Offshore Gas Field Prevents Pipeline Blockages with SEKO Chemical Injection Solution

9 Oct 2019 |

When Petrobel, the operator of the Baltim South West 2X gas well off the Egyptian coast, struck a 102-metre gas column, one of its priorities was to ensure efficient and continued flow within pipelines during extraction.

A major obstacle Petrobel faced was the common problem of hydrates, which are ice-like solids that form when water and gas combine and crystallize in a high-temperature, low-pressure environment. The formation of hydrates in oil and gas pipelines causes reduced capacity and eventually a complete blockage which may rupture the pipeline.

Pulling the plug on hydrate formation

Locating and removing these hydrate ‘plugs’ – which can be hundreds of metres long – is difficult and carries significant remedial costs along with loss of production and revenue; therefore prevention is essential.

The operator’s preferred method of hydrate inhibition was to inject glycol into pipework in order to adjust the thermodynamic conditions that allow hydrates to form. For this they approached SEKO, a global leader in metering pump design and manufacture, to supply its products as part of a glycol injection package.

“Nexa Series pumps were selected for their flexible configuration, superior dosing accuracy and excellent reliability”

Following a comprehensive assessment of the process between SEKO and Petrobel, it was decided to use 12 Nexa Series packed plunger dosing pumps with multi-head setup for glycol dosing. These were mounted on a large rig that could be transported as a complete unit to a fixed offshore platform ready for installation.

Nexa Series pumps were selected for their flexible configuration, superior dosing accuracy and excellent reliability, representing the best solution to cope with the harsh environmental conditions and fluctuating temperatures encountered in oil and gas applications.

Nexa features

PTFE diaphragm for outstanding chemical compatibility
ATEX approved for explosive atmospheres
Multiple head execution with different mechanism size and gear ratio
Design meets and exceeds API 675
Flow rate up to 7,500 l/h
Pressure up to 660 bar
Fluid temperature -10°C to 90°C (-40°C to 150°C on request)
Manual and automatic flow-rate adjustment
Zero-leakage profile
Multiple mounting options

This installation means Petrobel can carry out its operations without concern over hydrate formation and its associated costs, helping to increase profitability while reducing maintenance requirement.

Another example of a SEKO solution helping customers achieve long-term, cost-effective improvements in their daily operations.

This article is published by

SEKO S.p.A.

SEKO is a Global Group, who for more than 40 years has been designing, developing, manufacturing and delivering its products in more than 120 countries, through its subsidiaries and an extended network of distributors, agents...

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