Type / Description
- Mechanical integrity issues demanded urgent intervention of the existing skimmer tank
- A large existing storage tank (150,446 bbl) needed to be repurposed and retrofitted with skimmer internals to provide a treatment capacity of up to
320,000 BPD
Challenge
- Fast track project: retrofit should be implemented during ongoing plant turnaround
- Tank volume, Ø and height were not optimal for the process
- Internals should be adapted to available geometry and simplified to minimize intervention and impact on tank walls
- Manage large and fluctuating flowrates (200,000 – 320,000 bbl/d)
- Address vapor and produced solids in a single unit
- Proven technology was required for heavy crude oil applications
Project Development
- Proven high throughput double-spreader skimmer design was adapted to fit tank geometry
- Mechanical structure design with self-supported internals to avoid structural modification of the walls and roof of the tank
- Vapor and solids management features embedded to minimize the
impact on liquid-liquid separation - CFD model developed for concept validation
- Alternative minimalistic innovative models designed to enhance vapor and solids management
Outcome
- The whole project from concept design to detailed engineering and CFD modeling was completed on a very tight schedule
- Performance and schedule requirements were fulfilled. Impact on tank structure was minimized and gas and solids management capabilities were successfully provided
