PIPELINE CONTAMINATION CONTROL - Pall Corporation

PIPELINE CONTAMINATION CONTROLfor the Oil & Gas Industry

PIPELINE CONTAMINATION CONTROLfor the Oil & Gas IndustryIntroductionPipelines used for transport of naturalgas, LPG and hydrocarbon condensateswill often contain liquid and solidcontaminants that can create a numberof maintenance and process issues. BlackPowder is a generic term for corrosionproducts that are made up of iron sulfideand/or iron oxides and is a majorconcern in both dry and wet pipelinesystems. Liquid contaminants in gasstreams can include water, glycols,hydrocarbon condensates as well ascompressor oils. For liquid hydrocarbonstreams, water is the main liquidcontaminant.Pipelines are typically classified by thefunction that they perform:1. Gathering pipelines - group of smallerdiameter, interconnected pipelines that‘gather’ into a complex network.Gathering pipelines are normally usedto bring gas from many well heads ina gas field to a nearby gas processingplant.2. Transportation pipelines - long pipeswith large diameters used to‘transport’ products such as oil, gas,and other liquids. Transportationpipelines can be used for shorterdistances or for long distances acrosscountries from gas processing plantsto industrial users or cities.3. Distribution pipelines - manyinterconnected pipelines with smalldiameters, much like gatheringpipelines, used to ‘distribute’ theproduct to the final consumer.Where problems occur2Leaks in pipelines and major accidentscan occur, but are extremely rare.However, it is the less publicizedproblems that go undetected and cancause larger problems for processors andtheir final end-users from thepetrochemical, refining and powergeneration industries. For example,contamination that is very small inphysical size can lead to much biggerproblems. Solid and liquid contaminantsare commonly found in natural gas,LPG, and condensate pipelines.Contamination is known to blockcompressors, leave deposits insidepipelines and pipeline components,create corrosion, cause erosion, andnegatively impact operations, costingcompanies millions of dollars each yearin maintenance and reducedproductivity.The good news is that the majority of thecommon, reoccurring problems thatappear as a result of contamination canbe identified, fixed, and prevented. Pallwill put its three decades of experience inthe Oil & Gas industry to work for you.Our experts will properly diagnose theproblem and develop a custom filtrationsolution. The result – customers can savemillions of dollars each year by keepingtheir systems running more efficientlyand by reducing the amount of moneythey spend on costly repairs.

Typical contaminantrelated problems: Excessive corrosion Plugging of filter systems Erosion of pipeline and itscomponents Ingression in treating units(see Pall’s Amine Systems ReliabilityProgram brochure, part # FCAS06) Risk of pipeline integrity loss Creation of internal depositsrestricting pipeline flow Blocking of compressors Formation of deposits in storagetanks and spheres Operating problems at end-users Blocking of orifice meters Disposal issues with Black Powder(see Pall’s Technical Report,part# FCBLACKPEN) Contamination of instrumentationand control valves Repeated pigging of pipeline Blocking of furnace nozzles3

PIPELINE CONTAMINATION CONTROLfor the Oil & Gas IndustryApplicationsContamination IssuesPall Technology/Solutions Production PlantsPrevent liquid and solid contaminantsfrom causing corrosion and deposits inthe pipeline network leading up to theprocessing stageGas particle filters, cyclo-filters,liquid/gas coalescers, liquid/liquidcoalescers Processing PlantsProtect gas processing plant fromcontaminants that can lead to sulfurplant excursions, regenerator upsets,contactor foaming, excessive corrosion,deposits in condensate stabilizer, anddeposits in condensate and LPG storagetanksGas particle filters, cyclo-filters,liquid/gas coalescers, liquid/liquidcoalescersCollect solids removed by piggingoperationGas and liquid particle filtersRemove solids and liquids that can leadto damage of the compressors, the orificemeters and control valvesGas particle filters, cyclo-filters,liquid/gas coalescersOn removal of stored gas, saltcontaminant can be ingressed into thegas pipeline leading to corrosion andfouling of compressor - metering regulation stationsGas particle filters, cyclo-filters,liquid/gas coalescers, liquid/liquidcoalescersReduce contamination that can lead toprocess and quality problems in endusers including refineries, power plants,chemical plants, LNG production plants,export terminals, and municipal gasdistribution systemsGas particle filters, cyclo-filters,liquid/gas coalescers, liquid/liquidcoalescers Pig Receivers Compressor - Metering– Regulation Stations Underground Storage End Users4

Process diagramProduction Well Heads Production ProcessingPlantsPlants PigReceivers Compressor - Metering- Regulation StationsTransportation Pipelines Compressor - Metering- Regulation erPlant End UsersMunicipal Underground StorageExport Terminals: LPG. Condensate5

PIPELINE CONTAMINATION CONTROLfor the Oil & Gas IndustrySolutionsPall offers a variety of customizable solutions to reduce pipeline contamination andoptimize operations. We’ll develop a solution that’s right for you. Give us a call to findout more about our capabilities in the Oil & Gas industry.Particle filtersCyclo-filtersLiquid/gas coalescersLiquid/liquid coalescersSmall solid aerosols from gasstreams, including BlackPowder (iron oxides, ironsulfides), and other particles(sand, debris), can foulinstruments, valves,compressors, heatexchangers, and other criticalsystem components. Pall’s gasand liquid particle filters areused to remove theseparticles, eliminating aprimary source of thecontamination that causessystem failures. Ultipleat High Flow filters removesolids from liquid streamsincluding LPG andhydrocarbon condensates. Forpipelines that are notpiggable, filtration is evenmore critical to maintainpipeline integrity as there is ahigher risk of leakage due tocorrosion and erosion due tolimited informationavailable.A new filter design thatcombines the advantages of acyclone and an absoluterated filter. A two-stageseparator consisting of a lowvelocity cyclonic section toseparate the coarsest particlesdown to 5-10 microns, andan absolute-rated cartridgefilter section to remove thefinest particles down to therequested specification. Thecyclonic section operates atlow velocities in order togenerate a low pressure drop,typically a few psi. The cyclofilter is a high-performanceandhigh-capacity separator,which is capable of handlinghigh solid contents includingsolid slugs during pipelinescraping operations.Performing with maximumremoval efficiency andeconomy, Pall’s liquid/gascoalescers reduce equipmentdowntime and decrease laborand maintenance costs. Theyhave a unique fiber mediummatrix that containsincreasing pore sizes. Thisdesign allows small dropletsin the incoming gas to merge(coalesce) into larger dropsthat are easier to separate.The medium enables singlestage coalescing to separatedifficult liquid aerosols. Ourliquid/gas coalescers arespecially treated with afluoropolymer coating toimprove the drainage ofliquids through the coalescer.As a result, smaller assembliescan be used, and up-frontcapital costs are minimized.The fluoropolymer treatmentalso lowers operating costs byallowing the coalescer tooperate at a lower liquidsaturated pressure drop andrecover quickly from processupsets.Pall’s liquid/liquid coalescersare designed to efficientlyseparate liquid/liquidemulsions. They areconstructed of a variety ofpolymers and fluoropolymers,offering a wide range ofcompatibility. Thesehigh-efficiency coalescers areeffective in systems with lowinterfacial tension withoutdisarming or beingcompromised by the presenceof surfactants. A patentedvertical stack design is usedwith a coalescer/separatorconfiguration, allowing aneven flow distribution. Thispermits a high flow rate in asmaller assembly. With longservice life, the coalescercartridges require fewerchange-outs, therebyreducing maintenance anddisposal costs. A horizontaldesign is also available foruse with very low interfacialemulsions.Pall products:Coreless Profile filters,Epocel filters,Nexis High Flow filters,Ultipleat High Flow filters,Ultipor filters,Claris filters6Pall products:Coreless Profile filters,Pall Cyclonic separatorsPall products:SepraSol liquid/gas coalescers,SepraSol Plus liquid/gas coalescersPall products:AquaSep Plus liquid/liquidcoalescers,PhaseSep liquid/liquid coalescers

Technical capabilitiesWith offices in more than 30 countries,Pall is well-positioned to provideassistance to customers on the locallevel, as well as offer broad-based,worldwide support when needed. At thecore of our support network is ourScientific and Laboratory Services (SLS)department, an extensive global networkof scientists and engineers who areexperts in their field.Pall is much more than a filter company.We are Total Fluid ManagementSMspecialists. We’re committed to advancingtechnologies that make our customers’Pall Corporation– a leader infiltrationtechnologiesoperations more successful. Our expertisehas enabled us to build a large library ofproprietary core materials, which we canmodify to separate, remove, or selectivelycapture the most elusive contaminants.Our customized system services include:Process audits/consultancyLab testingCustomized product developmentTraining seminarsTesting/pilotingSystem maintenance/service contractsFor more than 60 years, Pall Corporationhas been solving complex filtration,separation, purification, andcontamination control problems fordiverse customers around the world. Inthe Oil & Gas industry, Pall hasdeveloped separation solutions thatreduce contamination, increase productyields, and improve product quality.Worldwide, 88% of Pall’s manufacturingfacilities have achieved ISO 14001certification (international standard forenvironmental management systems) todate. The program has helped Pallminimize environmental impact,improve compliance, and reduce costs.Pall’s manufacturing facilities are alsoISO 9001 certified and follow a strictworld-class manufacturing philosophywith a never-ending focus on continuousimprovement.We invite you to learn more about Pall’swide array of products and services. Formore information, contact your localPall representative or visit us on the webat: www.pall.com.7

Fuels and Chemicals25 Harbor Park DrivePort Washington, NY 11050 1 516 484 3600telephone 1 888 873 7255toll free USPortsmouth - UK 44 (0)23 9230 2357 telephone 44 (0)23 9230 2509 faxprocessuk@pall.comVisit us on the Web at www.pall.comPall Corporation has offices and plants throughout the world. For Pall representativesin your area, please go to www.pall.com/contactBecause of technological developments related to the products, systems, and/orservices described herein, the data and procedures are subject to change withoutnotice. Please consult your Pall representative or visit www.pall.com to verify thatthis information remains valid. Products in this document may be covered by oneor more of the following patent numbers: EP 0 930 926; US 5,443,724;US 6,332,987; EP 1 165 205; US 6,342,283; US 6,662,842; EP 0 830 191;US 5,591,335; US 5,653,833; US 5,681,469; US 5,690,782; US 5,730,820;US 5,733,581; US 5,741,395; US 5,783,011; US 5,480,547. Copyright 2010, Pall Corporation. Pall,, AquaSep, Claris, Epocel, Nexis, PhaseSep, Profile,SepraSol, Ultipleat, and Ultipor are trademarks of Pall Corporation. Indicates a trademarkregistered in the USA. Filtration. Separation. Solution.SM, Enabling A Greener Future, andTotal Fluid Management are service marks of Pall Corporation.FCPIPESENPrinted in the USAJune 2010

systems. Liquid contaminants in gas streams can include water, glycols, hydrocarbon condensates as well as compressor oils. For liquid hydrocarbon streams, water is the main liquid contaminant. Pipelines are typically classified by the function that they perform: 1. Gathering pipelines- group of smaller diameter, interconnected pipelines that