ROOT ANALYSIS OF LOSS STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY FOR OIL COOLING RADIATORS IN COMPRESSOR STATIONS PUMPING ASSOCIATED PETROLEUM GAS CONTAINING WET H2S

Abstract

One of the main problems in the associated petroleum gas treatment is its further beneficial usage. Gases of the end stages of separation require special technical solutions when involving them in the production process due to low pressure. At the same time, gases of the first stages of separation by 70–90 % of the total amount are mainly used in gas processing plants. Gas of the end stages of separation contains components C3+ and higher from 400 to 2000 g/m3 and is a valuable petrochemical raw material. To transporting gas of the end stages of separation, compression is necessary to achieve sufficient pressure. When compressing gases of the end stages of separation, a significant amount of unstable condensate containing hydrocarbons C4–C12 and water is released. In addition, the end-stage gas is saturated with sulfur compounds (H2S and R-SH), which evaporate intensively from the crude oil after its heating from the end-stage separators of oil treatment. The equipment of compressor stations for gas treatment and transportation, as a rule, does not have protection against internal corrosion. Recently, failures of cooling system radiators, pipes of air gas cooling devices made of non-ferrous metal alloys have been recorded. Radiator failures are associated with the loss of their structural integrity. Oil stains without visible flows, cracks or pits appear on the outer surface of the radiator cooling channels, while in the channels of copper alloy channels radiators, clogging of individual channels is often observed over a short period of operation of the compressor station. Understanding the causes of leaks in liquid cooling radiators as part of compressor stations for pumping associated petroleum gas of the end stages of separation is an important aspect for ensuring reliable operation of process equipment and preventing possible emergency situations. The article reflects the results of studies aimed at identifying the causes of radiators structural integrity loss of oil cooling systems in the composition of block compressor stations for compression of associated petroleum gas containing hydrogen sulfide and moisture. Solutions and recommendation to minimize the risks of equipment failures of for compression stations are made.