Aker Kvaerner's CECTM technology breaks new barriers
01 March 2007
1 March 2007 - Aker Kvaerner has successfully performed the final test of its CEC™ technology, at Norsk Hydro's Porsgrunn facility. The operational window of the CEC™ technology has been increased to encompass high gas inlet flows and operation across the full water cut range.
"Aker Kvaerner Process Systems is in an exciting development phase of the CECTM technology which is attracting many customers," says Mika Tienhaara Vice President of Aker Kvaerner Process Systems. "With this novel coalescing technology we intend to bring oil/water separation to new levels. This technology is also compact, reliable and robust."
For topside processing, the extended operating window of the CEC™ has drawn huge interest from customers handling difficult crude characteristics. This gives Aker Kvaerner the possibility of installing the CEC™ technology upstream or downstream in all separation stages. The topside CEC™ will now be tested for crude oil heavier than 19°API. Aker Kvaerner Process Systems is expecting the similar performance of the CEC™ technology for the heavier crude oils.
For subsea processing there has been a need for simplified processes and the limitations in the CEC™ technology with regards to gas content and high water cuts has been causing unwanted complexities for subsea developments. The recent development of the CEC™ design has made it possible to operate with water cut from 0 to 100 percent and also with significant gas content in the feed.
"This new development of the CEC™ has major cost and weight impact for subsea dewatering of heavy oils. It also simplifies the control aspects of the process," says Dr.Ing. Richard Arntzen, Chief Engineer in Aker Kvaerner Subsea.
