Method For the Optimalization of the Supply of Chemicals

Abstract

A method for optimising the use of chemicals, in particular the use of antifoaming agents and emulsion breakers, for gas/oil/water fluid in oil processing plants on the seabed, onshore or offshore. The chemicals are dosed on the basis of the effect they have on the thickness of the foam layer and the emulsion layer, respectively, of the fluid. The fluid may expediently be supplied to and separated in a separator ( 1 ); the measurement of the emulsion and foam layers is performed by a measuring device ( 3 ), which emits signals to a control device ( 4 ), which controls the operation of pumps ( 5, 6 ), which, in turn, pump, at all times, the measured quantity of chemical to the fluid to be separated.

1 . A method for optimising the use of chemicals, in particular the use of antifoaming agents and emulsion breakers, for gas/oil/water fluid in oil processing plants on the seabed, onshore or offshore.
 characterised in that   the chemicals are dosed on the basis of the effect they have on the thickness of the foam layer and the emulsion layer, respectively, of the fluid.   
     
     
         2 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 characterised in that   the chemicals are an antifoaming agent and/or an emulsion breaker.   
     
     
         3 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , in which the fluid is supplied, via a supply line ( 2 ), to a separator ( 1 ) and is separated in the separator ( 1 ),
 characterised in that   the measurement of the emulsion and foam layers is performed by a measuring device ( 3 ), which emits signals to a control device ( 4 ), which controls the operation of pumps ( 5 ,  6 ), which, in turn, pump, at all times, the measured quantity of chemical to the fluid to be separated.   
     
     
         4 . A method in accordance with  claim 3 ,
 characterised in that   the chemicals are added in the supply line ( 2 ).   
     
     
         5 . A method in accordance with  claim 3 ,
 characterised in that   a water-cut meter ( 11 ) on the outlet line ( 14 ) measures the water quantity in the separated oil phase and an oil-in-water meter ( 12 ) on the outlet line ( 15 ) measures the oil concentration in the separated water phase flowing from the separator ( 1 ); these measurements are used in the adjustment algorithms in the control device ( 4 ) to improve the precision of the control method.   
     
     
         6 . A method in accordance with  claim 2 , in which the fluid is supplied, via a supply line ( 2 ), to a separator ( 1 ) and is separated in the separator ( 1 ),
 characterised in that   the measurement of the emulsion and foam layers is performed by a measuring device ( 3 ), which emits signals to a control device ( 4 ), which controls the operation of pumps ( 5 ,  6 ), which, in turn, pump, at all times, the measured quantity of chemical to the fluid to be separated.   
     
     
         7 . A method in accordance with  claim 6 ,
 characterised in that   the chemicals are added in the supply line ( 2 ).   
     
     
         8 . A method in accordance with  claim 4 ,
 characterised in that   a water-cut meter ( 11 ) on the outlet line ( 14 ) measures the water quantity in the separated oil phase and an oil-in-water meter ( 12 ) on the outlet line ( 15 ) measures the oil concentration in the separated water phase flowing from the separator ( 1 ); these measurements are used in the adjustment algorithms in the control device ( 4 ) to improve the precision of the control method.   
     
     
         9 . A method in accordance with  claim 6 ,
 characterised in that   a water-cut meter ( 11 ) on the outlet line ( 14 ) measures the water quantity in the separated oil phase and an oil-in-water meter ( 12 ) on the outlet line ( 15 ) measures the oil concentration in the separated water phase flowing from the separator ( 1 ); these measurements are used in the adjustment algorithms in the control device ( 4 ) to improve the precision of the control method.   
     
     
         10 . A method in accordance with  claim 7 ,
 characterised in that   a water-cut meter ( 11 ) on the outlet line ( 14 ) measures the water quantity in the separated oil phase and an oil-in-water meter ( 12 ) on the outlet line ( 15 ) measures the oil concentration in the separated water phase flowing from the separator ( 1 ); these measurements are used in the adjustment algorithms in the control device ( 4 ) to improve the precision of the control method.