3 replies to this topic

[kengor10]

I'm a new process engineer in the industry, still in my first year out of college. I'm working on the design of central processing facilities for crude oil. 

 

I'm designing a central processing facility to process light crude (about 50 API). Currently my vessel train consists of a High Pressure 3 Phase separator at the inlet followed by a Lower Pressure Heater Treater, Air Cooler, and atmospheric pressure Vapor Recovery Tower before storing the oil in the tank battery. I have been tasked with investigating the use of a "Gun Barrel" tank at the end of my process train before the Oil is finally stored in atmospheric tanks. Gun Barrel tank also known as a settling tank or a wash tank.

 

Gun barrel settling tank - OilfieldWiki

 

I'm hung up on a few things with the Gun Barrel Tank.

 

1. It is essentially just another separation vessel one inlet three outlets not a "Storage Tank" per se

 

2. The hydraulics of the whole system rely on natural flow from the well to the tanks. The Vapor Recover Tower operates at atmospheric pressure relying on the height of the 40' Tower of Oil to get the Oil to the Tall storage 30' Tanks. I'm concerned inserting another vessel between those two could create too much head loss for natural flow in the storage tanks.

 

3. The addition of the Gun Barrel Tanks adds two additional process lines to deal with as it has vapor water and crude outlets. The vapor and crude outlets are no big deal, but the water outlet will most likely have to be pumped to the 30' storage tanks.

 

4. I'm expecting the Crude entering the Gun Barrel tank to be <1-2% water by volume. What kind of purity would I see from water exiting the bottom of the vessel with such low concentrations of water entering?

 

 

If anyone has any experience using these Gun Barrel tanks any input, knowledge, or advice would be appreciated, especially in series with a Vapor Recovery Tower. To be more specific, what would a typical inlet concentration of Water in Oil be, what kind of purity would one expect on the water and oil outlets.

Edited by kengor10, 10 December 2021 - 09:04 AM.

[Bobby Strain]

You probably should ask your supervisor for help. I don't think you are talking about what in the industry is called a "gun barrel". But I am not sure.

 

Bobby

Edited by Bobby Strain, 09 December 2021 - 11:30 PM.

[kengor10]

Thank you for your response Bobby.

 

I have researched gun barrel tanks. I believe I have a good understanding of what they are and their working principals. Neither of my supervisors have much experience with gun barrel tanks and have asked me to try and learn more.

 

If you have any resources on the subject or could share what you believe the industry says a gun barrel tank is I would love to hear.

[Bobby Strain]

It's easy to find. Search for "gun barrel treater".

 

Bobby