New
‘Rocking Hydrates’ rig helps reduce expensive blockages
and minimise production delays in gas and oil exploration and processing
Posted: 27 May 2004
A test rig that evaluates the effectiveness of different anti-agglomerate
inhibitor chemicals on the gas hydrates which cause disruptive and
expensive blockages during gas and oil exploration, transportation
and processing has been launched by Strata Technology.
The ‘Rocking Hydrates’ rig enables companies to develop
an expertise in hydrates prevention and consequently to minimise
costly production delays and unnecessary inhibitor usage.
A provider of specialist engineering services to R & D departments,
especially in the petroleum and petrochemical industries and to
universities, Strata will demonstrate the equipment for the first
time at the Iran Oil and Gas Show in Tehran, 6-9 July.
Strata’s new bench top unit is fully automated with a PC-based
data logging and control system. Samples are contained in an immensely
strong, grown-sapphire tube or cell polished to optical specification.
Enclosed in a titanium housing, it is capable of operating at pressures
to 100 barg and temperatures down to the critical 4.5 º C level.
A variable speed motor is used to provide a steady and uniform
rocking motion rate of the cell to speed up hydrate formation and
motion sensors are used to detect the exact point of agglomeration.
By accurately controlling temperature and pressure in the cell
all potential operating conditions can be mimicked and the effectiveness
of various agglomeration inhibitor additives observed and recorded.
Selection of the most suitable can then be made on the basis of
known performance and cost-effectiveness. An optional endoscope,
time-lapse camera, video recorder and monitor allow subsequent visual
analysis of the hydrate formation.
The rig is available in single or multi cell versions. Easily replaceable,
they are designed for ease of cleaning with a flush- through solvent
for fast turnaround and reduced operating costs.
According to Dr John Bassett, Strata’s Managing Director,
“Unexpected hydrate formation during the extraction process
or at any point in a pipeline can have a devastating impact because
blockages are highly disruptive, time consuming and expensive to
remove. Our new rig takes away the guesswork by letting engineers
experiment in advance and identify the best additives for the many
and varied conditions they are likely to experience throughout the
world.” he said
The ‘Rocking Hydrates’ rig has been designed to meet
the precise requirements of Strata’s many international customers
and to overcome the disadvantages of the current industry-standard
manual equipment. These units are limited experimentally, provide
poor visual access, do not identify and record the precise time
of agglomeration, and are time consuming and difficult to clean
between samples.
About Strata Technology
An employee owned specialist engineering company, Sunbury-based
Strata Technology provides world-class project and design services
for research and development scientists and engineers primarily
in the petroleum, petrochemical and pharmaceutical industries, and
in universities. Originally the core of BP’s in-house engineering
support operation, Strata was created by a management buy-out in
1998 and now works for more than 150 companies, government departments
and higher educational establishments.
Its highly qualified and multi-disciplinary project teams work
closely with customers to deliver innovative and cost-effective
solutions and installations for the generation of reliable test
data or the manufacture of products, typically in a process engineering
environment. Strata also offers consultancy services including feasibility
studies and project evaluation.
Additionally, the company’s UKAS and ISO9001 accredited Inspection
and Calibration teams advise on statutory requirements and carry
out preventative maintenance examinations plus certification of
plant and equipment for health, safety and environment assurance.
For more information see www.stratatec.co.uk
Posted by Richard Price,
Editor Pipeline Magazine
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