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New material shows promise
NEWS Editorial Office: ElsevierAdvancedTechnology P O Box 150, Kidlington Oxford OX5 1AS England Tel: +44 (0)1865 843745/843000 Fax: +44 (0)1865 843971 E-mail: [email protected]
Managing Editor: Mark H Purvis Editor: John F Mowbray Production Coordinator: Sheri Hill Editorial advisory board: Dr P Ball (Pall Europe), Prof. M Cheryan (Universityof Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) Prof. A Fane (Universityof New South Wales) Dr T Franken {Membrane Application Centre Twente) Dr P Gallagher (USF Acumem), Dr A Merry (PCI Membrane Systems), Prof. M NystriJm (Lappeenranta Universityof Technology), Dr G Pearce (Kalsep), Dr R Philpott (Whatman International), Prof. B Tighe (Aston UniversityJ, Dr A Turner (AEATechnology), Prof. RWakeman (Loughborough Universityof Technology), Prof. A Yaroshchuk (Ukrainian Academyof Sciences). No responsibility is assumed by the Publisherfor any injury and~or damage to persons or property as a matter ofproducts /iabilig~ negligence or otherwise, or J~oro any use or operation of any methods, products, instructions or ideas contained in the material herein. Special regulations for readers in the USA: Thispublication has been registered with the Copyright Clearance Center Inc. Consent is given for copying of articlesfor personal or internal use, orfor the penonal use of specific clients. The consent is given on the condition that the copierpays the per-copy fee stated in the code on the front page for copying beyond that permitted by Sections 107 and 108 of the US Copyright Law. The appropriate fee should be forwarded with a copy of each page reproduced to the Copyright Clearance Center Inc, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, USA.. This consent does not extend to other kinds of copying, such as for general distribution, resale, advertising and promotion purposes, or for creating new collective works. Special written permission must be obtained from the publisher for such copying. 02095 Printed by Information Press, UK
Q
New material shows promise Researchers at Purdue University say they have developed a class of materials that may have uses ranging from drug capsules to membranes for use in wastewater treatment. The new class of materials, called co-polymer networks, are made up of acrylic acid and a derivative of oligoethylene glycol rather than one single monomer. The material can thus be made to have different properties, depending on the relative proportion of its two constituent monomers. The scientists at Purdue University think that the materials could be used as membranes because the pores created by the interlocking polymers can be tightly controlled, allowing only particles of a certain size to pass through the arrangement. For example, it was reported that as the acrylic acid content is increased, the oligoethylene glycol chains that make up the network move further apart, increasing the pore size. Therefore, by varying the acrylic acid content, as well as other parameters, the size of the molecules that pass through can be precisely controlled. The researchers also say that the materials are sensitive to the acidity of their environment, which also affects the size of the pores. It was reported that this property may also make them suitable for drug delivery, since different parts of the body have different degrees o f acidity. For further information contact: Prof. Nicholas Peppas,Chemical Engineering, Purdue University,1283 Chemical Engineering,West Lafayette, IN 47907-1283, USA.Tel:+1 765 494 4050; Fax:+1 765 494 0805.
NF prevents offshore scaling problems The membrane division of UK company Axsia Serck Baker is supplying membrane technology to the oil industry to prevent
sodium chloride precipitation. Nanofiltration (NF) is being used on offshore platforms 140 miles east of Aberdeen, Scotland, as part of the Eastern Trough Area Project (ETAP). Membranes are used to ensure that oil production is not halted by the formation of a halite scale produced by highly saline reservoir waters. Waters with very high salinities (e.g. 230,000 ppm as CI) coproduced with the oil, will form sodium chloride precipitation on cooling and depressurising throughout pipework in the production system. By diluting these formation waters with seawater (20,000 - 35,000 ppm as CI), the salinity problem can be removed. However, if seawater containing significant levels of barium and strontium ions is used directly as a diluent, sulphate scaling will be produced. This secondary problem will also cause oil production down time if it OCCURS.
Axsia Serck Baker's solution is to use nanofiltration to remove a high percentage of the sulphate ions present in seawater. This technique is used to prevent potential sulphate scaling problems experienced when seawater is directly injected into subterranean oil bearing reservoirs with high barium formation waters. Nanofiltration was first used in a 120,000 barrel per day sulphate removal plant by Marathon Oil in the North Sea Brae A Field. The ETAP sulphate reduction process system is fed with deaereated water taken off as a sidestream from the main water injection line. This water is then treated in a dual media filtration system before entering the nanofiltration membrane system itself. The diluent product stream flows to a nitrogen blanketed surge drum prior to being injected into the sub-sea production flowlines. The plant dimensions are 11.5 m x 6.5 m x 9.5 m high, it weighs 66 Te dry and is currently being hooked up to the platform's topside equipment. It is designed for a single point lift onto the Topsides at the Methil Yard in Scotland, and will be functionally tested before final offshore commissioning and is expected to start in-service during 1998. Axsia Serck Baker are a sublicensed original equipment
manufacturer for the application of this technology, patented by Marathon Oil and licensed by Dow. For further information contact: Axsia Serck Baker,380 Bristol Road, Gloucester GL2 5XY,UK. Tel: +44 1452 421561; Fax:+44 1452 423414.
Portable nitrogen generation MG Generon Inc., part of the Messer Group, and suppliers of on-site nitrogen generation, is now offering a portable standalone, high pressure nitrogen generating system (HP PNG) for use in drilling, completion and workover operations of oil and gas wells. At the heart of the new portable system is MG Generon's proprietary hollow fibre membrane technology. MG Generon states that the new systems are powered by a diesel engine that drives a feed air compressor and a nitrogen booster compressor, and says the units can be used in any climate, from tropical to arctic, for generating onsite nitrogen on land or offshore. MG Generon maintains that nitrogen can be generated at high pressures of up to 7000 psig (48 MPa or 476 barg) or greater, and with low oxygen levels to safely and economically prevent ignition of flammable gases down hole. Nitrogen can also be used as a substitute for drilling fluids to help protect oilfield tubulars or coiled tubing from corrosion via oxidation. It is reported that nitrogen purities available with the Generon HP PNG series range from 93-95% all the way up to 99.9% as needed. They are available as single skid-mounted units measuring about 20 ft. (6 m) in length (for flows to 750 scfm or 19.5 Nm3/min), or as a containerised system for higher flows to 7000 scfm (183 Nm3/min) or greater. For further information contact: MG Generon Inc., 5 Great Valley Parkway,Suite 130, Malvern, PA 193550738, USA.Tel: +1 610 695 7667; Fax: +1 610 695 7766.
MembraneTechnology No. 97
Managing Editor: Mark H Purvis Editor: John F Mowbray Production Coordinator: Sheri Hill Editorial advisory board: Dr P Ball (Pall Europe), Prof. M Cheryan (Universityof Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) Prof. A Fane (Universityof New South Wales) Dr T Franken {Membrane Application Centre Twente) Dr P Gallagher (USF Acumem), Dr A Merry (PCI Membrane Systems), Prof. M NystriJm (Lappeenranta Universityof Technology), Dr G Pearce (Kalsep), Dr R Philpott (Whatman International), Prof. B Tighe (Aston UniversityJ, Dr A Turner (AEATechnology), Prof. RWakeman (Loughborough Universityof Technology), Prof. A Yaroshchuk (Ukrainian Academyof Sciences). No responsibility is assumed by the Publisherfor any injury and~or damage to persons or property as a matter ofproducts /iabilig~ negligence or otherwise, or J~oro any use or operation of any methods, products, instructions or ideas contained in the material herein. Special regulations for readers in the USA: Thispublication has been registered with the Copyright Clearance Center Inc. Consent is given for copying of articlesfor personal or internal use, orfor the penonal use of specific clients. The consent is given on the condition that the copierpays the per-copy fee stated in the code on the front page for copying beyond that permitted by Sections 107 and 108 of the US Copyright Law. The appropriate fee should be forwarded with a copy of each page reproduced to the Copyright Clearance Center Inc, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, USA.. This consent does not extend to other kinds of copying, such as for general distribution, resale, advertising and promotion purposes, or for creating new collective works. Special written permission must be obtained from the publisher for such copying. 02095 Printed by Information Press, UK
Q
New material shows promise Researchers at Purdue University say they have developed a class of materials that may have uses ranging from drug capsules to membranes for use in wastewater treatment. The new class of materials, called co-polymer networks, are made up of acrylic acid and a derivative of oligoethylene glycol rather than one single monomer. The material can thus be made to have different properties, depending on the relative proportion of its two constituent monomers. The scientists at Purdue University think that the materials could be used as membranes because the pores created by the interlocking polymers can be tightly controlled, allowing only particles of a certain size to pass through the arrangement. For example, it was reported that as the acrylic acid content is increased, the oligoethylene glycol chains that make up the network move further apart, increasing the pore size. Therefore, by varying the acrylic acid content, as well as other parameters, the size of the molecules that pass through can be precisely controlled. The researchers also say that the materials are sensitive to the acidity of their environment, which also affects the size of the pores. It was reported that this property may also make them suitable for drug delivery, since different parts of the body have different degrees o f acidity. For further information contact: Prof. Nicholas Peppas,Chemical Engineering, Purdue University,1283 Chemical Engineering,West Lafayette, IN 47907-1283, USA.Tel:+1 765 494 4050; Fax:+1 765 494 0805.
NF prevents offshore scaling problems The membrane division of UK company Axsia Serck Baker is supplying membrane technology to the oil industry to prevent
sodium chloride precipitation. Nanofiltration (NF) is being used on offshore platforms 140 miles east of Aberdeen, Scotland, as part of the Eastern Trough Area Project (ETAP). Membranes are used to ensure that oil production is not halted by the formation of a halite scale produced by highly saline reservoir waters. Waters with very high salinities (e.g. 230,000 ppm as CI) coproduced with the oil, will form sodium chloride precipitation on cooling and depressurising throughout pipework in the production system. By diluting these formation waters with seawater (20,000 - 35,000 ppm as CI), the salinity problem can be removed. However, if seawater containing significant levels of barium and strontium ions is used directly as a diluent, sulphate scaling will be produced. This secondary problem will also cause oil production down time if it OCCURS.
Axsia Serck Baker's solution is to use nanofiltration to remove a high percentage of the sulphate ions present in seawater. This technique is used to prevent potential sulphate scaling problems experienced when seawater is directly injected into subterranean oil bearing reservoirs with high barium formation waters. Nanofiltration was first used in a 120,000 barrel per day sulphate removal plant by Marathon Oil in the North Sea Brae A Field. The ETAP sulphate reduction process system is fed with deaereated water taken off as a sidestream from the main water injection line. This water is then treated in a dual media filtration system before entering the nanofiltration membrane system itself. The diluent product stream flows to a nitrogen blanketed surge drum prior to being injected into the sub-sea production flowlines. The plant dimensions are 11.5 m x 6.5 m x 9.5 m high, it weighs 66 Te dry and is currently being hooked up to the platform's topside equipment. It is designed for a single point lift onto the Topsides at the Methil Yard in Scotland, and will be functionally tested before final offshore commissioning and is expected to start in-service during 1998. Axsia Serck Baker are a sublicensed original equipment
manufacturer for the application of this technology, patented by Marathon Oil and licensed by Dow. For further information contact: Axsia Serck Baker,380 Bristol Road, Gloucester GL2 5XY,UK. Tel: +44 1452 421561; Fax:+44 1452 423414.
Portable nitrogen generation MG Generon Inc., part of the Messer Group, and suppliers of on-site nitrogen generation, is now offering a portable standalone, high pressure nitrogen generating system (HP PNG) for use in drilling, completion and workover operations of oil and gas wells. At the heart of the new portable system is MG Generon's proprietary hollow fibre membrane technology. MG Generon states that the new systems are powered by a diesel engine that drives a feed air compressor and a nitrogen booster compressor, and says the units can be used in any climate, from tropical to arctic, for generating onsite nitrogen on land or offshore. MG Generon maintains that nitrogen can be generated at high pressures of up to 7000 psig (48 MPa or 476 barg) or greater, and with low oxygen levels to safely and economically prevent ignition of flammable gases down hole. Nitrogen can also be used as a substitute for drilling fluids to help protect oilfield tubulars or coiled tubing from corrosion via oxidation. It is reported that nitrogen purities available with the Generon HP PNG series range from 93-95% all the way up to 99.9% as needed. They are available as single skid-mounted units measuring about 20 ft. (6 m) in length (for flows to 750 scfm or 19.5 Nm3/min), or as a containerised system for higher flows to 7000 scfm (183 Nm3/min) or greater. For further information contact: MG Generon Inc., 5 Great Valley Parkway,Suite 130, Malvern, PA 193550738, USA.Tel: +1 610 695 7667; Fax: +1 610 695 7766.
MembraneTechnology No. 97