Special Features
Oil and Gas Facilities is available to subscribers only. The first issue may still be viewed for free.
Compression Moves From Topside to Seabed in North Sea
Statoil plans startup of a subsea gas compression system in the Asgard field in 2014 and has committed to investing in a subsea wet gas compression system in the Gullfaks South field. These technological milestones hold promise for an offshore reservoir revival.
Hydrate Control in the Gulf of Mexico
Independence Hub contains the world’s largest offshore monoethylene glycol reclamation system. The lessons learned during the operation of the flash vaporization process have optimized the economics of the project.
Environmental Challenges for Surface Facilities in Shale Plays
Infrastructure requirements and horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing practices pose challenges to facilities engineers. Early identification of the issues and multidiscipline planning improve long-term management and compliance with regulations.
Peer-Reviewed Papers
Jim Collins
ConocoPhillips
Peer Review Editor
Welcome to the peer-reviewed section of the June 2012 Oil and Gas Facilities magazine. The diversity of the magazine’s content continues to surprise me. The general theme for this issue is environmental applications. I hope you find the following papers interesting and enlightening.
Prediction and Experimental Measurements of Water-in-Oil Emulsion Viscosities During Alkaline/Surfactant Injections
A. Kalra, A. Venkatraman, K. Raney, and B. Dindoruk
This paper deals with one of the effects of applying an alkaline-surfactant-polymer flood with emphasis on the changes to the emulsion rheology. The discussion also includes the role of surfactant on the interfacial tension of emulsions in the formation. Understanding the effects of the emulsions is essential for pump and pipeline design, as well as for handling flow‑assurance issues.
Flare-Gas Recovery in Tunisia—From Liability to Value
M. Bauer, M. Köck, K. Jörg, C. Ramakrishnan, and A. Scheed
Describes the conservation of flared associated gas from two onshore fields. Despite its complex composition, high carbon-dioxide content, high hydrogen-sulfide concentration, and the relatively low quantities of available flared gas, a technically and economically viable solution was successfully developed. The pressure from environmental and political organizations helped to justify new alternatives to flaring of the gas.
Minimizing HSE Impacts During Design and Construction of a Major Gas Pipeline Through the Baltic Sea
J.R. Valeur, N. Strøbæk, and N. Andersson
Describes the process that was undertaken to ensure that two major pipelines through the Baltic Sea have minimal impact on the environment and human activities. Due consideration was also given to ensuring the health and safety of construction personnel and minimizing the environmental impact during construction.
Thanks go to the peer-review editors for review of these papers and thank you very much for your continued support and participation in the Oil and Gas Facilities magazine. I’m confident you’ll enjoy this issue.
