Gas Treatment Unit Gulf Coast, USA
Client: Gas Treatment Unit
Location: Gulf Coast, USA
Project: Corrosion Control
A high level of iron sulfide (FeS) in the amine was routinely plugging exchangers, requiring ongoing hydroblasting and chemical cleaning of the exchangers, while heat stable salts were causing corrosion to occur at a rate in the 50 to 75 Mils per year range. MPR Services installed a permanent heat stable salt removal unit to clean the amine, lower corrosion rates and improve system performance. The timeline from the installation of the removal technology to generating a significantly lower corrosion rate took 12 weeks. The removal of heat stable salts reduced corrosion rates in the system by a factor of 30, and corrosion rates were restored to an acceptable 5 to 10 mpy range. The treatment enhanced system performance and improved the customer’s bottom line.
Major Natural Gas Processing Plant
Scandinavia
Client: Major Natural Gas Processing Plant
Location: Scandinavia
Project: Acetate and Formate Removal
This plant needed a safe and environmentally friendly way to remove corrosive acetates and formates accumulating in its lines due to taking on additional volumes of natural gas from offshore production wells via undersea pipelines. The facility uses monoethylene glycol to prevent the formation of hydrates at the wellhead. Because of strict emission controls in the region and the environmentally sensitive area where the plant is located, MPR Services managed a variety of important concerns, including: waste handling, waste compatibility, oxygen incursion, chemical use and safety issues. The patented MPR Services technology was engaged to remove both acetates and formates, and also reduce the anion and cation species in the MEG. Major issues were controlled within 40 days. MPR Services removed more than 98 percent of the formates and acetates while meeting requirements for pound mole removal of the anions and cations.
Mid-size Refinery
Gulf Coast, USA
Client: Mid-size Refinery
Location: Gulf Coast, USA
Project: Concurrent Contamination Issues
A variety of serious issues were limiting this facility, including: high concentration of heat stable salt anions, high losses in methyl diethanolamine volumes, high levels of corrosion in the amine system, producing corrosion by-products and increasing the suspended solids increased filter changes. The challenge was to reduce the heat stable salt anions down to a manageable level, mitigate the fouling and corrosion, and return the unit back to normal operation. MPR Services engaged our patented ion exchange technology to remove the high levels of anions. This also removed corrosion byproducts and helped the amine run more efficiently. MPR Services mobilized to launch a 28-day cleanup project. Major contaminant issues were controlled within 27 days. Amine losses were reduced to one tenth (1/10) of what they had been previously. The color went from a dark brown/blackish color to a pale yellow. Filter changes were reduced considerably and unit operation returned to normal.
Ammonia Plant
Gulf Coast, USA
Client: Ammonia Plant
Location: Gulf Coast, USA
Project: Chloride and Sodium Reduction
High levels of chlorides and sodium were leaking into the amine system from an exchanger on a condenser system. As it was not possible to initiate an unscheduled shutdown to find and replace the leaking tube in the exchanger, the challenge was to run the unit safely and economically until the next planned turnaround. MPR Services engaged a mobile unit delivering our ion exchange technology to reduce chloride and sodium levels while keeping the ammonia plant in operation. Our mobile unit remained on the site for eight months, long enough to prolong efficient operations until the next scheduled turnaround. Chloride contaminants and sodium levels in amine were reduced to nearly non-detectable levels.
Natural Gas Processing Plant
South Central USA
Client: Natural Gas Processing Plant
Location: South Central USA
Project: Chlorides, Sodium and Bicine Removal
The client required mobile equipment to remove chlorides, sodium and bicine from a 32,000 gallon methyl diethanolamine system. This plant uses a specialized amine which is very sensitive to sodium and the amine system is susceptible to occasional ingress of produced water. Even mists of produced water can increase chlorides and sodium in this amine system. MPR Services used its ion exchange heat stable salt removal process for this project. The project was proposed and accomplished in 17 processing days. Reduction of chlorides, bicine and sodium of 96-to-98 percent was achieved within the quoted timeframe.
Large Oil Refinery
Central USA
Client: Large Oil Refinery
Location: Central USA
Project: Hydrocarbons & Suspended Solids Removal
An unusually high level of heat stable salts and hydrocarbons were severely impairing the performance of a diethanolamine system. MPR Services engaged a mobile ion exchange heat stable salt removal unit for this project. Because of financial restraints, MPR suggested the use of just our patented ion exchange technology to reduce the heat stable salt concentration back to required operating limits. The project was quoted at 39 days and completed in 40 days. A 317% reduction in heat stable salt concentration and a 485% reduction in formyl amine weight as the bound amine was returned, increasing concentration and saving money on fresh amine.
