Petroleum Processing Facility Research Articles

Data-driven modeling of H2 solubility in hydrocarbons using white-box approaches

As a result of technological advancements, reliable calculation of hydrogen (H2) solubility in diverse hydrocarbons is now required for the design and efficient operation of processes in chemical and petroleum processing facilities. The accuracy of equations of state (EOSs) in estimating H2 solubility is restricted, particularly in high-pressure or/and high-temperature conditions, which could result in energy loss and/or potential safety and environmental problem. Two strong machine learning techniques for building advanced correlation were used to evaluate H2 solubility in hydrocarbons in this study which were Group method of data handling (GMDH) and genetic programming (GP). For that purpose, 1332 datasets from experimental results of H2 solubility in 32 distinct hydrocarbons were collected from 68 various systems throughout a wide range of operating temperatures from 98 K to 701 K and pressures from 0.101325 MPa to 78.45 MPa. Hydrocarbons from two distinct classes include alkane, alkene, cycloalkane, aromatic, polycyclic aromatic, and terpene. Hydrocarbons have a molecular mass range of 28.054–647.2 g/mol, which corresponds to a carbon number of 2–46. Solvent molecular weight, critical pressure, and critical temperature, as well as pressure and temperature operational parameters, were used to create the features. With a regression coefficient (R2) which was equal to 0.986 and root mean square error (RMSE) which was 0.0132, the GP modeling approach estimated experimental solubility data more accurately than the GMDH approach. Operating pressure, followed by molecular weight of hydrocarbon solvents and temperature, had the greatest influence on estimation H2 solubility, according to sensitivity analysis. The GP model shown in this paper is a reliable development that may be used in the chemical and petroleum sectors as a reliable and effective estimator for H2 solubility in diverse hydrocarbons.

Assessment of the Bioaccumulation of TPH and Heavy Metals in Tissue of Selected Fishes’ Species Caught from Stream near a Petroleum Processing Plant

This article investigated the bioaccumulation of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) and selected heavy metals in the tissue of selected fishes’ species from a stream near a petroleum processing plant in Rivers State, Nigeria. The concentration of TPH and Ni, Mn, Fe, Zn, Pb, Cr and Co in the fish species’ tissue were measured using standard methods. The TPH concentrations in the fish species were generally high (1.97 to 52.84 mg/kg), greater than the European Union threshold limit of 2μg/kg. Gobius sp and Periophthalmus sp recorded the highest TPH content: 52.84 mg/kg and 28.07mg/kg levelsrespectively. Tilapia sp and Sardinella sp recorded the least and highest concentration of Manganese (0.61 mg/kg and 5.90 mg/kg respectively). The levels of Fe content in the fish tissue were higher than all other metals: 8.27 mg/kg in Gobiussp to 129.7 mg/kg in Sardinella sp. Zn: 4.39 mg/kg in Mugilidae to 11.84 mg/kg in Gobius sp while Co:<0.02 mg/kg in Tilapia sp and 1.51mg/kg in Calinectis sp. The concentrations of Cd:0.24 mg/kg in Pomadasys sp to 0.56 mg/kg in Gobius sp. These values are relatively high because of the metal’s high toxic response factor of 30. The levels of Pb:<0.03 mg/kg in Tilapia sp and Carangidae to 2.69 mg/kg in Calinectis sp. Gobius sp recorded the highest level (3.36 mg/kg) of Ni. The concentrations of Co, Cd, Pb, and Ni in consumable fish are of great concern because of their high toxic response factors. These results implied that the petroleum processing activities (legal and illegal) are negatively impacting aquatic habitats/ food chains. This calls for caution in the consumption of the fish from this area, the audit of the legal petroleum processing facilities and stoppage of the illegal operations.

An approach to optimize the location of LNAPL recovery wells using the concept of a LNAPL specific yield.

Leakage of hydrocarbon fuel (light nonaqueous-phase liquid, LNAPL) from petroleum processing facilities and storage tanks may result in significant subsurface contamination. Remediating the contaminated areas represent considerable challenges, especially when remediation resources are limited and site data are incomplete. A reasonable management strategy under this scenario may be to identify sites where LNAPL recovery operations should be located that would provide the largest LNAPL recovery initially while minimizing the LNAPL remaining in the subsurface (entrapped and residual LNAPL), which may serve as future sources for groundwater contamination. To accomplish this objective, we use estimates of subsurface recoverable and total LNAPL specific volumes and LNAPL transmissivities to generate GIS maps that can be combined to highlight locations where to develop LNAPL recovery operations. When the approach is applied to a LNAPL-contaminated area in Iran, we were able to narrow the locations for potential LNAPL recovery operations. Specifically, we combine maps of the LNAPL specific yield, an introduced term, and the LNAPL transmissivity where the LNAPL specific yield is the ratio of the recoverable to total LNAPL specific volumes. The LNAPL specific yield is a relative measure of the amount of LNAPL that potentially can be recovered while minimizing residual LNAPL in soils. The approach can be applied to sites where the recoverable and total LNAPL specific volumes and LNAPL transmissivities can be estimated using data from boreholes in the contaminated area.

Industrial Lighting: A Holistic Approach Using Light-Emitting Diode Technology

This article discusses the effects of implementing a specialized holistic lighting design throughout a new industrial petroleum-processing facility using highmast lights and the latest light-fixture technology rather than conventional lighting design methods. Topics of engineering justification for design decisions, the final design outcomes, and the financial impacts of choosing the design approach are presented in a case study, and additional environmental and economic successes and failures of the design philosophy are explored.

Molecular imprinted hydrogel polymer (MIHP) as microbial immobilization media in artificial produced water treatment

Produced water generated during oil and gas exploration and drilling, consists of many chemicals which used in drilling process. The production of produced water is over three fold of the oil production. The water-cut has increased over time and continues to do so because the fraction of oil in the reservoir decreases and it is more difficult to get the oil out from an old oil-field. It therefore requires more sea water to be injected in order to force the oil out; hence more produced water is generated. Produced water can pollute the environment if it is not treated properly. In this research, produced water will be treated biologically using bacterial consortium which is isolated from petroleum processing facility with Molecular Imprinted Hydrogel Polymer (MIHP) for microbial immobilization media. Microbial growth rate is determined by measuring the MLVSS and hydrogel mass, also by SEM-EDS analysis. SEM-EDS analysis is an analysis to evidence the presence of microbe trapped in hydrogel, and also to determine the types and weight of the molecules of hydrogel. From this research, suspended microbial growth rate was found at 0.1532/days and attached microbial growth rate was 0.3322/days. Furthermore, based on SEM analysis, microbe is entrapped inside the hydrogel. Effectiveness of microbial degradation activity was determined by measuring organic materials as COD. Based on COD measurement, degradation rate of organic materials in wastewater is 0.3089/days, with maximum COD removal efficiency of 76.67%.

Production of potential fuel oils by Rhodococcus opacus grown on petroleum processing wastewaters

The wastewater of a petroleum processing facility was used to grow the oleaginous bacterium Rhodococcus opacus PD630 to produce microbial oils. Undiluted wastewater supplemented with molasses (20 g/l) and ammonium chloride (1 g/l) provided a maximum dry biomass concentration of nearly 6 g/l in a 96 h batch culture. The lipid concentration in the bacterial broth exceeded 3 g/l and the lipid content in the dry biomass was nearly 52% by weight. Biomass and oil production were further improved using a 96-h fed-batch fermentation instead of a batch culture. The final biomass concentration exceeded 7.2 g/l and the lipid concentration was nearly 4 g/l. The lipid content of the dry biomass exceeded 54% and the lipid yield on sugars was 0.33 g/g. The lipids were similar to vegetable oils. They contained mainly long chain C16 and C18 fatty acids. Potentially such lipids may be used to replace vegetable oils in production of biodiesel.

Comparative assessment of ambient air quality in two urban areas adjacent to petroleum downstream/upstream facilities in Kuwait

Air quality data (ground level ozone (O3), NO, NOx, SO2, CO, H2S and NH3) of two Kuwaiti urban areas adjacent to petroleum processing facilities, Fahaheel and Al-Riqa, were analyzed and compared to evaluate: (1) the exceedances of the Kuwait Environment Public Authority (KUEPA) air quality limits, (2) primary air pollution sources and their contribution to the ambient load, (3) diurnal patterns of air pollutants and (4) the effecton O3 levels. High O3 levels, above the threshold limit for human health, were observed in both urban areas. CO, NOx and NO levels in Fahaheel were higher than in Al-Riqa. Combustion sources (which exist close to Fahaheel) drive both NOx and NO diurnal patterns in both areas. Emissions from downstream facilities and the activity of Fahaheel highway affect the CO levels in the areas. Concentration roses were plotted for annual durations to examine the primary dominant sources of air pollution in both study areas. By establishing a Chemical Mass Balance (CMB) model around the two receptor points in both areas, it was revealed that the downstream facilities sector was the main contributor of air pollutants in Fahaheel. CMB model gave a 70% average contribution of the sector to the Fahaheel receptor point. However, 70% of the total contribution of the studied sources in Al-Riqa urban area was from the traffic and line sources side. The examination of the rate of O3 accumulation, during the high O3 period in Kuwait (April-October), revealed the occurrence of two phases, a fast and a slow one, with different durations in each urban area. Regression equations were used to study the midweek effect of O3 levels. This study supports the hypothesis that O3 weekend variation is due to an NOx emission difference between weekends and weekdays and VOCs sensitivity.

Radionuclides as tracers of coastal processes in Brazil: review, synthesis, and perspectives

We review the usefulness, limitations, significance, and coastal management implications of radionuclide measurements in Brazilian coastal environments. We focus on the use of radionuclides as tracers of sedimentary processes and submarine groundwater discharge (SGD). We also discuss artificial radionuclide contamination and high natural radioactivity areas. The interpretation of 14C-, 137Cs-, and 210Pb-derived sedimentation rates has provided evidence that inappropriate soil use by urban and agricultural activities has intensified erosion processes on land, which is reflected in depositional environments, such as coastal lagoons, estuaries and mangroves. Of the processes discussed in this paper, SGD is the one that requires the most scientific effort in the short-term. There have been only two case studies using 222Rn and radium isotopes as groundwater tracers in Brazil. These investigations showed that SGD can be a major source of nutrients and other dissolved species to the coastal ocean. Baseline 137Cs, 90Sr, 239+240Pu, and 238Pu concentrations in seawater from the whole Brazilian coastal zone are very low. Therefore, in spite of contamination problems in many ecosystems in the northern hemisphere, artificial radionuclide pollution appears to be negligible along the Brazilian coast. Phosphate fertilizer industries and petroleum processing facilities are the main economic activities producing Technologically Enhanced Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (TENORM). Even though a few attempts have been made to assess the radiological effects of these activities, their potential threats indicate a need for the radiological control of their wastes. This review showed that the number of studies within the field of environmental radioactivity is still small in Brazil and much more research is needed to understand processes of high interest for environmental managers. In the near future, it is likely that such studies in Brazil will move from descriptive, environmental quality-based assessments to approaches that attempt to quantify chemical, physical, and biological processes in the environment.

Life Cycle and Production Unit Cost Analysis Techniques for System Configuration Selection in the Norwegian Offshore Oil and Gas Industry

AbstractThe constituent elements, hierarchical relationship, and design, construction, commissioning, startup, production and decommissioning life cycle of oil and gas production systems (e.g., offshore drilling/production platforms, onshore petroleum processing facility, offshore gas production platforms) in the Norwegian offshore petroleum/gas industry are described.Economic and financial considerations (currency conversion, escalation/inflation rates, rate of return) which affect life‐cycle and production unit cost analyses are summarized. Risk and uncertainty in the analyses are discussed.The structure and estimation of life cycle costs for complex petroleum/gas production facilities is discussed. A model is presented for calculating unit costs for production‐facility output, e.g., $/bbl, $/sm3; definitions of terms are given in an appendix. The use of life‐cycle and production unit cost estimates to select a preferred system configuration is discussed.A numerical example is provided to illustrate the production unit cost estimation procedure. Cost information for the example is based on an actual Norwegian offshore oil/gas production system.

Petroleum and Gas Facilities

In the earthquake-affected area there are no natural-gas lines and a very limited number of petroleum-product lines. There is a petroleum line from Subic Bay to Clark Air Force Base; however, this line is some distance from the epicenter and was not damaged. Associated with the Port of San Fernando there are two lines used to unload petroleum products and transport them to nearby tank farms operated by several oil companies. Products are distributed by truck from the tank farms. There are no petroleum-processing facilities, such as refineries, in the area.