Meeting Archives

Summary
General Meeting
Houston , TX
May 25, 2006  

The second meeting of 2006 was held at the Marriott West Loop Hotel in Houston , TX on May 25, 2006.

Report from COQA Steering Committee meeting.  In opening the general meeting, Harry Giles, who has succeeded Tish Marshall as Director, reported on the Steering Committee meeting that took place on May 24, 2006.  The number of companies and organizations providing funding to COQA is declining.  To overcome the shortfall in revenue needed to cover the Group’s expenses, it was decided that beginning with the next meeting in November 2006, everyone attending will be required to pay a $75 registration fee.  This applies even to representatives of the companies and organizations that have provided funding.  Speakers will be exempt and not required to pay a registration fee.

The future focus of COQA’s activities was discussed, and it was agreed that the Group should continue to function primarily as an information exchange forum.  Projects will be undertaken on an ad hoc basis subject to member interest and availability of funding.  One of the projects undertaken in the past pertained to Basin Pipeline crude oil quality specifications.  Currently, the Domestic Trading Center Subcommittee is starting a similar project on crude oil quality at Cushing , OK .

A tentative program was developed for the next general meeting to include discussion on heavy metals (As, Hg, Se) in crude oil, phosphorus in Canadian streams, the impact of Canadian crude oils on the U.S. refining industry, and wax appearance temperature.

The next meeting will be in New Orleans, LA, on November 9, 2006.

ASTM Crude Oil Course.  Harry Giles presented an update on the ASTM International Proficiency Training Course on “Crude Oil:  Sampling, Analysis, and Evaluation” that he teaches together with Clifford Mills.  The course has now been presented five times, most recently in Houston just prior to this COQA meeting.  It has also been given in the Netherlands and Bahrain , in addition to three U.S. cities.  Preliminary discussions have taken place to have the course presented in two other locations outside the U.S.   As was the case in the Netherlands , the course can be tailored to specific interests.  The next course is being planned for New Orleans on the two days immediately preceding the COQA meeting.

“Introduction to UOP”, presented by  Jim McGehee.  UOP is the world’s largest process technology licensing company.  Currently, they have 70 licensed processes, more than 30,000 patents, 70 catalysts, and 30 engineered products that include process units and systems, control systems and instrumentation, and proprietary equipment.  The company also provides a range of related engineering, technical, and training services.  UOP’s worldwide client base includes petroleum refining, petrochemicals, and gas processing companies.

In heavy oil, UOP technologies include delayed coking, visbreaking, and solvent deasphalting which are jointly licensed with Foster-Wheeler USA. Other technologies they have are residue hydrotreating, deasphalted oil hydrocracking, reside FCC, and catalytic crude upgrading.  These technologies are critical to optimum utilization of feedstocks from Canadian oil sands, and the heavy-sour crudes now being produced in many areas of the world.  Assays are of prime importance in planning conversion of vacuum residuum to transportation fuels.  To achieve an “increased understanding of residue – a molecular approach may lead to better solutions than traditional thermal approach.”

 

“Oil Field Microbiological Control”, Kathy McDougall (presenter) and Sam Lordo, Nalco.  A number of problems encountered in the oilfield are related to microbiological activity.  Among these are microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC), souring of crude oil production, and plugging of equipment and tubulars.  A variety of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria including  sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB), acid producing bacteria and fungi, and aerobic slime formers can be responsible for these problems.  These can occur in a number of locations in the oilfield including the producing formation, filter beds, pipeline dead legs, drains, and tank bottoms.

A number of methods are available for monitoring bacterial activity.  These include sidestream monitors, and use of corrosion coupons and bioprobes.  Optical and electron microscopy, ATP analysis, cultures, and immunoassays are useful for quantifying and identifying microbes present.  Once identified, a number of biocides are available for combating and controlling growth.  These chemicals can be injected continuously, in batches, or in slugs.

 

“Bacteria Control in Oilfield Systems”, Joseph Arensdorf, Baker Petrolite Corp.  Bacteria in oilfield systems may be both planktonic (free floating) and sessile (attached to a surface such as a pipeline wall).  Sessile bacteria colonies are responsible for most of the damage encountered in oilfields.  Regardless of their form, bacteria require water to be active.  As pointed out in the previous presentation, a number of problems including biogenic souring, MIC, plugging, and emulsion formation and stabilization are attributable to bacterial activity.  Among the most egregious of these problems are souring and MIC pitting resulting from SRB activity.  Still other serious problems are MIC pitting by acid producing bacteria, plugging by biomass and FeS , and emulsions.

To combat bacterial activity, mechanical and operational controls must be implemented to avoid build-up of solids, eliminate stagnant areas, remove existing solids from the system, and reduce or eliminate the presence of water.  A number of biocides are effective in treating existing colonies in both aboveground systems including tanks and pipelines, and in reservoirs.  These biocides must be selected on the basis of the particular problem at hand. Periodic reapplication may be necessary, as bacterial survivors may re-establish colonies.

 

“Sample Acquisition”, Anne Shafizadeh, Chevron Energy Technology Co.  In 2004, a program was implemented to monitor crude oil samples received for study.  At that time, one-half of the samples received were rejected as they failed to meet different criteria appropriate to the analyses requested and other factors.  For example, samples were received in the wrong container, with the improper level of liquid in the container, poor or inadequate labeling, wrong or incomplete documentation, or had unacceptable transportation issues.  Part of the problem was attributed to vendors and inspection personnel not completely understanding requirements or failing to interpret safety requirements correctly. 

Information that must be provided when crude oil samples are requested or submitted includes, at a minimum, common crude name or type, sample size, special container requirement, and point-of-contact.  It is essential that samples be representative of the stream or cargo being sampled, and automatic line sampling is the preferred mode of collection.  Moreover, in forwarding samples, it is usually necessary that shipments conform to IATA regulations.  Since January 2005, 123 samples have been received and the rejection rate has dropped from 50% to 10%, as a result of the newly imposed requirements.

Anne stated that part of the problem resulting in unacceptable samples is that ASTM standards are often vague and subject to interpretation on matters of sample collection and handling.  Bruce Kennedy suggested that COQA develop a sample protocol and that this be posted on our Website.  The EPA/API sample protocol for the Hg in crude oil project may serve as a basis.  This proposal was well received, and Harry Giles will coordinate preparation of the document.

 

“Spiral Software Tools for Assay Management”, Mukund Unavane (presenter) and Owen O’Loan, Spiral Software.  The company specializes in developing advanced software technology for crude oil data handling and modeling.  Spiral has expertise in building models for large and variable quality data sets, and in managing large database and providing global IT solutions.  Spiral’s software is suitable for use by the integrated oil major, single-site refiner, and equity crude producer or trading company alike.

Two applications of their software were discussed and illustrated.  The first is suitable for tracking crude cargo quality.  Quality of a given crude stream can vary considerably from one cargo to another with swings of as much as 4° API.  Such swings can have a significant impact on refining value, as was illustrated in several graphs.  Another application is for crude assay management.  “CrudeSuite” features a number of tools which include data editing, prediction of complete quality from limited data, modeling, and network synchronization.  Assay features of this software provide customizable data entry validation, and property correlations.  A demonstration of the software was provided to illustrate its features and capabilities.

 

“CCQTA Project Activities Update for the COQA”, Bruce Kennedy, KBW Process Consultants, and president CCQTA.  Membership is growing and there are now 48 member companies.  Current projects include heavy oil BS&W, phosphorus in crude, TAN, NGL contamination, heavy oil emulsion viscosity, heavy oil manual, and additives impact.  Details on these projects are provided on www.CCQTA.com 

 

Next Meeting

The next meeting of COQA and its Subcommittees will be in New Orleans , LA on November 9, 2006 at the Astor Crowne Plaza Hotel.

New COQA Director

Harry N. Giles
2324 N. Dickerson Street
Arlington , VA   22207-2641
Cell phone:  +1 (703) 282-2461