Sand Erosion

Sand Erosion – Offshore Oil Platform

For many years, sand erosion is one of the most significant major problems faced in oil and gas industries throughout the world. Many operators will find the easy way to overcome this problem will be a scheduled replacement of the piping, adequate corrosion monitoring and use of expensive alloys which are only a temporary solution to the problem.

Shell Sabah Platform

Cyclone Piping

An offshore oil platform could not get more than two to four weeks’ service out of their crude oil cyclones and piping. This was a major concern for the operation that would have to routinely replace the system every month. The process stream is predominantly crude oil with high level of sand content, and small percentage of wax and water. The sand velocity is 16m/s (based on process medium flow rate), the typical pressure in the 1” Sch160 SS316 piping is approximately 90 barg and temperature range between 60°C to 90°C.

A silicon carbide ceramic lined piping system complete with silicon carbide cyclones was installed in March 2010 to replace the existing Sch 160 SS316 piping and cyclones. The critical four weeks’ turn-around time (previous installation lifetime) has long passed, and the system is still in service to this day with no need for repairs or maintenance.

The cost savings reveal that this is the long-term solution for the aggressive erosion problems often occurring in the oil and gas industry. Ceresist continues to offer solutions to the Oil and Gas industry across the globe.