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 MULTI-CHEM® DEVELOPS ADVANCED ROCKING CELL SYSTEM FOR TESTING OF HYDRATE INHIBITORS UNDER BOTH SWEET AND SOUR CONDITIONS

 
 Multi-Chem®, a global provider of oilfield production chemicals, has developed the first system of highly advanced rocking cells for testing low dosage hydrate inhibitors (LDHIs) that are designed to withstand hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas, announced Vice President of Technology Danny Durham.
 The two six-cell modules are composed of the highly corrosion-resistant metal alloy HASTELLOY® so that LDHI testing can be conducted using H2S. The system is the first of its kind and offers deepwater, ultra deepwater and land-based operators the first opportunity to properly and safely simulate the conditions in a sour system without causing damage to the equipment.
The 12 test cells feature dual sapphire viewing windows and proximity sensors, and a center-ported configuration designed to eliminate the problems associated with more traditional end -ported designs, where hydrate formation can occur in the inlet tubing causing inaccurate results. This new design gives significantly more accurate pressure readings, essential to hydrate testing, while providing a relative viscosity measurement from the proximity sensors. Each individual cell window features ultra-bright rear-mounted lighting for clear viewing of the fluids.  
The system’s fully automated data acquisition and control software gives users the flexibility to pre-program various testing parameters and protocol changes, including the cells’ rocking angle and rocking rate. Two large monitoring screens help to track the conditions and progress of each individual cell during the test.
“The combination of the new design features, the data acquisition system and the quality of the materials used allows us to more accurately recreate the conditions of both sweet and sour systems as compared to other rocking cell designs,” said Zubin Patel, co-developer of the technology.
This technology was developed by Multi-Chem chemical and flow assurance experts Zubin Patel and James Russum.
Patel graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Midwestern State University and a Ph.D. in synthetic organic chemistry from the University of Southern California. He has six years of experience in the production chemicals industry where he specializes in LDHIs and flow assurance technologies; chemical development, testing and recommendations; and testing analysis.
James Russum earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from Tennessee Technological University and a Ph.D. in chemical engineering with a minor in polymer chemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Russum specializes in flow assurance, gas hydrates and hydrate control.

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It is important to select products which have been tested for use in umbilical systems. Multi-Chem's CapSure™ line of umbilical qualified products is tested to withstand the most stringent umbilical conditions.  Each product is put through a proprietary battery of tests to ensure low viscosities, purity, materials compatibility and long term stability.

Emulsions form when oil and water mix due to a number of conditions present in oil and gas production. Naturally occurring or man-made surfactants acting with shear forces will cause the oil and water to emulsify. Downhole, emulsions cause blockages and reduced production. In subsea production, emulsions can reduce production and cause additional stress on pumps and equipment. In the treating systems, emulsions in separators and storage tanks cause lost production due to oil being rejected at the LACT unit. Multi-Chem umbilical approved emulsion breakers will dissolve away emulsion problems wherever they occur, helping to maximize the efficiency of production systems and minimize lease operating expenses (LOE).

Multi-Chem Product(s):

Emulsion Breakers

Corrosion is one of the most serious issues in oil and gas production. Corrosion of lines reduces the effective useful life of the line and causes leaks and failures, along with the subsequent shut-ins and fines. In subsea production lines, it’s important to protect the internal line with corrosion inhibitors that are umbilical tested. Corrosion can occur due to many complex issues with the fluids and gases. Multi-Chem corrosion control products are designed to address the issues specific to production operations. These specialty products will increase the useful life of the system, reduce operating expenses and help to increase oil and gas production by eliminating failures which shut in systems.

Multi-Chem Product(s):

Corrosion Inhibitors

In gas production systems, hydrates form under certain conditions of pressure and temperature when water forms a cage around a gas molecule (methane, ethane, CO2, H2S). Hydrate molecules will aggregate and adhere to surfaces rapidly, causing line blockages and plugs. Subsea temperatures and production pressures create the perfect scenario for hydrate formation. A hydrate plug in deepwater lines can shut in the facilities for extended periods of time. Shut ins due to hurricanes require that the right anti-agglomerant is used. An effective hydrate control program designed by Multi-Chem can control hydrates and reduce the risk of problems caused by hydrates in gas production systems.

Multi-Chem Product(s):

Low Dosage Hydrate Inhibitors

Paraffins or waxes are a primary constituent of hydrocarbon streams. Higher carbon chain waxes will precipitate out of solution as temperatures decrease in a production system. This precipitation will cause a number of production problems such as blocked pore spaces and perforations, plugged tubing, downhole pump failures, blocked valves, oil coated solids, fouling, tank bottoms, etc. A paraffin control program designed by Multi-Chem will eliminate paraffin deposition and keep systems flowing at their optimal level. Asphaltene molecules are present in most liquid oil and gas streams. These complex molecules can be destabilized by acids and electrical charges associated with oil and gas production. Once destabilized, they may precipitate and adhere to the surfaces of pipe, equipment, and solids, causing production losses and high operating expenses. Multi-Chem has chemical solutions which re-suspend the precipitated asphaltenes into the liquid hydrocarbon phase, where they can be transported to the refinery.

Multi-Chem Product(s):

Paraffin Treatment Products

Asphaltene Treatment Products



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