We made another trip offshore again this month, to a second North Sea FPSO, where we’ve installed our scale control technology to support processing operations.

The operator has been challenged with a complex pseudo-scale forming in the heat exchanger, linked to EOR flooding, which was causing the equipment to foul every 5-6 months. This meant that the heat exchanger had to regularly be removed from service and taken onshore for cleaning. To avoid these complex logistics and the related downtime, the operator is now undertaking a field trial to examine how this unusual type of scale will respond to ClearWELL’s electromagnetic treatment.

First, our team conducted inhouse scale modelling and simulation work, then undertook an offshore site survey to physically test our identified signal ‘injection’ points and ensure full coverage of the electromagnetic field. Following successful analysis and testing, we revisited the FPSO to install our units and commission the system. The performance of these units will be remotely monitored 24/7, as we look to improve the run-time of the heat exchanger.