4 replies to this topic

[Sharma Varun]

Guys, I want to know if we can merge a glycol drain system with a closed drain.

 

I mean, can we send glycol drains from the glycol dehydration package to the closed drain system?  I have seen a separate glycol drain vessel on an onshore facility, where this vessel was sized for total glycol inventory in the system.  But here I am particularly inquiring about an offshore facility, where there is space limitation and the closed drain discharges its content to the main oil line.  So my basic query is: can we allow the draining of pure glycol into the offshore’s closed drain system, since the dehydration system is scheduled for a revamp?

 

Regards,

 

varun

Edited by Art Montemayor, 22 August 2013 - 07:02 AM.
content, grammar, typos

[Pronab]

If you drain to oil system, you will lose and cannot recover the glycol. In Onshore, we have separate underground close drain where we empty out during major turnaround for recover. Mixing oil in glycol and reuse will make foaming in the glycol contactor. This is the biggest concern.

[Art Montemayor]

I would not do what you are suggesting.  Using the closed drain system on an offshore platform is a special procedure reserved for only certain streams.  This is because the closed drain system is blanketed by hydrocarbon vapors - mostly light gases like methane, ethane, etc. - and should these be allowed to migrate to other places within the platform, this could create a very hazardous and dangerous situation.

 

I seriously believe your proposal would be judged as too hazardous and not worthy of evaluating.  Besides, why would you want to literally "dump" your expensive TEG to a drain???  All TEG units located on an offshore platform usually have a properly sized surge drum within the unit that is capable of storing all of the TEG inventory when the unit is required for inspection and maintenance.  That is the normal way.  The TEG is never dumped or wasted away into a drain.  It is temporarily stored within the system or in a separate tank.

[Sharma Varun]

Thanks Pronab.

 

regards,

Varun

[Sharma Varun]

Well Art, as such I also found the idea odd,  its not my proposal & thats why I was looking for an expert opinion. Thanks for the much needed support.

 

 

regards,

Varun