September 2019

34 OFFSHORE ENGINEERING EQUIPMENT offshoreequipment.co.uk September 2019 EOR  than the two gears required in traditional arrangements. Integrated approach While pumps like Novaplex and Novados perform the fundamental task of introducing chemicals into the EOR process, optimisation is best achieved through the development of an integrated chemical injection system. This comprises all the pumps, storage tanks, associated filters and pipework, as well as control instrumentation. There are numerous benefits to be derived from commissioning an EOR chemical injection package. The system can be designed as a whole instead of a series of individual components, which not only ensures full system compatibility, but also means that space and weight constraints can be accommodated. The package is constructed under factory conditions, which results in better build quality and lowers lead-in times. It also eliminates factors like weather- dependency and creates less on-site disruption. Once complete, the system can be subjected to rigorous testing before being delivered, which gives confidence that it can be brought onstream more quickly. An integrated EOR chemical injection package also makes it simpler to incorporate into the wider oil installation, because it comes ready for final connection. In addition, dealing with a single supplier greatly simplifies the procurement process and makes sourcing parts or aftersales support so much easier. Conclusion Whatever route is ultimately adopted to tap into more of the world’s oil resources, reliability and topside real estate are critical factors. With a combination of in- house engineering acumen and industry experience, SPX FLOW will continue to develop technologies to help the oil and gas industry drive down operational costs, improve efficiency and achieve maximum return on investment. www.spxflow.com 1. https://www.worldenergy.org/data/resources/ resource/oil/ Harish Mistry, SPX FLOW Industry & Energy, considers the innovations that are improving the recovery of crude oil and increasing return on investment. According to the World Energy Council, global recoverable oil reserves amount to approximately 239 billion tonnes 1 . On average, the recovery factor after primary and secondary extraction is between 30% and 50%. In other words, established extraction techniques can leave between one half and two thirds of the recoverable oil in the ground. Tertiary extraction techniques, otherwise known as Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR), have been developed to extract more oil from mature wells, but they are not easy to implement and require additional investment. Companies like SPX FLOW, which develop critical equipment for the oil and gas industry, are helping to meet the challenges of EOR – including limitations of space, weight and power in existing onshore and offshore production facilities – through product innovation. Pump innovations One example comes from pump manufacturers Bran+Luebbe, part of the SPX FLOW portfolio, whose process and metering pumps satisfy the ongoing demands for efficiency, safety and reliability in the smallest footprint possible. The Novaplex Vector triplex diaphragm process pump can be used for high- pressure injection and fluid transfer on services including water, methanol, glycol and EOR polymer. The pump heads are arranged in three dimensions and the design reduces the number of crankshaft bearings from six to two, compared with equivalent heavy duty pumps. This simplified configuration inherently increases reliability and also reduces maintenance overheads. The Novados metering pump has a single double-acting head option which provides the capacity of equivalent duplex pumps while reducing the footprint and weight by around 20%. It also reduces lifetime maintenance costs through the use of a single gear, rather Improving EOR efficiency