EQUIPMENT | SOFTWARE | LITERATURE

Feb. 7, 2011
New Software Helps Refinery Process Modeling

Newly released SimSci-Esscor ROMeo software enables refinery-wide process modeling and optimization as a component of the InFusion Enterprise Control System.

The new software extends the company's ROMeo optimization software using a complete set of kinetic reactor models, under license from ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Co. (EMRE), Fairfax, Va. The new ROMeo software allows refiners to improve crude selection, evaluate crude supply opportunities, and reliably predict refinery yields and qualities to determine the potential for improving yields of higher-value products and processing lower grades of crude.

This latest release allows refineries to simulate and optimize all their operations in detail, from the crude oil tank farm to final product blending.

The software offers:

• A scalable software solution that allows incremental, expandable deployment within a common architecture.

• Refinery-wide modeling to identify the most profitable processing of different crude oil feedstocks.

• Reuse of individual unit models for performance monitoring or on line optimization of individual units and distillate pools.

This release incorporates EMRE's kinetic models, which enable detailed modeling and optimization of FCC, reformer, HF alkylation, and sulfuric acid alkylation units.

Source: Invensys Operations Management, 5601 Granite Parkway III, Suite 1000, Plano, TX 75024.

Updated Geographical System Designed for E&P Operations

GeoBrowse 4.0, the latest version of this firm's geographical information system, is designed specifically for exploration and production (E&P) operations.

This new release extends the range of industry data sources that can be connected, adds more data transfer capability, and helps simplify the administration process in configuration and day-to-day usage within the users' work space.

GeoBrowse's approach to dynamic database querying lets users see and compare data from multiple, distributed databases via a single, intuitive, navigable map view. It displays map data in a consistent coordinate system, with projection and datum conversions handled automatically. Map views and selections can be used to move data directly to and from applications and corporate data stores.

Map contours, faults ,and polygons can be read directly from the Tigress database, and overlain on GeoBrowse and Google Earth displays. Data filters have been added to the information window displays and there is improved handling for documents and hyperlinks.

GeoBrowse 4.0 builds on the earlier version's ability to view information from common industry data stores and now extends to Tigress, Kingdom, OFM, OpenWorks, Petrel, Petrolog, Petrosys, Excel, and other data stores in your network—with all the information shown and accessed via a single map window.

Bilateral links have been extended even further, allowing a wider range of Kindom, Petrel, Petrosys, and Petrolog data to be moved back and forth and more data selection control implemented from many database queries, giving users finer control over what data are transferred and from where the transfer may be initiated. The advanced access control and security suite help ensure that entitlements and connectivity are properly managed, guaranteeing that access is granted to data and individuals as required.

Source: Geotrace Data Integration Services Div., Geotrace, 1011 Highway 6, Suite 100, Houston, TX 77077.

New Oil Field Valve
Here's the new stainless steel L-O-X oil field energy isolation valve.

Designed for operations where corrosion or contaminants are a concern, the L-O-X offers what the company calls an easy and reliable solution.

The valve keeps the proved performance and easy-to-identify shape, while providing a new corrosion-resistant stainless steel construction. The stainless steel valve is lockable only in the OFF position (with a tamperproof locking mechanism) and has a large exhaust port for rapid pressure relief. It is available in port sizes ¼ in. to 2 in. and provides direct manual operation by a simple push-pull of the handle.

The valve comes standard with a pressure sensing port that allows the optional installation of a pop-up indicator or pressure switch. These options are designed to provide a visual indication that pressure to the next downstream obstruction has been released.

Source: Ross Controls, 1250 Stevenson Highway, Troy, MI 48083-1850.

New Downhole Camera

The new HawkEye IV downhole video camera communicates via down link, allowing access to options with a simple command from the surface.

The down link enables the video operator to control the ViewMax light head so switching from down view to side view and stopping or starting a rotation are accomplished with the press of a button rather than by voltage adjustment from the surface. Turbomode allows users to command the tool to increase its frame acquisition rate to as fast as 30/sec from 1/sec.

The camera can store 1,000 images. The higher acquisition rates are particularly suited for moving fluids, such as pinpointing fluid type and entry location or understanding flow regimes, to enhance understanding of production logs in horizontal wells.

Source: Expro International Group PLC, Davidson House, Forbury Square, Reading, RG1 3EU, UK.

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