Compact Heat Exchangers and Enhancement Technology for the Process Industries - 2003

ISBN Print: 978-1-56700-195-2

FLEXIBLE HEAT EXCHANGE SOLUTIONS FIT FOR LIFETIME OPERATION OF OIL & GAS PRODUCTION FACILITIES

DOI: 10.1615/978-1-56700-195-2.350
pages 259-265

Abstract

Oil and gas production facilities will experience many changes in the operating conditions during the life of the facilities. It would be advantageous if the equipment installed within the process would incorporate an inherent capability to adept to the various changing process conditions and still provide the desired process and mechanical functions.
This paper describes flexible heat exchange solutions fit for lifetime operation of oil and gas production facilities. This flexibility includes the ability to handle changes in flow rates, relative concentrations of oil, gas and produced water as well as changes in the physical and thermal properties of the bulk fluids.
This paper is based on several years of active participation in oil and gas facility conceptual evaluations, detailed designs, redesigns, debottle-necking studies as well as feed back from operating facilities.
The plate and frame heat exchanger concept provides many benefits for the facility operator; besides the direct weight and space savings, the exchanger concept also provides process flexibilities in that the plate and frame heat exchanger can be re¬sized several times during the life of a facility for various process situations and thus assist in providing a better quality crude oil, using less utilities and requiring less maintenance.