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A Tracerco Diagnostics™ FCCU study allows refiners to identify operational and mechanical issues while the Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit is still online. The use of Tracerco’s sophisticated scanning and tracer technologies allows refiners to improve productivity, maximise throughput, and plan any maintenance effectively. The insight provided from the study will lead to greater unit efficiency and higher profitability across the units run cycle. In this blog post we will discuss the top three questions we are asked with regard to a Tracerco Diagnostics™ FCCU study. 

Topics: plant processing, Process Diagnostics, tracerco diagnostics, fcc unit, fccu unit refinery, FCCU, fcc diagnostics, fccu studies, fcc riser, fcc troubleshooting, fcc unit process, fluid catalytic cracking diagnostics, fluid catalytic cracking services, fluid catalytic cracking unit, fcc cracking, fcc process

In FCC Units (Fluidised Catalyst Cracking Units), the atmospheric residue from the distillation is cracked to LPG, naptha and other components. This sometimes leads to “invisible” deposits inside the riser.

Topics: optimising plant processing, plant processing, Process Diagnostics, process diagnostics technologies, tracerco diagnostics, optimising plant production, fcc unit, fccu unit refinery, fcc, fcc diagnostics, fccu process, fccu studies, cracking unit, fcc riser, fcc troubleshooting, fcc units, fcc unit process, fluid catalytic cracking diagnostics, fluid catalytic cracking services, fluid catalytic cracking unit, Process Diagnostics Technology, Catalytic cracking, fcc cracking, fcc process

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It's a nightmare scenario no one wants... You run a PIG and it becomes stuck in the line. You now have an unsuccessful pigging campaign, a subsea pipeline blockage, and a missing PIG to deal with.

The cost of a shutdown due to a PIG stuck in a subsea pipeline can run into tens of millions in lost production, which is why it is absolutely critical to remedy the situation as quickly as possible. In this post we will examine the first step to remedying a blocked subsea pipeline due to a stuck PIG; that is locating the stuck PIG.

Topics: pipeline inspection, subsea flowlines, Flow assurance, Subsea Technology, pipe bundles, pipe in pipe, Explorer, scanning technology, Flowlines, subsea pipelines, pipeline blockage, pigging, stuck pig

Tru-Scan™ and Tru-Grid™ scans are powerful tools that give you valuable insights into packed and trayed towers, tanks, pipes and more. Using this field-proven predictive maintenance technique on distillation columns allows plant personnel to monitor tray or packing hydraulics. A sophisticated monitoring programme can track the effects of fouling or other incapacitating conditions to extend run times and identify maintenance requirements in advance of scheduled turnarounds.

Topics: Process Diagnostics, Distillation Column Performance, distillation tower scanning, distillation column maintenance, tower scan, gamma ray inspection distillation, gamma scan distillationcolumns, gamma scanning distillation columns, process diagnostics technologies, distillation column service, tower scanning, tracerco diagnostics, separation tower scanning, tower gamma scan, distillation tower scan, distillation column scan, distillation column scanning

This post is the second part of the "Diagnosing liquid maldistribution inside packed beds" series.

In the previous blog, we explained how Tracerco’s Tru-Grid™ Scan technologies can be used to diagnose suspected maldistribution in packed beds. In Part 2, we will discuss how we obtain more details on distribution within the packed bed.

A challenge to process engineers is diagnosing liquid maldistribution problems inside packed beds that can cause severe mass transfer efficiency loss. In industrial distillation columns, common examples of the cause of liquid maldistribution are design, manufacture or installation defects of distributors as well as damage, plugging and process disturbance of packed beds.

In this latest blog we will explain how following a Tru-Grid™ Scan, Tracerco’s ThruVision™ technology was able to obtain a more detailed liquid distribution profile of the packed bed.

Topics: optimising plant processing, plant processing, scanning technology, Process Diagnostics, distillation column, Distillation Column Performance, packed column performance, distillation tower scanning, annular liquid distribution, Liquid maldistribution, packed column, Suspected maldistribution, distillation column maintenance, ThruVision scan, Tracerco technologies, Suspected maldistribution in packed beds, ThruVision

This post is the first of the "Diagnosing liquid maldistribution inside packed beds" series.

A challenge to process engineers is diagnosing liquid maldistribution problems inside packed beds that can cause severe mass transfer efficiency loss. In industrial distillation columns, common examples of the cause of liquid maldistribution are design, manufacture or installation defects of distributors as well as damage, plugging and process disturbance of packed beds.

In this latest blog, we will explain using a case study approach how Tracerco's scanning technologies can be used to diagnose suspected maldistribution in packed beds.

The first step to determine liquid maldistribution in a packed column is to perform a Tracerco Tru-Grid™ Scan to provide an initial look at the liquid distribution in the packing.  A Tru-Grid™ scan consists of four equal-distant chords, one through each quadrant of the tower. Under ideal conditions and uniform liquid loadings, each scan plot will overlay closely with all others.

Topics: optimising plant processing, process systems, plant processing, scanning technology, Process Diagnostics, Gamma Scanning, Distillation Column Performance, packed column performance, distillation tower scanning, annular liquid distribution, Liquid maldistribution, packed column, Tru-Grid Scan, distillation column maintenance, Tracerco technologies, optimising plant production, Suspected maldistribution in packed beds

Detecting and identifying small leaks in heat exchangers can be an extremely difficult and time consuming task for many operators and plant personnel. Product quality, process efficiency and the time and cost associated with maintenance and potential shutdowns caused by a leaking vessel can have a significant and detrimental impact on production and process operating margins.   

Topics: optimising plant processing, chemical tracers, Process Diagnostics, exchanger, Gamma Scanning, Tru-Scan, leak testing, plant performance, heat exchangers, leaking exchangers, small leaks

Radiation safety and source security is becoming an increasing concern across all market sectors, with the illegal possession and illicit movement of radioactive sources having potentially severe consequences to site workers and both national and global communities. A necessary precaution taken by numerous facilities to ensure source security is the use of fixed area radiation monitors which provide the dose rate levels of source storage bunkers and Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) radiography bays.

Topics: radiation, radiation monitor, radiation detection, radioactive source security, observa, fixed monitoring, source theft, area monitoring, source security, radiation safety

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In the challenging market conditions that we face today, reducing lift costs is paramount. One area where this can be achieved is through stimulation optimisation, ensuring reduce spend on stimulation activities and maximum  oil or gas flow for a particular field. 

In this post we examine five steps to achieving savings of as much as 20% in reservoir stimulation costs by using accurate flow data to optimise stage stimulation in individual wells and development of unconventional fields.

This is based on our vast experience across numerous fields and the insights and figures are taken from real projects conducted over the last few years.

 

Topics: unconventional wells, reservoir, reservoir analysis, reservoir characterisation, drilling, technology enabling cost savings, reservoir stimulation

The use of radioactive sources in hospitals requires many safety measures to be implemented to ensure that workers and the general public are protected. Although there are a number of measures such as shielding, dose rate and contamination monitoring and personal dosimetry that can be used to record radiation exposure, a key method of ensuring the safety of nurses, doctors and patients, is the use of fixed area radiation monitors. Fixed area monitors use multiple detectors to provide the dose rate levels of iodine therapy centres, patient treatment rooms and nuclear medicine departments. Critical and potentially life saving information is provided as fixed area monitors incorporate 24/7 monitoring with an early warning alarm that inform patients and staff when dose rates exceed set alarm thresholds. This ensures that all radiation risks are managed safely which is key to safer working practices for all personnel working within a medical environment. 

Topics: radiation, radiation monitor, medical, observa, fixed monitoring, area monitoring, radiation safety