Acceleration of Novel Technology Development for Stabilized Emulsion Treatment in EOR Applications

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Zakwan Mohd Sahak ◽  
Maung Maung Myo Thant ◽  
Shazleen Saadon ◽  
Thomas Krebs ◽  
Paul Verbeek ◽  
...  

Abstract Separation of stable emulsions produced from chemical enhanced oil recovery (CEOR) in a brownfield production system using conventional 3-phase separators is almost impossible, requiring large quantities of chemical demulsifiers to meet oil production specifications. A new and novel high-voltage high-frequency (HVHF) electro-coalescence (EC) technology has been identified as potential method to enhance separation of EOR produced fluid for improving CEOR implementation feasibility. This paper aims to present results and findings from the recent EC technology development against success criteria and parameters associated for fast-track field application. Electrostatic coalescers are used as an emulsion breaker, crude dehydrator or desalter in production systems and refineries. However, significant developments are required to use this EC technology as a potential treatment technology for tight emulsions/rag layers in CEOR applications. A new prototype of Inline EC was developed and tested in a batch test setup to evaluate the separation efficiency using real crude-brine samples and a cocktail of alkaline-surfactant-polymer (ASP) chemicals. The sensitivities of separation efficiency to different water cut, demulsifier concentration, EC voltage/exposure time, concentrations of alkaline, surfactant and polymer in the brine were measured and optimal process conditions were assessed. The results and findings were evaluated based on defined success criteria and parameters associated with separation efficiency such as volume fractions of the emulsion, oil-in-water (OIW) and water-in-oil concentrations (WIO), respectively. On one of PETRONAS CEOR field case study, the test results show that EC reduced 90% of the tight emulsion. In conclusion, EC leads to a substantial improvement in separation efficiency relative to the case without EC for water cuts below the inversion point. It is also found that the EC treatment without added demulsifier is equally effective in breaking the emulsion as adding a demulsifier without EC treatment, and that EC can potentially minimise or eliminate the application of demulsifiers in the production system.

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (15) ◽  
pp. 1763-1774 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yansong Zhao ◽  
Zhonghua Chen ◽  
Fei Yang ◽  
Yingpeng Zhen

Ionic liquids can be utilized in petroleum science. However, significant attention has been paid to the utilization of ionic liquids in petroleum science by researchers. In this work, the recent development of the utilization of ionic liquids in petroleum science is introduced. First of all, ionic liquids can be utilized as an additive in the oil & gas industry, such as a surfactant, corrosion inhibitor, demulsifier, and dispersant. In addition, ionic liquids can be utilized in the separation process of oil & gas processing. For example, ionic liquids can be utilized to remove naphthenic acids from oils, extract toluene from alkanes, dissolution of asphaltene in oils, extract phenol from model oil, and separate oil mixtures in a combination of membranes. Ionic liquids can also be utilized in novel technology development for enhanced oil recovery, and oil field scale control process. Moreover, utilization of ionic liquids in gasoline desulfurization process is important and crucial, which is greener, lower cost, and safer compared with the traditional processing technology. Furthermore, ionic liquids can be utilized as novel solvents to form micro-emulsion. Some ionic liquids have task-specific functional groups, which can reduce the cost and improve the separation efficiency. The utilization of ionic liquids in the catalysis process of the oil & gas industry is also introduced in this work. In the end, the utilization of ionic liquids in the oil sand treatment process and asphaltene precipitation inhibition process is discussed. This work will benefit the novel environmentally friendly technology development using ionic liquids for oil & gas production and processing.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 157-172
Author(s):  
Shankar G. Shanmugam ◽  
Normie W. Buehring ◽  
Jon D. Prevost ◽  
William L. Kingery

Our understanding on the effects of tillage intensity on the soil microbial community structure and composition in crop production systems are limited. This study evaluated the soil microbial community composition and diversity under different tillage management systems in an effort to identify management practices that effectively support sustainable agriculture. We report results from a three-year study to determine the effects on changes in soil microbial diversity and composition from four tillage intensity treatments and two residue management treatments in a corn-soybean production system using Illumina high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA genes. Soil samples were collected from tillage treatments at locations in the Southern Coastal Plain (Verona, Mississippi, USA) and Southern Mississippi River Alluvium (Stoneville, Mississippi, USA) for soil analysis and bacterial community characterization. Our results indicated that different tillage intensity treatments differentially changed the relative abundances of bacterial phyla. The Mantel test of correlations indicated that differences among bacterial community composition were significantly influenced by tillage regime (rM = 0.39, p ≤ 0.0001). Simpson’s reciprocal diversity index indicated greater bacterial diversity with reduction in tillage intensity for each year and study location. For both study sites, differences in tillage intensity had significant influence on the abundance of Proteobacteria. The shift in the soil bacterial community composition under different tillage systems was strongly correlated to changes in labile carbon pool in the system and how it affected the microbial metabolism. This study indicates that soil management through tillage intensity regime had a profound influence on diversity and composition of soil bacterial communities in a corn-soybean production system.


2014 ◽  
Vol 1036 ◽  
pp. 864-868 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcin Zemczak ◽  
Damian Krenczyk

The paper presents the task scheduling issue, which main aim is to establish a proper sequence of tasks, that would maximize the utilization of companys production capacity. According to the literature sources, the presented sequencing problem, denoted as CSP (Car Sequencing Problem) belongs to the NP-hard class, as has been proven by simple reduction from Hamiltonians Path problem. Optimal method of solution has not yet been found, only approximate solutions have been offered, especially from the range of evolutionary algorithms. Regardless of specific production system, while considering reception of new tasks into the system, current review of the state of the system is required in order to decide whether and when a new order can be accepted for execution. In this paper, the problem of task scheduling is limited to the specific existing mixed-model production system. The main goal is to determine the effective method of creation of task sequence. Through the use of computational algorithms, and automatic analysis of the resulting sequence, rates of production are able to be checked in a real time, and so improvements can be proposed and implemented.


2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 60-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sławomir Kłos ◽  
Peter Trebuna

Abstract This paper proposes the application of computer simulation methods to support decision making regarding intermediate buffer allocations in a series-parallel production line. The simulation model of the production system is based on a real example of a manufacturing company working in the automotive industry. Simulation experiments were conducted for different allocations of buffer capacities and different numbers of employees. The production system consists of three technological operations with intermediate buffers between each operation. The technological operations are carried out using machines and every machine can be operated by one worker. Multi-work in the production system is available (one operator operates several machines). On the basis of the simulation experiments, the relationship between system throughput, buffer allocation and the number of employees is analyzed. Increasing the buffer capacity results in an increase in the average product lifespan. Therefore, in the article a new index is proposed that includes the throughput of the manufacturing system and product life span. Simulation experiments were performed for different configurations of technological operations.


2009 ◽  
Vol 62-64 ◽  
pp. 275-292
Author(s):  
R.H. Weston

With increased product dynamics world-wide, the average economic lifetime of production systems is falling. Industrial robots are widely assumed to be inherently flexible and therefore that they can function as a programmable building block of response production systems. This paper reviews common capabilities of contemporary industrial robotic systems and investigates their capability to extend the useful lifetime of production system by coping with different types of product dynamic. Also considered are relative capabilities of conventional programmable robots and an emerging generation of programmable and configurable component-based machines.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jagan Mohan Reddy K. ◽  
Neelakanteswara Rao A. ◽  
Krishnanand Lanka ◽  
PRC Gopal

Purpose Pull production systems have received much attention in the supply chain management environment. The number of Kanbans is a key decision variable in the pull production system as it affects the finished goods inventory (FGI) and backorders of the system. The purpose of this study is to compare the performance of the fixed and dynamic Kanban systems in terms of operational metrics (FGI and backorders) under the demand uncertainty. Design/methodology/approach In this paper, the system dynamics (SD) approach was used to model the performance of fixed and dynamic Kanban based production systems. SD approach has enabled the feedback mechanism and is an appropriate tool to incorporate the dynamic control during the simulation. Initially, a simple Kanban based production system was developed and then compared the performance of production systems with fixed and dynamic controlled Kanbans at the various demand scenarios. Findings From the present study, it is observed that the dynamic Kanban system has advantages over the fixed Kanban system and also observed that the variation in the backorders with respect to the demand uncertainty under the dynamic Kanban system is negligible. Research limitations/implications In a just-in-time production system, the number of Kanbans is a key decision variable. The number of Kanbans is mainly depended on the demand, cycle time, safety stock factor (SSF) and container size. However, this study considered only demand uncertainty to compare the fixed and dynamic Kanban systems. This paper further recommends researchers to consider other control variables which may influence the number of Kanbans such as cycle time, SSF and container size. Originality/value This study will be useful to decision-makers and production managers in the selection of the Kanban systems in uncertain demand applications.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steinar Asdahl ◽  
Johann Jansen van Rensburg ◽  
Martin Einarson Waag ◽  
Rune Glenna Nilssen

Abstract Traditionally, produced water from production separators is handled by multiple steps and different technologies in order to meet the required quality for either discharge or reinjection of the water. The development of the latest Compact Flotation Unit (CFU) technology has unlocked the potential for savings on cost, complexity, footprint and weight for the produced water treatment system. The developed CFU technology has proven applicable through field testing as a single treatment technology for reducing Oil-in-Water (OiW) content directly from tie-in at separator and still meet stringent requirements for outlet OiW quality. Field tests were conducted with inlet OiW concentration ranging from 200-2000 ppm, achieving results in the range 2.5 to 21 ppm only with a two-stage latest generation CFU. Compared to a traditional produced water system setup consisting of de-oiling hydrocyclones and a horizontal degassing vessel, the savings in footprint and operational weight is estimated to 54 % and 53 % respectively utilizing a two-stage CFU for a system with a design capacity of 76.000 BWPD. Furthermore, the development of the latest generation CFU technology has enabled the retrofit concept, incorporating the developed CFU internals into existing gravity separation based produced water vessels, converting them to more efficient flotation vessels with increased capacity. For brownfield and debottlenecking applications, operators are challenged by increasing water cut from maturing wells, and as a result exceeding the facilities design capacity for produced water treatment. This challenge is often further reinforced by increasingly stricter environmental legislation for OiW content for discharge or re-injection. The retrofit concept will offer a highly cost-, footprint- and weight-efficient solutions to these challenges utilizing existing vessels. Benefits of the retrofit concept: Bring proven and unique performance of the technology to other produced water separation vessels helping the operators improve the separation efficiency and increase throughput while meeting discharge requirementsShort execution time compared to installation of new process equipmentLow cost compared to installation of new process equipmentUtilization of existing equipment saves valuable footprint.


Soil Research ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (8) ◽  
pp. 778
Author(s):  
G. S. A. Castro ◽  
C. A. C. Crusciol ◽  
C. A. Rosolem ◽  
J. C. Calonego ◽  
K. R. Brye

This work aimed to evaluate the effects of crop rotations and soil acidity amelioration on soil physical properties of an Oxisol (Rhodic Ferralsol or Red Ferrosol in the Australian Soil Classification) from October 2006 to September 2011 in Botucatu, SP, Brazil. Treatments consisted of four soybean (Glycine max)–maize (Zea mays)–rice (Oryza sativa) rotations that differed in their off-season crop, either a signal grass (Urochloa ruziziensis) forage crop, a second crop, a cover crop, or fallow. Two acid-neutralising materials, dolomitic lime (effective calcium carbonate equivalent (ECCE) = 90%) and calcium-magnesium silicate (ECCE = 80%), were surface applied to raise the soil’s base saturation to 70%. Selected soil physical characteristics were evaluated at three depths (0–0.1, 0.1–0.2, and 0.2–0.4 m). In the top 0.1 m, soil bulk density was lowest (P < 0.05) and macroporosity and aggregate stability index were greatest (P < 0.05) in the forage crop compared with all other production systems. Also, bulk density was lower (P < 0.05) and macroporosity was greater (P < 0.05) in the acid-neutralising-amended than the unamended control soil. In the 0.1–0.2-m interval, mean weight diameter and mean geometric diameter were greater (P < 0.05) in the forage crop compared with all other production systems. All soil properties evaluated in this study in the 0.2–0.4-m interval were unaffected by production system or soil amendment after five complete cropping cycles. Results of this study demonstrated that certain soil physical properties can be improved in a no-tillage soybean–maize–rice rotation using a forage crop in the off-season and with the addition of acid-neutralising soil amendments. Any soil and crop management practices that improve soil physical properties will likely contribute to sustaining long-term soil and crop productivity in areas with highly weathered, organic matter-depleted, acidic Oxisols.


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