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Summary A list of attendees, as well as other meeting details, can be obtained form the COQA Director. There was no formal agenda for this meeting as it was mainly intended to be a brain storming session on where the COQA can best utilize its expertise to help our various members deal with the issue of additives. We have had several discussions on additives throughout the years – drag reducing agents, acid inhibitors, methanol in production, etc. to name a few. There has been enough interest generated that some time specifically devoted to the subject seems warranted. The first suggestion was to utilize the expertise in the meeting to come up with a listing of additives and their known (or anecdotal) effects on operations, especially refining operations but also pipelines. There are many well-known and useful technical papers already in existence. Our COQA list would attempt to build on that existing base to publish a handy reference, not a technical discussion. Using the suggested additive list as a starting point, discussion ensued. During our discussion, it became apparent that communications between all parties (chemical manufacturers, producers, pipelines, refiners) is of utmost importance. A chemical component that is known is usually easier to deal with (even if not particularly wanted) than a surprise. Jep Bracey of Marathon Ashland noted that in the North Sea, where he had worked for a time, producers completed an annual survey on what they put into their particular wells. Variations from the reported components and/or amounts had to be specifically approved. Obviously, such a process would be extremely useful in the U.S. as well. With a similar survey in mind as a possible ultimate goal, it was decided that the first step should be fact-finding research. To ensure that all refiners are heard (rather than just the percentage that actively participate in the COQA), a questionnaire will be developed and distributed with a listing of additive components and questions on their effects and the magnitude of those effects (health, safety, economics). The first step for the questionnaire will be to solicit input from selected COQA companies and contacts as to what additive components should be included. The plan is for the questionnaire to be distributed before the next COQA meeting, with a tabulation of the results available for discussion at that time. Some suggestions on what to do with that information were meetings with producers and manufacturers to add in their input to achieve a “big picture” and surveying these same to see what, if any, of the components they use, why, in what amounts. Harry Giles | |