Asian Refiner Increases Opportunity Crude Processing Using Asphaltene Stabilizer

Point Analyzer (FPA) and Asphaltene Dispersancy Test (ADT), the team determined that the Nalco asphaltene stabilizer may potentially be used to overcome the limitation. Asphaltene stabilizer was added into the common line from the crude tanks to the crude unit at 6 ppm.

Situation
A South East Asian refiner operating 155,000 BPD single stage desalter, strategic plan was to increase the proportion of Al Shaheen crude in its crude slate.

Problem
The instability of the asphaltenes in a crude slate can be detrimental to the desalting process. In this case, incompatibility manifested in the form of increased emulsion stability and carrying oil out of the process in the effluent brine. Due to these problems, the maximum amount in the crude slate of Al Shaheen was limited to 23%. The refiner wanted to increase Al Shaheen in the crude slate to 40%. Al Shaheen provided a cost benefit of USD 6 per bbl.

Results
Increased Al Shaheen ratio in the crude slate to 40% Maintained good desalting performance Stabilized desalter operations Eliminated oil undercarry to waste plant. As a result, reverse emulsion breaker addition was no longer necessary No negative impact to biosludge due to introduction of asphaltene stabilizer

Solution
Nalco was asked to conduct a co-study with the refiners Process Engineering Team to develop a solution to overcome this limitation. Using Nalcos three key evaluation techniques, Portable Electric Desalter, Flocculation

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Case Study CH-849

Conclusion
The unique RESOLV desalting program enabled the refiner to achieve his strategic plan. The amount of Al Shaheen in the crude slate has been successfully increased from 23% to 40% while meeting all desalter performance KPIs.

Return on Investment
Cost per day of asphaltene stabilizer: USD 534

Additional cost per day of primary emulsion breaker: USD 38 Total additional chemical cost per day: Savings per day from increasing Al Shaheen from 23% to 40% at -USD 6 per bbl: ROI = savings/investment = [158,000/(572)]*100 = 27,000%! USD 572

USD 158,000

Without EC2449A Injection Trycocks and brine appearance

With EC2449A Injection

30% Al Shaheen (no clean water and oil in brine)

40% Al Shaheen (clean water a trycocks 1 & 2 plus clean brine effluent)

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