Sulzer’s Chemtech division has been granted a license covering the Total-patented wash tank technology for oil processing, which aims to enable Sulzer to enhance the removal of water, salt and contaminants from oil and emulsions
The technology also involves a significant simplification of the topsides crude oil process.
Speaking to the press, Sulzer said that it will commercialise the licensed technology along with its static mixing technology and patented oil and water emulsion distributors which evenly distribute the feed across the full cross section of the hull tank and generate a constant droplet size in order to maximise the system performance.
Sulzer further mentioned that its testing capabilities and CFD services aim to form an integral part of a designed solution for each specific facility.
According to Sulzer, some of the benefits that are expected to be achieved by an early concept selection of this technology are reduced topsides weight, CAPEX and complexity through significant minimisation of topsides processing equipment including reduced number of separators and elimination of electrostatic coalesces and associated heat exchangers.
In addition, the technology will also focus on the performance through more flexibility towards flow rate variations as well as mitigation of risks associated with naphthenate formation such as emulsion stabilisation, deposits accumulation etc.
An improved energy efficiency and lower OPEX through reduction of utility consumptions like heating, cooling and electrical loads and also an improved safety through a more aerated layout of the FPSO topsides are expected to be executed.
This technology has been in operation for multiple years on the USAN, PAZFLOR and CLOV FPSO’s, as well as on the recently started MOHO Nord / LIKOUF FPU. MARTIN LINGE FSO and the EGINA FPSO are also equipped with this technology and is scheduled to be start up in the near future.
