Utility Quick Stimate Rule of Thumb
Utility Quick Stimate Rule of Thumb
INTRODUCTION
Offshore and onshore process facilities have a number of utility systems. For preliminary sizing of the utility
systems, we need to estimate various users demands, then update based on vendors inputs at later project
stages. The following guidelines may help estimate preliminary utility demand. Update based on vendor data and
your industry practice.
1. WATER SYSTEMS
1.1 Cooling Water - Fresh
Based on Cooling Loads assuming 10°C temperature rise. For HP gas coolers, check that hydrate temperature is
above cooling water temperature
1.3 Firewater
Contact Safety/ Loss Prevention Engineers
Wellhead 23 m³/h per well head or 0.6 m³/h per m² of well area
Monitor 120 m³/h at 10 bar g each
Water Spray 40 dm³/min/m² of ground surface for compression; 8.5 dm³/min/m² of equipment surface for
vessels, exchangers, columns
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2. AIR SYSTEMS
2.1 Instrument Air
Instrument air required for controller pneumatic loop, on/off valve actuators, igniting flare pilots, pneumatic
motors etc. None of them are continuous demands. See Utility Air System Design.xlsx for details
Typical cycle time: 10 minutes. 5 drying. 4 regen. 1 Repressurizations
Be very liberal. Add 30% contingency and 10% leakage margins. Compressed air required may be 20% more,
depending on regeneration system. Air dried to 0°F dew point at operating pressure or (-) 40°F dew point at
atmospheric pressure
3. FUEL SYSTEMS
Note: Fuel gas Electrical Heater Flux = 3 W/sq.cm
3.1 For Drivers
Mechanical Engineering Department to provide site heat rates and demand.
Gas turbine (35 - 45% efficiency). At 35% η = 270 sm³/MW-h
Helicopters 650 lph * 5 hours flying * 2 helicopters = 6,500 l. 6 days storage = 39,000 l
3 tanks. 1 in use + 1 in settling (2 days) + 1 in filling (1 day)
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Smaller heaters less efficient < 2.5 MW = 140 sm³/MW-h @ 70% η; > 2.5 MW = 115 sm³/MW-h @ 85% η
Glycol Regenerators Q = 2000 L (Btu/h). L = glycol rate (gal/h) = 0.74 Sm³/ kg water
Heater treaters = 60 Sm³/°C rise/1000 m³ of oil
3.3 Flares
Purge gas flow on a minimum velocity based on header/ riser size. One purge point at every dead end. Purge flow
depends on flare tip seal type, as each seal results in different 02 level in stack. Go by Airrestor (Velocity) seal.
Seal Type Suggested Velocity, m/s In actual Operation, m/s Stack O2 Level, %
Mol Seal 0.005 - 0.01 0.02 1
Airrestor (Velocity Seal) 0.01- 0.04 0.02 6-8
Plain Stack 0.15 0.3 - 1 6-8
3.4 Miscellaneous
Glycol Regenerator Stripping Gas: 6 SCF/gal TEG circulation
Deaerator Stripping Gas: 1.0 sm³/m³ of injection water flow; 2 SCF/bbl of water. Typical O2 spec 20-50 ppbv
Deaerator exit. 5 ppbv after scavenger injection
Gas Padding of Tanks: As per API-2000.
Gas for Induced Gas Floatation Unit: 0.2 SCF/bbl of produced water
4. DIESEL
4.1 Diesel Engines
40% thermal efficiency. It is about 40 l/MW-h.
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5. AVIATION FUEL
Specified by client, based on helicopter type and use. 3 tanks. First in use; second under settling for 2 days and
third under filling for a day. Turnaround time for topping the tanks = 9 with 6 idle days.
For 2 helicopters, each consuming 0.65 m³/h and flying for 5 hours.
Daily consumption = 2 * 5 * 0.65 = 6.5 m³
Storage capacity = 6.5 * 6 = 39 m³
6. GLYCOL SYSTEM
Assume a glycol circulation of 3 gal/lb of water absorbed. 25 l/kg
7. HYPOCHLORINATION
100 ppm chlorine solution injected into seawater pump intakes. Chlorine produced by electrolyzing NaCl in
seawater.
For 200 m³/h seawater flow,
Chlorine demand at 1 ppm = 200 g/h
Seawater flow to hypochlorination = 2 m³/h
Chlorine concentration in effluent = 100 ppm
Electric power required = 0.5 kW
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30 ppm Vanadium limits on-line time to ~ 1,200 hours; 50 ppm Va to ~ 800 hours. Then shut down for 8 hours for
water washing. Water washing may be required after every 200-300 hours of operating hours. In between
washing, nut shelling once in 2 days at 33-50% power for 15 minutes.
Water Washing: Removes deposits on hot paths due to metals and additives added to remove metals. Turbine is
cooled down with wheel space temp ~ 90°C. Fresh water injected thru a ring of nozzles at about 7 bar and 80°C
for 15 minutes, while turbine is at cranking speed.
Heavy oil: Heated to reduce viscosity/ increase settling rate. Washed with water to remove water soluble Na and
K. Inhibit Va with oil soluble Mg based components. Usually 3 parts of Mg per part of Va. Vanadium is not
removed by washing or mechanically. Centrifuge or ESP or hybrid to separate oil and water. Use an alternative
fuel to start and shutdown. Max ρ = 0.98 (13° API); μ ≤ 100CS and Na ≤ 150 ppm.
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Example:
P1 = 75 bara T = 30°C = 303°K Flow = 40,000 kg/h Mol Wt = 25.0 z = 0.95 Cf = 0.9
Case 2: P1 = 75 bara P2 = 35 bara Pc = 41.6 bara. OR (75-35) = 60 > 0.92*0.5*75 = 30.4 Flow is critical
Cv = 54.5*40(0.95/(25/28.97*288/303)) 0.5 /(0.9*75) = 34.8 .. 2” valve
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