Meters check Sakhalin inhibitor costs

Offshore staff

SAKHALIN, Russia --Litre Meter has supplied eight VFF positive displacement flow meters for installation on the Orlan drilling platform offshore Sakhalin Island. They are designed to reduce production costs through accurate measurement of the flow of corrosion inhibitor added to crude oil.

If too many chemicals are used, they have to be removed when the oil is refined, a process which can cost 10% of the price of a barrel, the company claims. The chemicals are also expensive, accounting for 30% of pre-treatment costs before the crude is pumped ashore.

In theOrlan's case, inhibitor is added at rates of 0-25 l/hr (5.5 gals/hr) through 5.08 cm diameter (2-in.) ANSI 2500 RTJ flanges. It has a maximum viscosity of 285 cPs at the minimum operating temperature pf -45 °C. The VFF meters measure inhibitor flow to an accuracy of 0.5%, and are working alongside eight instruments previously installed by Litre Meter.

03/08/2007