ON SITE TESTING OF A CENTRIFUGAL OIL-WATER SEPARATION

Ziel

Since 1978, a water-oil separation high performance disk centrifuge has been developped by Bertin & Co.
The proposed programme mainly consists in on-site testing of this centrifuge.
The purpose of these tests, which are in relation to previous prototypes, is to examine the reliability of the equipment, as requested by oil companies.
After the first separation tests, the centrifuge will be reviewed for the correction of any defects which may have been observed during testing, and adapted to the constraints of the worksite chosen.
Together with a preliminary appraisal of the performance and the reliability of the centrifuge, these tests will supply the information necessary for defining operations for maintenance during operation.
It will be possible to define an industrial centrifuge once these tests have been completed.
PHASE 1 : Laboratory tests
The modified version of the centrifuge has been tested with three-phase mixtures (water, oil, solid). The mechanical behaviour is satisfactory.
The emulsions made for the tests were judhed good enough to simulate real conditions of secondary treatment. Some defects have been identified and they have been corrected for on-site testing. Concerning the possible creation of mass unbalance due to heterogeneous deposits, the existing cemented artificial slope have been strengthened by jackets made of welded plate.
Once all the modifications are done, the solid deposits located in the separation stage have been reduced. Moreover, the solid separation efficiency has been improved, due to the increased size of the solid separation stage. However the size of the oil separation stage has been reduced, so that the overall of the two separation stages remains unchanged.
PHASE 2 : On-site tests
The site selected by SNEA(P) for the field tests was a storage pond of waste water at the FOURC test center at BOUSSENS.
The emulsion to be treated was a very stable mixture of water with low content of thin particles of hydrocarbons and solids.
The separation efficiency has been proven. The Stokes law gives a good estimation of the efficiency for steady emulsions. The low content of solid did not allow to test the centrifuge in all the operation cases which can be encountered.
The mechanical behaviour has proven satisfactory. Water treatment companies and oil companies are interested by this centrifuge. Demonstration are still performed presently.
The program includes :
- modification of the machine for the sludge separation according to the previous tests conclusions
- laboratory tests
- modification of the machine for on site testing
- on-site performance tests
- reliability tests on site.
The ultimate goal is to verify centrifuge compatibility and reliability in oil production plant conditions.
To reduce the time required for fields tests, which would be costly and detrimental to production, a maximum number of tests will be previously run in laboratory with emulsions representative of oil field conditions. These emulsions will be made in cooperation with SNEA-P : SNEA-P will verify their characteristics at centrifuge feeding and their grade of effluent at discharge.
Besides the Ashart crude used for previous tests, emulsions will be prepared from gasoline as well as corrosion inhibiting chemicals like CK 337, NORUST 720 and SOLAMINE 129 and suspended solids : bentonite, calcium carbonate, Fontainebleau limestone.
Such tests will help investigate the machine operating limits by varying rotating speed, flowrates and contents in oil and solids.
After completion of the tests the machine will be inspected, overhauled and modified and reengineered for field conditions; the test site will be designated by SNEA-P who will bring their assistance to BERTIN & Cie for performing the tests.
The main anticipated modifications are :
- adaptation of the oil and water discharge nozzles to make them suited to field flowrates,
- conditioning to gas-proof safety measures, which implies replacing the motor and producing a frequency converter for starting and speed control (in replacement of the DC motor)
- engineering for safety
- fitting of control and measuring devices according to operating constraints.
Once reassembled, the machine will be installed on the test site with the associated equipment for control and measurement, and tested again in simulated operating conditions.

Programm/Programme

ENG-HYDROCARB 2C - Programme (EEC) of support for technological development in the hydrocarbons sector, 1986-1989

Thema/Themen

1.9 - PRODUCTION SYSTEMS

Aufforderung zur Vorschlagseinreichung

Data not available

Finanzierungsplan

DEM - Demonstration contracts

Koordinator

BERTIN & COMPAGNIE

EU-Beitrag

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Adresse

RUE PIERRE CURIE 59 ZI DES GATINES B.P. 3
78373 PLAISIR
Frankreich

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