Summary

Crude Oil Quality Association

Additives Subcommittee

Houston, TX
September 27, 2001
 

Mr. Larry Kremer of Baker Petrolite opened the meeting with a discussion of the components on the Additive Survey and their potential sources.   It was noted that several of the components listed on the Additive Survey did not originate with an additive, but were natural components of crude or sourced from a refining process.  The following are comments, by Larry or the audience, which came up during the discussion:

·        Amines – corrosion control, may be related to hydrogen sulfide treatments

·        Solids

o       natural - iron, aluminum, silica

o       drilling mud - barium sulfate

·        Halides

o       Chlorinated - banned in oil fields, usually a contaminant

o    Chlorides - non-extractable chlorides can result from the practice of acidizing wells.  Salt crystals can form from the heating of slop oil, which is done to drive off all the water before putting it in the pipeline.

• Spent Caustic - usually from refinery slop oil system
• Mineral Acids - used to acidize wells. Standard practice dictates them to be segregated and disposed of before crude oil is input into transportation system.
• Organic Acids - can be formed by secondary sources (usually the refinery) at many points in the process
• Heavy Metals - naturally present in crude oil
• Arsenic - naturally binds with sulfur in the crude
• Phosphates - found in the “gel” formed by pigging.  Can also be indicative of new production as it can be used as a hydrate inhibitor (very expensive, however, and usually recycled).
• Surfactants - used as emulsion breakers

Quality professionals in the Canadian oil industry have been working on the additive issue for several years.  Bill Lywood of Crude Quality, Inc. shared some of their findings.  He emphasized the need to get producers involved in the additive discussions.  He also suggested keeping the consequences (i.e. refined product specifications, environmental excursions, safety violations, etc.) as the emphasis of the discussions; issues oriented not fault finding. 

Another discussion ensued on the necessity of getting traders involved in quality.  Quality issues that might possibly lead to crude discounting are a concern to traders and producers.  Also, post analysis of crude runs and taking that information back to the traders and producers, not leaving it at the refinery level, can be a very effective tool.

Harry Giles wrapped up the meeting with a final summary of the Additive Survey results.   The summary and details were distributed to all respondents, with a request for comments.  The summary will be revised to include Larry’s source analysis.  The final version will be published to all COQA members for their use as a reference document or educational tool.  The COQA will also disseminate these findings to producers and ask for their side of the additive issue.  Contacts to the production side will be solicited by the facilitator.

Harry Giles
COQA Facilitator
(216) 521-9213
TishBill@compuserve.com