Chemical Process

Sensitivity Analysis Example

Stabilization of Crude Oil
Created by:
Nugroho Wibisono (Weby)
weby98@gmail.com
17 December 2012

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Reference
This example is taken from Oilfield
Processing Volume Two: Crude Oil,
Manning, Francis; Thompson, Richard E.;
PennWell Publishing, 1995 (ISBN: 087814-354-8) Chapter 9: Stabilization
and Sweetening of Crude Oil

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Fluid Info
Pressure

650 psig

Temperature

120oF

Flow rate

12298 lbmol/hour

Component
Name

Boiling
Point
Cut

248F

340F

413F

472F

657F

NBP oF

248

340

413

472

657

0.762

0.793

0.817

0.835

0.887

Mole%

Molar Flow
(MMSCFD)

Liquid Vol. Flow.

(Barrel/day)

N2

0.000

0.87

228.18

SG
60/60

CO2

0.000

0.06

22.45

Tc, oF

573

673

750

807

975

Methane

0.000

37.92

15,278.46

Ethane

0.000

6.31

4,008.02

Pc, psia

442

370

350

295

220

Propane

0.805

4.93

3,224.65

Mol Wt.

110

141

170

195

336

i-Butane

38.691

1.36

1,053.86

n-Butane

29.427

3.83

2,870.12

i-Pentane

13.135

2.07

1,802

n-Pentane

8.415

2.73

2,354.13

n-Hexane

7.211

4.80

4,698.00

248F

1.915

11.16

12,131.78

340F

0.336

8.00

10,712.03

413F

0.0031

6.84

10,727.43

472F

0.001

6.09

10,719.50

657F

0.00000

15.03

42,893.91

Hydrocarbon Gas Product

Dominated by methane component as sales
gas
Liquid Hydrocarbon Product
RVP < 12 psia
Liquid is stored in near atmospheric tank

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Overall Schematic of the Plant

Feed stage
pressure
(650 psig)

First
Stage
Pressure

Second
Stage
Pressure

Stock Tank
Pressure
(5 psig)

Hydrocarbon Liquid Processing System

Hydrocarbon Gas Processing System

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We will discuss only in the

hydrocarbon liquid processing
system.

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Multistage Separation System

Feed stage
pressure

Feed

Separator-1

Gas
Product

(650 psig)

Separator-2

First
Stage
Pressure

Second
Stage
Pressure

Gas
Product

CV-1

Separator-3

Gas
Product

Separator-4

Gas
Product

What is the optimum

first stage pressure
and second stage
pressure to obtain
maximum liquid
product?

CV-2

CV-3

Stock Tank
Pressure
(5 psig)

Liquid Product

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Sensitivity Analysis using Process

Simulator (Aspen Hysys)

Software: Aspen Hysys

Use Databook feature to understand the effect of various combination of
first stage pressure and second stage pressure to the oil recovery rate
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Sensitivity Analysis Simple Steps

Run 3 (three) Case Studies in Aspen Hysys Databook
First case study
1st stage pressure = 120 psig
2nd stage pressure = 10 30 psig with 1 psig increment

Second case study

1st stage pressure = 140 psig
2nd stage pressure = 10 30 psig with 1 psig increment

Third case study

1st stage pressure = 160 psig
2nd stage pressure = 10 30 psig with 1 psig increment

Copy the simulated data to MS Excel

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Sensitivity Analysis Result

Optimum Oil Recovery

Oil Production (BBLS/Day)

97,050

97,000

96,950

First stage pressure = 120 psig

96,900

First stage pressure = 140 psig

First stage pressure = 160 psig

96,850
10

15

20

25

30

Second Stage Pressure (Psig)

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Some thoughts
The recovery rate of the crude oil is
different if we operate the plant differently
There are certain optimum operating
condition for different first stage and
second stage pressure

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Different Topology
of Separation Stage
First topology

Second topology

Third topology

What is the product different if we have different topology of the plant?

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Sensitivity Analysis Simple Steps

Run 3 (three) Case Studies in Aspen Hysys Databook

First case study
Feed pressure = 650 psig
The pressure outlet from CV1 = 5 psig

Second case study

Feed pressure = 650 psig
1st stage pressure = 120 psig
The pressure outlet from CV2 = 5 psig

Third case study

Feed pressure = 650 psig

1st stage pressure = 120 psig
2nd stage pressure = 30 psig
The pressure outlet from CV3 = 5 psig

Copy the simulated data to MS Excel

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Sensitivity Analysis Result

Dependence of Oil Recovery on Number of Stages

Oil Recovery , BPD (x1000)

98
98
97
97
96
96
95
95
94
1

No. of Stages

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Some thoughts
The recovery rate of the crude oil is
different if we have different stage of
separations
We may not increase the stage of
separation as the recovery rate is not
directly proportional to the stage addition
consider CAPEX to the crude oil gain

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First
s

tage

press
ure (
psig)

Top view

First stage pressure (psig)

Second stage pressure (psig)

Oil Recovery Rate

Other Form of Sensitivity Analysis

Combination of 1st
stage pressure and
2nd stage pressure to
the oil recovery rate
Useful to map the
operating condition
for production
operations

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And Many Other Examples

Thanks

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