Operational Control of Hydrocyclones During Variable Produced Water Flow Rates—Frøy Case Study

Abstract

Summary International regulations of produced water discharges to sea are enforced, thereby enhancing focus on optimizing produced water treatment. De-oiling hydrocyclones are prioritized technology for produced water treatment on offshore oil-producing platforms. Oil/water separation happens within a few seconds in hydrocyclones and preciseness in operational control is essential. Surging flow may cause severe problems to hydrocyclones. A case study at TOTAL E&P NORGE AS's Frøy field demonstrated how the implementation of a holistic process control structure effectively optimized hydrocyclone performance by reducing oil in produced water by 50%. This paper emphasizes how operational interaction between separators and hydrocyclones, alternative routing of hydrocyclone oil streams, capable control systems, and establishing hydrocyclone performance indicators are all elements in optimization programs for de-oiling hydrocyclones.