The efficient and reliable operation of DAF oil skimming plays a crucial role in the success of oil and gas operations. A customer facing challenges in meeting productivity requirements with their existing equipment sought a solution to enhance efficiency. To address these issues, the company upgraded its Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) project by implementing automation, improving overall performance and operational effectiveness.

Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) Process

The DAF oil skimming process is a crucial operation for oil and gas exploration companies. It involves removing oil and other hydrocarbon-based contaminants from water in a dissolved air flotation (DAF) unit. This process ensures compliance with environmental regulations and reduces the environmental impact of oil and gas exploration activities.

Challenges Faced

Eight Vertical Centrifugal Pumps were employed for a very long time, but they consistently posed serious challenges such as:

• The pumps had to handle highly viscous media with a large amount of debris high in solids and other foreign particles. Centrifugal pumps are not well suited to handle liquids with variable viscosities, resulting in frequent clogging, reduced flow rates, and increased downtime.
• Inability to provide the necessary pressure to transport oil and water mixtures, leading to decreased efficiency and increased energy costs.
• Insufficient durability to handle harsh environments and abrasive/corrosive materials.
• Chances of leakage that would have posed a significant threat to the environment.

Roto Solution

After consideration, Roto’s Technical Team suggested using Vertical Submerged Progressive Cavity Pumps, VMAA 622 with API 53 Plan B. All the pumps were equipped with a strainer at the bottom and positioned with a sufficient gap to block the accumulation of debris and sand particles from entering the pump suction. Additionally, the pumps were fitted with API 682 Dual Mechanical Seals coupled with API Plan 53B. This configuration ensured proper lubrication of the seals and effectively prevented any gas leakage into the surrounding environment. The pump material was chosen to suit the pumped liquid; thereby increasing its durability and significantly minimizing the maintenance costs.

Conclusion

After successfully upgrading their DAF ETP Project with Roto’s Vertical Submerged Progressive Cavity Pumps; the customer was extremely satisfied with the increased performance and efficiency of their operation. These pumps allowed them to achieve the necessary productivity levels and reduce the environmental impact of their oil and gas exploration activities.