Solids
Fine Solids Removal
Sand and even finer solids produced along with the hydrocarbons in the oil and gas industry have negative impacts on the integrity, the efficiency, and the capacity of all equipment in the production train, from the choke right through to the pumps involved in product export and water reinjection. Fine solids can also reduce the permeability of the formation when carried in reinjection water. The removal of these solids, generally referred to as desanding, irrespective of the particle size range, and the subsequent sand cleaning and handling are critical processes in maximizing the productivity and minimizing the environmental impact of oil and gas production facilities. Through our Mozley brand, we specialize in providing powerful and practical total solutions associated with solids in well fluids.
Wellhead Desanding – Mozley Wellspin™
The presence of sand in well fluids is a major threat to equipment throughout the production chain and is rapidly becoming a more widespread problem as producing wells age. Problems associated with sand production include:
- Mechanical damage to equipment, pipework, erosion of pumps, valves, chokes and flowlines.
- Partial blocking and settlement of sand leading to reduction in capacity of vessels including separators.
Desanding at the wellhead provides the maximum benefit, but is a considerably more onerous duty than desanding produced waters, with high pressures, slugging three phase flow and widely varying feed conditions being encountered. To deal with the large variations in flow, the Mozley Wellspin is designed to be capable of operating over a wide operational and performance envelope.
Solid/Liquid Hydrocyclones – Mozley Sandspin™
For efficient solids separation downstream of the choke, protecting all production assets from the separators onwards, and for desanding produced, deballast, or refinery waters the Mozley Sandspin™ solid/liquid hydrocyclone range is designed for maximum impact, minimizing maintenance cost, and downtime throughout the production train. These highly efficient hydrocyclones are manufactured in erosion resistant ceramic, giving longer wear life, and reducing operating costs. Applications include primary separation on river or estuary intakes for water injection systems. These hydrocyclones are compact and lightweight and can be retrofitted into existing field developments.
Sand Removal – Mozley Fluidizer™ and Mozley Deltaclone™
Traditionally, sand was removed manually once it collected in the main production separators. Our Mozley Fluidizer and Mozley Deltaclone are the key sand fluidizing and pressure let down elements of complete systems to simply and effectively remove and handle settled solids from the bottom of the separators and other vessels. The system is based on our proven solid/liquid hydrocyclone technology and can be installed as a retrofit or designed within the vessels from the outset.
Sand Cleaning – Mozley SandClean ™ System
The quality of sand and water discharged into the sea or local water course is subject to increasingly strict legislation. In addition to the benefit of protecting downstream equipment, this makes the removal and disposal of sand or other production train solids material an important environmental factor.
Our Mozley SandClean System is designed to help operators meet environmental discharge requirements. This system is extremely versatile and accommodates a variety of fluid rates, solid types, and concentrations, as well as widely differing pressures and temperatures.
Solids are recirculated, via the Mozley Sandspin solid-liquid cyclones to the sandwash vessel, where they are cleaned of oil to a level to satisfy environmental limits. After cleaning, the solids are discharged safely overboard and the water from the sand wash vessel is recycled within the system so reducing source water requirements.
High Performance – Mozley Microspin™
The core technology incorporated in Mozley Microspin provides the most powerful solids removal available, generating up to 20,000 G of separating force. In addition to providing protection for very demanding water reinjection duties, our microspins can be found in a wide range of oil and gas industry applications including refineries, where coker fines and catalyst solids can be removed from hydrocarbon liquids to produce clean products and minimize erosion. The hydrocyclones are a low cost alternative to centrifuges, offering lower power consumption, more consistent product quality, and considerably easier maintenance. The Microspin system incorporates small diameter hydrocyclones that give ultrafine cut points down to 1 micron, making them capable of protecting even the most demanding formations from solids carried in injected water.
Industrial Applications
Our Mozley brand is known across all industries as the specialist in fine solids separation. The hydrocyclones and gravity separation technology can be found in projects worldwide with markets including industrial minerals, metals, power, food, recycling, tunnelling, coal mining, textiles, fertilizers and automobile production. Our equipment can be found in most university mining and mineral processing departments and mine laboratories.
Analysis, Testing and Laboratory Equipment
We have extensive laboratory and test loop facilities and offers full performance verification services carried out under actual process conditions. In addition, our equipment and pilot units are available for hire for on-site test work.