The Chemtech division of maintenance and service provider Sulzer has been awarded a license covering the Total-patented Wash Tank Technology for Oil Processing. The main purpose of this technology is to enhance the removal of water, salt, and contaminants from oil and emulsions.
This is done by a controlled distribution of the feed into the bottom of a hull tank of an FPSO/FSO/FPU, which transforms the water-in-oil dispersion into an oil-in-water one, where high efficiency phase separation takes place more easily. The technology also involves a significant simplification of the topsides crude oil process.
Sulzer will commercialise the licensed technology along with its static mixing technology as well as patented oil/water emulsion distributors which evenly distribute the feed across the full cross section of the hull tank and generate a constant droplet size (for a given flow) to maximise the system performance. Sulzer’s testing capabilities and CFD services form an integral part of a properly designed solution for each specific facility.
The following benefits can be achieved and are maximised by an early concept selection of this technology:
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 will start up in the near future. While all these assets are operated by Total, Sulzer’s license agreement will make the benefits associated with this technology available to oil field FPSOs around the world.
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