Clariant Oil Services Demulsifier Improves Environmental ...

Case History
Clariant Oil Services Demulsifier Improves
Environmental Performance, Reduces Costs
PHASETREAT® 6800 outperforms incumbent in North Sea facility
Benefits
• Achieved target BS&W and overboard oil-in-water levels
• Reduced overall demulsifier spend by 40%
• Improved overall environmental performance
• Performed consistently better than the existing product, at a steady rate of 25 ppm
Background
A semi-submersible platform in the North Sea had been experiencing separation and oil-in-water problems. The incumbent demulsifier product had been used for
20 years but, due to changes in government legislation, had a substitution warning and was required to be replaced. Although several chemical providers had
attempted to replace the existing demulsifier with an environmentally-acceptable product, the conditions proved to be too challenging and each attempt ended
in failure.
The cooler temperatures and considerably-changing field conditions require a demulsifier technology that must be able to treat the difficult fluids, as well as
handle the changes associated with a subsea field.
Clariant Oil Services Solutions and Value Delivered
After rigorous bottle testing and two successful field trials, Clariant Oil Services recommended PHASETREAT 6800 demulsifier as a suitable replacement for
this challenging semi-submersible platform. Results indicated that PHASETREAT 6800 exhibited outstanding performance, achieving favorable BS&W and final
overboard oil-in-water levels.
Additionally, due to the complex nature of separation problems in the field, the operator decided to conduct a longer, 3-month field trial in order to judge
PHASETREAT 6800 as truly suitable for use. During the field trial, the incumbent demulsifier was to be reintroduced at any time.
PHASETREAT 6800 was injected into the HP and MP separator at a rate of 25 ppm, based on total volumes, which was the same as the incumbent. However,
the incumbent was frequently increased during periods of high oil-in-water levels. The effect of each change was monitored and, after three months, the
platform decided to permanently replace the incumbent demulsifier with Clariant Oil Services’ PHASETREAT 6800 demulsifier (see Table 1 on page 2).
The application of PHASETREAT 6800 greatly improved the plant’s operating performance. Clariant Oil Services’ PHASETREAT demulsifier provided a 40%
reduction in chemical spend and improved overall environmental performance. PHASETREAT 6800 continues to treat the fluids at a steady rate of 25 ppm,
even during upset conditions
CH-183-041012

Export Water %
PHASETREAT 6800 vs. Incumbent
Oil in Water (mg/l)
Target Oil in Water
100
Target Export Oil %
12
90
mg/l oil in water
80
70
60
50
40
PHASETREAT 6800 from
1st Nov to 22nd Dec
Incumbent Inhibitor from
22nd Dec to 15th Jan
PHASETREAT 6800 used from
15th Jan to 24th Feb
as platform preferred it
Incumbent Inhibitor from
24th Feb to 18th Mar
(used to finish stock)
10
8
6
% Water cut
30
4
20
2
10
0
0
1-Jul 31-Jul 30-Aug 29-Sep 29-Oct 28-Nov 28-Dec 27-Jan 26-Feb 27-Mar
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countries.
Clariant Oil Services
www.oil.clariant.com
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CH-183-041012