Debottleneck studies are an important step in discovering what could be minimizing the throughput of your operation. It is a cost-effective way to optimize your facility, while allowing you to continue operating with minimal downtime. When our client added new wells with higher flow rates and different composition, a debottleneck study was the solution they needed to optimize their plant relative to these new conditions. We sat down with Leon Sutherland, Startec Applications Engineering & Product Development Manager, to learn more.
Leon, what was the problem our client was facing?
Our client was concerned about reaching or exceeding nameplate capacity when planning to bring on new wells with higher flow rates and differing composition, but weren't sure what they could do to increase capacity.
How could Startec help?
Based on our previous experience with facilities facing similar challenges, we knew completing a debottleneck study that included simulating various facility changes to understand the operating impact of those changes would give us a clear picture of the problem and an understanding of what needed to be done to improve facility performance.
Our engineering team’s debottleneck study reviewed multiple areas of predicted restrictions and resulted in several recommendations for our client. This included changes to inlet operating pressures, and a few upgrades to the existing system to allow for bringing on new wells at various flow rates
What was the result for our client?
By implementing the recommendations, our client was able to increase their production by 27% And improve overall plant flexibility, enabling them to cost-effectively run in various flow and capacity scenarios as they brought new wells online.
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