A pioneering system in trapping emissions
Posted: 22 August 2005
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A pioneering system that traps emissions from tanker cargo during transport and returns them to the cargo has been shown to also work during loading of tankers.
Vela International Marine Ltd., a direct subsidiary of Saudi Aramco, and Venturie A/S conducted a test at Saudi Aramco's Ju'aymah loading terminal in which volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions were reduced by 47 percent during loading of the very large crude carrier (VLCC) Gemini Star.
 The tanker loaded Arabian Light Crude at rates as high as 80,000 barrels an hour.
Jorn Heimsted, president of Venturie A/S, said, "This test proves the system has captured approximately 100 tons of hydrocarbon vapor."
The system is similar to keeping the carbonation in a soda bottle. By slightly increasing the vent pressure, the VOC emissions were reduced by up to 50 percent. The gases that did escape from the cargo's surface were gathered in the ship's inert gas system and recombined with the cargo by Venturie's "Absorption Unit." The gases that were vented to the atmosphere had a much-reduced VOC content.
VOC concentration in the vented gas stream varies, depending on how much the cargo is agitated, the temperature, the cargo's vapor pressure and the back pressure created by the venting system. But the keys to the system are Venturie's " Absorption Tower " and the "Auto-Back" vent pressure control system. Venturie and Vela are working to eliminate VOC emissions during loading and transport.
"Right now," said Heimsted, "we can prove that the system entirely prevents any VOC emission during transport, and this test shows that we now know how to control the venting of VOC gases during loading."
The next step will be to use the system during the topping-off phase of loading. "The system worked beautifully," Gemini Star Capt. Stefano De Petris said. "However, this is brand new technology and it's best to take things slowly whenever testing something so new."
Vela president and CEO Saleh B. K'aki said, "Vela is very proactive with new technologies, and I congratulate Venturie on their system and Capt. De Petris on executing a successful test.
"We have test-bed systems on two other VLCCs and will continue to  develop this system with Venturie. What we needed was a robust system that can be used on board a ship as a matter of operational routine. To do this, a VOC capture system must be both user-friendly and cost-effective."
Venturie estimates it will be able to offer the technology for use on VLCCs at a very low cost. The system is simple to operate and already has type approval from the three major classification societies: the American Bureau of Shipping, Det Norske Veritas and Lloyd's Register of Shipping.
"I was amazed at how smoothly things went," said Gemini Star chief engineer Malcolm Davis. "I was keeping a close eye on the tank pressures, but the system worked just as it was designed."
K'aki said, "This system protects both the environment and the product's value. It is a clear example of Vela's continuing commitment to being best-in-class."
Last year, Vela safely transported just over one billion barrels of crude oil and petroleum products around the world.
Posted by Editor Pipeline Magazine
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