Simplifying Oil and Gas Production Site Installations and Operations

Posted Today, under Final Control Element, Oil & Gas
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Consider the flow path of oil & gas production from the well head. The first stop is typically the production separator where the oil, gas, condensation, water, brine and other fluids and sediment get separated. Traditionally, for multi-well sites, there is a test separator so that each well’s production composition can be assessed.

Emerson's Joseph Zawacki


In this arrangement the wells are connect to both a test and production manifold, with valves to isolate the flows from each well into the test separator when it’s being tested. Valves, often manually actuated, are required to open the flow to the test or production manifold, and from backflow to the well.

In and Oil & Gas Engineering article, Wellsite valve manifolds simplified, Emerson’s Joseph Zawacki describes how multiport flow selector technology reduces the complexity of the traditional approach and is:

…safer, less expensive, lighter weight, and more compact than conventional units.

He opens describing the importance of the flow testing process for oil & gas producers: Continue Reading ▶

Cybersecurity Guidebook for Reducing Cyber Risks

Posted Yesterday, under Support Services
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One only has to do a cybersecurity news search to see the increasing worries and incidents that manufacturers face. The ISA/IEC 62443 series of cybersecurity standards:

…address the need to design cybersecurity robustness and resilience into industrial automation control systems (IACS).

A new, comprehensive Cybersecurity Guidebook for Process Control is available to help you and your organization take the necessary steps to reduce the risks associated with cyber incidents.

Emerson’s Process Systems and Solutions president, Jamie Froedge open this guidebook:

Emerson's Jamie FroedgeBy leveraging the connectivity of the broader business network, manufacturers have revolutionized interconnected processes, but also encountered new risks to the safety, profitability and reliability of plant operations. Cybersecurity needs to be in every operational conversation not just today, but every day going forward.

An important factor in implementing a cybersecurity program is change management. Emerson’s cybersecurity leaders have compiled this brief guide based on the Start-Stop-Continue Change Management model to help you lead organizational change and take immediate steps to make your operations more secure.

Sections highlighting the Start-Stop-Continue recommendations include: Continue Reading ▶

Applying Density Meters in Liquid Hydrocarbon Measurement

Posted 4 days ago, under Flow
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Emerson's Dean Minehart


We often discuss aspects of some of the basic measurements in process control—flow, temperature, pressure, level, etc. Some other very important measurements in applications such as custody transfer, liquid interface detection, blending, separating, evaporating and product change—are density and viscosity—due to the changing composition of hydrocarbon liquids.

In a whitepaper, Application of Density Meters to Liquid Hydrocarbon Measurement, Emerson’s Dean Minehart highlights passages from the American Petroleum Institute (API) Manual of Petroleum Measurement Standards (MPMS) that give guidance on online density meter selection/operation, sampling system design and field proving methods.

He opens noting:

Continuous density measurement may be accomplished with a device located in the main flowing stream or in a slipstream. Density measurement is utilized in both volumetric and mass measurement systems. Volumetric measurement requires the use of density to determine correction factors for temperature and pressure on a flowing liquid. Inferred mass measurement systems require density measurement at meter conditions to determine mass flow. Direct mass measurement systems require online density measurement at a meter prover to determine prover mass and calculate a mass meter factor.

The application will determine the selection of the right density meter to use. Continue Reading ▶

Growing Offshore Oil and Gas Reservoir Recovery Rates

Posted 5 days ago, under Oil & Gas
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Emerson's Garrett Leahy


Emerson's Indy Chakrabarti


While oil prices continue to recover after a long industry slump, the challenge has now shifted to finding experienced people to plan and execute projects after so many have left the oil & gas industry.

One way to address this skills and experience shortage is to increase productivity among the current staff. In an Offshore magazine article, E&P software can be profit enabler in tough times, Emerson’s Garrett Leahy and Indy Chakrabarti open describing this challenge:

The result is that operators are now struggling to both quantify the value of potential opportunities and put in place the right strategies to deliver profitable production again.

Continue Reading ▶

Creating Pressure Relief Valve Fugitive Emissions Testing

Posted 6 days ago, under Oil & Gas
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Emerson's Amr Gado


Emerson's Calvin Deng


Globally, oil and gas producers seek ways to lower fugitive emissions for safety, environment and economic reasons. These are the unintended emissions of gases from pressurized parts of the production process.

At the upcoming April 30-May 3 Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, Emerson’s Amr Gado and Calvin Deng will present a paper, Pressure Relief Valves Fugitive Emissions Testing, on Thursday May 3 at 2:45pm as part of the Technical track, Striving Toward Safety Excellence in Offshore and Subsea Environments.

Emerson's D. Emile Tezzo


Their paper, written with Emerson colleague D. Emile Tezzo, provides an overview and look at the importance of fugitive emissions. They’ll review the existing emissions standards, and specifically their work with a leading oil & gas producers and third-party testing laboratory to develop a first-of-its-kind fugitive emissions testing program for pilot-operated pressure relief valves.

The major sources of regulations around fugitive emissions are the United States’ Clean Air Act and Germany’s TA-Luft. Valves are some of the most important devices to consider in a process when seeking to control and reduce emissions.

In the effort to create the testing program they looked to existing standards for valves with stems including: Continue Reading ▶

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