How to quickly find a stuck PIG in your subsea pipeline

Posted by Tracerco

Jul 21, 2016 3:20:31 PM

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.


Read More

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

How to diagnose liquid maldistribution in packed beds: A case study - Part 2

Posted by Nicola Porter

Jun 8, 2016 11:35:29 AM

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.

Read More

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

How to diagnose liquid maldistribution in packed beds: A case study - Part 1

Posted by Nicola Porter

May 12, 2016 8:52:49 AM

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.

Read More

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

How to measure material levels in vessels for fouling deposits:case study

Posted by Nicola Porter

Jul 6, 2015 4:08:00 PM

A problem plaguing butadiene purification unit operations is the potential for free radical polymerisation, commonly known as popcorn polymer. This popcorn polymer formation can disrupt the operation of the unit by plugging lines, sticking valves, and even physically damaging equipment. Under certain conditions the polymer growth can push apart flanges, rupture lines and even pop the head off exchangers.

Read More

Topics: optimising plant processing, popcorn polymer, process systems, providing insight onsite, neutron backscatter, process vessels, plant processing, scanning technology, heat exchanger, butadiene purification unit, Process Diagnostics, exchanger, solids buildup, fouling deposits, polymerisation, butadiene condenser

All posts

Oil and Gas Comment and News 

Tracerco's news and comment on measurement and diagnostics in Oil & Gas and processing industries

Tracerco brings comment, news, how tos and more on their blog. Sign up for regular notifications of new posts. 

Subscribe to Email Updates

Recent Posts

Posts by Topic

see all

Contact us today or email us at tracerco@tracerco.com

  • We measure the unmeasurable
  • access the inaccessible
  • and help solve the impossible