Mercury partitioning in oil and gas production systems - design optimisation and risk mitigation through advanced simulation
Peter Crafts A C and Mark Williams BA Genesis, Aspect 32, Pavilion 3, Prospect Road, Arnhall Business Park, Westhill, AB32 6FE, UK.
B Genesis, 1120 Hay Street, West Perth, WA 6022, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: Peter.Crafts@genesisoilandgas.com
The APPEA Journal 60(1) 97-109 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ19167
Submitted: 16 December 2019 Accepted: 24 January 2020 Published: 15 May 2020
Abstract
Operators are increasingly producing fields with challenging operational environments, including fluids with higher concentrations of mercury. Mercury is harmful to personnel and the environment and contaminates most of the production plant that it contacts through physical adsorption, potentially creating hazardous wastes through the operating lifetime and subsequent decommissioning. The assessment of mercury removal locations requires careful consideration at the design stage. Mercury exists in various chemical forms that readily partition between streams in the production process. Mercury partitioning simulations are an essential step in managing the operational, safety, environmental, production and decommissioning risks associated with mercury. Accurate assessment of mercury species during welltests is an essential step towards successful mercury risk management; providing the basis to model partitioning into vapour, liquid, aqueous and solid phases through production. Adsorption modelling is also necessary to understanding the propagation of mercury through offshore and onshore systems, identifying release points to the environment. Only once form, flow and accumulation locations are understood, can the adequate design of mercury removal facilities be confidently completed. Experience in thermodynamic modelling and verification through laboratory research and plant analysis is required to fully understand modelling limitations, capabilities and applications to proposed or existing infrastructure. Changes in inlet stream conditions may affect propagation of mercury through an operating plant thus the influence of predicted conditions through the full life of the field should be considered.
Keywords: mercury, partitioning, equilibria, risk, environment, modelling, safety, species, research, removal, design, adsorption, aqueous, emissions, thermodynamic, subsea, offshore, onshore, reservoir, sampling, welltest, pressure, temperature, composition, operation, ionic, inorganic, organic, corrosion, materials.
Peter Crafts graduated with 1st class honours, Bachelor of Chemical Engineering, from University of Teesside UK, in 1992. Peter has over 28 years’ experience as a Chemical Engineer and Technical Safety Engineer, with experience gained in the Oil and Gas, Agrochemicals, and Pharmaceuticals industries, and an established track record of delivering lead roles in Concept Selection, Process Development, FEED, Detailed Design, Commissioning, and R&D for onshore and offshore projects. Peter is the Advanced Simulations Team Manager for Genesis in Aberdeen and is responsible for Genesis Global Mercury Consultancy Services and Mercury R&D Programmes. |
Mark Williams graduated with honours in both a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering and a Bachelor of Science (Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry) from the University of Melbourne, his home city. With 16 years technical and management experience in the oil and gas industry in Australia and Europe, he currently holds the role of Global Systems Manager with Genesis having previously been Australian Process and Facilities Manager. Mark was the industry supervisor for a study in the sensitivities of inlet process conditions to mercury partitioning in offshore facilities and is a focal point for mercury studies in Australia having been involved in multiple mercury processing studies and development initiatives. Mark also held the position of Chair of the Oil and Gas Group for Engineers Australia in WA and is an active member of the governing professional engineering body. |
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