase measurement improves productivity, safety and ultimately profitability.
DESALTERS
At the early stages of a refinery, a desalter separates water and salts/ chlorides/sediment from crude oil to mitigate effects on downstream equipment—particularly corrosion caused by chlorides. If water is carried through to the distillation column, there is the potential for entrained water to flash to steam during heating, which can damage trays or other parts of the tower (crude unit). On the water/brine outlet, if oil gets into the wastewater stream, then it may result in fines or diminish the efficiency of the water treatment process as particulates plug screens or filters.
It is imperative that desalters run at optimal levels relative to the electrostatic grid to maintain productivity and assist in balancing the inlet crude, outlet crude, outlet water/brine and chemicals for emulsion control. The key to bringing this balancing act together is controlling and optimizing the emulsion layer.
ELECTROSTATIC COALESCERS
With the same principal of operation as a desalter at a refinery, electrostatic coalescers are utilized upstream for dehydration and desalting; commonly found on floating production storage and offloading vessels (FPSOs).
Monitoring the separation of water, crude and the associated emulsion layer is of primary importance with emphasis again on preventing too much water from contacting the grid and oil from leaving with the effluent water. Proper removal of soluble salts/chlorides also prevents downstream pipes from rotting out.
7 / EMULSION IN THE FIELD: The Genesis of TDR Multiphase Level Measurement
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