RIASSUNTO
In what is being called the first Oil and Gas “Sustainable Commissioning” project, advanced composite abrasives (ACAs) is being used to help conserve precious resources. A recent field study and project conducted by Odebrecht commissioning manager, Bernardino Nilton do Nascimento revealed key points that have already saved water in a region with unprecedented pressure to conserve. The core of this sustainable solution includes ACAs and a “pig” system, which were first field tested then used in Petrobras Refinaria Abreu de Lima (Brasil). The project entailed blast-cleaning cooling lines, hydrostatic testing and then non-destructive testing in their TR-86 (Unity 32) Cooling Tower. Typically, residual products are removed (1) to assure efficient flow though refinery systems and (2) to protect operating equipment. A rinsing solution is passed through all pipes and then to a water treatment station. Test results provided groundbreaking observations for Nascimento and Petrobras Project Manager, Ricardo dos Santos Ramos:
• No water was used during ACA blasting it was concluded that 200,000 liters (or 53,000 gallons) of water was saved on Unity 32 Cooling Tower alone.
• Water-related steps (e.g. conditioning, special treatment, disposal and disposal) were eliminated.
• Cleaning operations on commissioning projects would have included seven steps: (1) water conditioning, (2) water washing, (3) chemical rinsing, (4) drying, (5) applying lining/pipe treatment, (6) water treatment (7) disposal. During ACAblasting, the number of steps dropped to two? (1) blasting pipe internals (2) applying the appropriate treatment via pig.
• Nascimento and Ramos extrapolated savings of 16 million liters (4.3 million gallons) of water by using ACA for all refinery line cleaning during the commissioning.
With testing and the first lines completed, Nascimento and Ramos then proceeded to other parts of the refinery commissioning project, continuing to use dust-suppressing ACA technology. They also found that sensitive equipment like compressors and pumps had added reliability. This paper will outline field testing and project data, comparing common cleaning operations to the “Sustainable Commissioning” process. Results will convey environmental and economic significance and the carryover to similar offshore applications - during commissioning and maintenance of internal piping systems.