UOP technology used to process natural gas on FPSO vessels in Brazil
Honeywell’s UOP said Tuesday that MODEC has commissioned a UOP Separex membrane system for processing natural gas on a new floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel in Brazil.
The FPSO is using the Honeywell UOP Separex membrane system and adsorbents to remove carbon dioxide and water from 5 million standard cubic meters of natural gas per day from the Lula oil field off the coast of Brazil.
The FPSO was commissioned in July 2011. A second FPSO, still in construction and also using UOP Separex technology, is expected to be commissioned in September 2012.
“Separex technology is the ideal solution for FPSO applications and other offshore facilities,” said Pete Piotrowski, vice president and general manager for process technology and equipment at Honeywell’s UOP. “These systems provide the required contaminant removal capabilities in a compact footprint with maximum reliability and reduced maintenance requirements.”
The Lula oil field is located in the Santos Basin off the coast of Brazil. The field contains the largest oil discovery in the Western Hemisphere in the last 30 years and is believed to contain 8.3 billion bbl of oil and natural gas.
The field is operated by the Brazilian oil company Petrobras in partnership with BG (England) and Galp (Portugal).
Honeywell’s UOP Separex technology upgrades natural gas streams by removing carbon dioxide and water vapor. These contaminants must be removed to meet the quality standards specified by pipeline transmission and distribution companies as well as end users of the natural gas.
The technology operates with very high on-stream factors for difficult-to-treat gas streams in remote locations. Systems can be used onshore or offshore, at the wellhead or at gathered facilities. To date, 130 UOP membrane units have been installed worldwide.
MODEC is a general contractor specializing in the engineering, procurement, construction and installation of floating production systems. MODEC specializes in providing operations for floating production systems.
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