Carbon Emission Reduction via HNGLRP CC&S Technology

The paper objective is to present the successful achievement by Saudi Aramco gas operations to reduce the carbon emission at Hawyiah NGL Recovery Plant (HNGLRP) after successful operation & maintainability of the newly state of the art Carbon Capture & Sequestration (CC&S) technology. This is in line with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) 2030 vision to increase the resources sustainability for future growth and part of Saudi Aramco circular economy in action examples. Saudi Aramco CC&S started in June 2015 at HNGLRP with main objective to capture the carbon dioxide (CO2) from Acid Gas Removal Units (AGRUs) and then inject an annual mass of nearly 750 Kton of carbon dioxide into oil wells for sequestration and enhanced oil recovery maintainability. This is to replace the typical acid gas incineration process after AGRUs operation to reduce carbon footprint. CC&S consists of the followings: integrally geared multistage compressor, standalone dehydration system using Tri-Ethylene Glycol (TEG), CO2 vapor recovery unit (VRU), Granulated Activated Carbon (GAC) to treat water generated from compression and dehydration systems for reuse purpose, and special dense phase pump that transfers the dehydrated CO2 at supercritical phase through 85 km pipeline to replace the typical sea water injection methodology in enhancing oil recovery. CC&S has several new technologies and experiences represented by the compressor capacity, supercritical phase fluid pumping, using mechanical ejector application to maximize carbon recovery, and CO2/TEG dehydration system as non-typical dehydration system. CC&S design considered the occupational health hazards generated from the compressor operation by installing engineering enclosure with proper ventilation system to minimize the noise hazard. CC&S helped HNGLRP to reduce the overall Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission resulted from typical CO2 incineration process (thermal oxidizing). (2) The total GHG resulted from combustion sources at HNGLRP reduced by nearly 30% since CC&S technology in operation. The fuel gas consumption to run the thermal oxidizers in AGRUs reduced by 75% and sent as sales gas instead. The Energy Intensity Index (EII) reduced by 8% since 2015, water reuse index (WRI) increased by 12%. In conclusion, the project shows significant reduction in the carbon emission, noticeable increase in the production, and considerable water reuse.

Smart Crude Desalter Monitoring System Using Capacitance Based Technology

Saudi Aramco operates several electrostatic coalescers for bulk emulsion separation and crude desalting. One of the major challenges in operating electrostatic coalescers is the potential buildup of tight emulsions and a rag layer at the interface layer, which causes short-circuiting of the electrostatic grids which increases the risk excessive carryover of water with the crude. Conventional liquid level instrumentation cannot measure the thickness of emulsion layers since the level taps are at the clean oil and water layers. Consequently, the buildup of emulsions is normally not detected by operators. A capacitance-based emulsion detection system was installed at one of the electrostatic coalescers of a Saudi Aramco facility. The system is comprised of multiple probes installed at various elevations in the vessel. Each probe measures the capacitance of the liquid in which it is immersed in. The data is then transmitted to the DCS, where an algorithm computes the oil/water content. Saudi Aramco developed an enhanced predictive alarm logic and advisory tool using the measured capacitance data so that operations may take preemptive measures to prevent upsets from occurring. The alarm system was tested over an extended period of time and it has shown that it can accurately detect the buildup of emulsions prior to an upset in the electrostatic coalescer. What is unique about the system is that it utilizes a combination of absolute capacitance measurements and capacitance variations in the algorithm. Emulsion buildups are detected by the alarm system hours before a potential upset, providing operators ample time to take preemptive measures such as increasing the demulsifier injection rate, desludging the vessel or lowering the interface level. The system significantly reduced the number of electrostatic coalescer upsets at the facility and crude quality was enhanced. Upon inspection of the probes during shutdowns, no buildup of deposits, which impacts capacitance readings, were found on the probes since a flushing system was installed. The alarm system has been utilized for four years with no major issues. Utilizing the capacitance probes to develop an algorithm for an alarm system is a novel technique to detect emulsion layer buildup hours prior to a potential electrostatic grid upset. Large-scale deployment is more economical as it is more cost-effective than radioactive profilers and is logistically easier to manage.

Practical Wash Water & Demulsifer Optimization at Khurais Crude Processing Facility

This paper covers practical demulsifer and wash water approach followed by Saudi Aramco Khurais producing facility to optimize the chemical and water consumption. This Paper is intended to: Share practical demulsifer and wash water optimization approach. Highlight how this approach enhanced the separation process and how it already helped Saudi Aramco to meet the product quality with minimal operating costs by optimizing operating parameters in the field. The basic idea of the optimization is to relax the oil - emulsified water separation in HPPT by allowing water carry over to the downstream equipment and vessels through minimizing the demulsifer dosage on the production header to increase the retention time. The optimization process includes manipulating different key parameters (controlled variables) which are demulsifer dosing rate (on production header and dehydrator), wash water dosing rate, de-salting train mixing valves differential pressure and transformers voltage with continues monitoring and corrective actions based on the export specification of BS&W and salts within pre-defined internal limits to avoid having off-spec product (Trial and Error) This approach resulted in decreasing the operating costs by reducing overall demulsifer dosage by 50%, and allowing the overall separation efficiency to be increased contributing towards enhanced separation. Various graphs included showing the full impact of optimizing the operating parameters on improved separation in dehydrator. From the water conservation, this process resulted in reducing non-potable wash water consumption for crude washing purposes by more than 20,000 gallon/day without compromising the crude specification. This optimization resulted in cost saving equivalent to around US$ 650,000 due to significant demulsifer reduction. Sustaining such an optimum performance proves to be a challenge and in this regard, the team is focusing heavily on the monitoring efforts that are equipped with the advisory features on what to do should the deviation exist from the stipulated target. This includes, among others, the alerting feature for immediate corrective actions by the team. Overall, this initiative succeeded in maintaining the facility crude quality specifications of BS&W and salts while reducing chemical operating costs, creating positive environmental impacts by saving non-potable wash water while increasing the assets utilization and reliability effectively.

An Innovative IR 4.0 Solution Against Leaks Utilizing a Fully Integrated Pipelines Management System

This paper demonstrates the Saudi Aramco Khurais Facility (KhPD) successful commissioning of the A Fully Integrated Pipelines Management System, in an effort to enhance its environmental emission performance. The project team conducted an assessment conceptually right from the beginning, to ensure that the value creations from this initiative can be realized, and the project remain cost effective and safely executed while meeting environmental objectives. Following successful deployment, the Khurais team carried out post installation performance assessment to ensure the outcomes and objectives from this project has been impacted positively. This paper covers the fully implemented solution to manage pipelines assets and enchantments followed by Saudi Aramco Khurais producing facility (KhCPF) Objectives: Share how a corrosion challenge of multi-phase flow within pipelines led to installation of a comprehensive solution to Pipeline Management Systems (common header connects all compressors) and how it was resolved through integration between two different systems. In addition, highlight how this approach enhanced the pipelines reliability, safety and most important the big environmental impact that helped Saudi Aramco to reduce its carbon footprint.

Khurais HP Gas Compressor Swing Line Control Logic Modification Through Dynamic Simulation Modelling

Khurais central processing Facility is a hydrocarbon plant consists of 5 GOSPs with a stabilizer (i.e oil train), 3 gas plants and power plant with their associated utilities. Each oil train has one HP gas compressor to send the gas from oil trains to gas plant. These compressors is oversized and running each compressor alone results in excessive recycling and wasting energy. In 2018 Khurais introduced a new energy optimization initiative which is swing line that is a common header connects all HP compressors together with the objective of maximizing operating loads in each gas compressor. In doing so, the last compressor can be shut down for as long as the capacity of the other compressors is still adequate to accommodate the extra gas rate from the shutdown compressor.[1] (Refer to Figure 2) Although this approach resulted in maximizing energy efficiency of the facility it introduced a new challenge to the facility which is in case of any trip to a compressor connected to swing line all other connected compressors will trip. Recently Khurais introduce a new philosophy to shift the load from tripped compressors to other compressors through modifying swing line and compressors DCS control logics. This paper covers the swing-line control logic modifications and enhancement followed by Saudi Aramco Khurais producing facility to overcome multiple compressor outages challenge. This paper is aimed to: Share the challenge of multiple compressors trips with swing line operations that occurs if one of the compressors connected to swing line is tripped resulting in 100% of gas flaring. Present dynamic simulation modelling results and new logic modifications implemented for compressor controls to avoid such multiple trips scenario. Present Compressor trips cases before and after implementing the control logic enhancements. Highlight how this approach enhanced compressor's reliability and helped Saudi Aramco to reduce its carbon footprint. In this paper various dynamic simulation modelling graphs that showed the root cause for multiple compressor trips will be presented, evaluation of several control logic and their consequences. This topic will also cover the new proposed logic with zero investment to avoid multiple compressors trip scenario with operations of swing line. Details about behavior of compressor before and after the modification including the reaction of newly implemented control logic in flare control valves is included part of this paper. After the implementation of this logic the following results have been realized: No incident of multiple compressor trips happened due to proper functioning of logic. Eliminated 60-100 MMSCF/year of flaring due to multiple compressors trips scenario through having "quickest" handle to restoring flow to the swing line and stop flaring. Reducing carbon footprints due to flaring compared to old setup. Realized Recovered revenue worth approximately US$ 500,000/year The novelty in this paper is describing an approach of gradual load shifting from a tripped compressor to other running compressors to avoid multiple compressors trips which can be utilized in any facility that has a common suction header connects all its compressors. Such logics can be implemented in-house with no modification in compressors or swing lines or other equipment.

Modulated AC/DC Crude Desalting Technology Application & Best Practices

The Modulated AC/DC Crude Desalting technology was successfully commissioned at several Saudi Aramco facilities. Enhancements to desalting performance and optimization of plant operating expenditures were realized. Benefits of the Modulated AC/DC Desalting technology, installation and operational best practices and a comparison to conventional AC technology is shared in the paper. The conventional AC desalting technology was replaced with the Modulated AC/DC Crude Desalting technology at some Saudi Aramco facilities. After the successful commissioning, the performance of the new units was tested in one of these facilities to identify operating limits, such as maximum water cut and minimum demulsifier injection at the production header, in which the stable operation is sustainable. A comparison of the performance of the technology compared to that of previous conventional AC desalting technology was conducted through analysis of grid/plate voltage stability, demulsifier injection rate, wash water rates and crude quality parameters. Some enhancements to the process were also introduced which resulted in realizing additional benefits. The technology resulted in several benefits, including: (1) A reduction in the required demulsifier injection rate during the testing period compared to the same time period from the previous year, leading to significant cost savings; (2) Ability to maintain normal operations beyond the design water cuts of the facility; (3) No major grid outages since installation; (4) Additional data that can be used to diagnose separation performance as each transformer provides a number of feedback signals to DCS that are good indicators of the separation process. Based on the observations and analysis, the Modulated AC/DC Crude Desalting Technology has several advantages over the conventional AC Crude Desalting Technology in regards to crude desalting performance and process stability. The Modulated AC/DC Crude Desalting technology at Saudi Aramco was the first installation in Saudi Arabia for Arab Light crude oil. The paper captures Saudi Aramco’s experience and best practices that other companies can find beneficial in their efforts to maintain crude quality and reduce operating expenditures.

Part III Beyond the Transatlantic Corridor, 10 The Paradoxes of Islamic Capital Markets

This chapter describes Islamic capital markets. Led by Malaysia and its distinct Islamic Market, Bursa Malaysia-I, Islamic finance has entered the mainstream of international capital markets, primarily in the form of ‘Islamic bonds’ (sukuk) and fund products. Saudi Arabia, with its well-publicized Saudi Aramco initial public offering (IPO) in 2019, raised, less successfully, a different flag in the international markets. Islamic finance has infiltrated conventional markets too. Non-Islamic issuers, sovereigns, corporates and international institutions, have issued sukuk, attracted by the wash of liquidity and investors in the Gulf region. Indeed, Islamic finance has been rubbing shoulders with modern conventional finance for several decades now. As ‘conventional’ finance has become less ‘conventional’, shari'a compliant finance has become more accepted. Impediments to growth persist; the imperviousness to standardization and the artificiality of the structures underlying the financial products increase costs and possibly risk, making the products uncompetitive. However, cost is not the only consideration in the marketplace. With greater interest in ethical and ESG (environmental, social, and governance) investing, Islamic finance may be the path or the way to future markets.