Category Archives for Basic Configuration
Gas Lift
We must comment a bit about gas lift systems because they are in widespread use and have a significant impact on the facility process. Figure 2-19 is a diagram of a gas lift system from the facility engineer’s perspective. High-pressure … Continue reading
Well Testing
It is necessary to keep track of the gas, oil, and water production from each well to be able to manage the reserves properly, evaluate where further reserve potential may be found, and diagnose well problems as quickly as possible. … Continue reading
Gas Dehydrator
Removing most of the water vapor from the gas is required by most gas sales contracts, because it prevents hydrates from forming when the gas is cooled in the transmission and distribution systems and prevents water vapor from condensing and … Continue reading
Compressors
Figure 2-14 shows the configuration of the typical three-stage reciprocating compressor in our example flowsheet. Gas from the FWKO enters the first-stage suction scrubber. Any liquids that may have come through the line are separated at this point and the … Continue reading
Water Treatment
Water Treatment describes choosing a process for this subsystem, including vessel and open drains. Figure 2-13 shows an enlargement of the watertreating system for the example.
Pumps
Pumps are normally needed to move oil through the LACT unit and deliver it at pressure to a pipeline downstream of the unit. Pumps are sometimes used in water treating and disposal processes. In addition, many small pumps may be … Continue reading
Lease Automatic Custudy Transfer
In large facilities oil is typically sold through a LACT unit, which is designed to meet API Standards and whatever additional measuring and sampling standards are required by the crude purchaser. The value received for the crude will typically depend … Continue reading
Process Flowsheet
Figure 2-7 is an enlargement of the FWKO of Figure 2-1 to show the amount of detail that would be expected on a process flowsheet. A flash calculation is needed to determine the amount of gas and liquid that each … Continue reading
Two Phase vs Three Phase Separator
In our example process the high- and intermediate-stage separators are two-phase, while the low-pressure separator is three-phase. This is calleda “free water knockout” (FWKO) because it is designed to separate the free water from the oil and emulsion, as well … Continue reading