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by Tristian McCallion on Thu, May 06, 2021 @ 10:05 AM
Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) water treatment involves removing heavy metals, hydrocarbons, hydrogen sulfide, and silica, as well as lowering total dissolved solids (TDS) to produce “clean water.”
In steam production, clean water can increase boiler efficiency and prevent potential equipment failures. If the improperly treated water is sent to the boilers, there can be hard scale buildup on the inside of the boiler tubes, causing increased fuel consumption, as well as increased tube temperatures. These increased operating temperatures can result in mechanical failure within the system. Additionally, if the water is not properly treated, corrosion in the boilers can also result in mechanical failure. High operating temperatures and boiler corrosion can lead to unplanned downtime, stymying production operations.
To improve production efficiency and equipment reliability, plants must leverage a grab sampling system to ensure SAGD water treatment is effective. Here, we’ll discuss the characteristics of a reliable grab sampling system and how it can increase plant efficiency.
Characteristics of a Reliable Grab Sampling System
Finding the right grab sampling system is crucial to SAGD water treatment processes. A reliable and efficient grab sampling system should:
- Provide a timely, representative sample
- Be safe and easy to use for those operating the system
- Be reliable and dependable
- Reduce plant costs
Importance of a Timely, Representative Sample
If you can’t obtain a sample that is representative of the contents of the recycled and treated water, you can’t make informed decisions that meet regulatory compliance and improve production efficiency. Without a representative sample, the efficacy of your SAGD water treatment process isn’t known, which could lead to equipment failure and unplanned downtime.
Timing is also important. The lag time between sample extraction and sample collection should be minimized to ensure a representative sample is captured. If there is too much lag time in between sample extraction and collection, the sample may not accurately reflect the composition of the pipeline.
Grab sampling provides a snapshot of the characteristics of the treated water. It may be necessary to implement a continuous sampling system to provide a more accurate and comprehensive look into the water quality.
Safety, Reliability, and Cost
It is important for a grab sampling system to provide a clear and simple sampling procedure to minimize the risk of operator error during the sampling and/or maintenance processes. Simplicity and ease of use is also a key component to safe operations. A safe system will separate process pressure from the sampling container as well as the user to prevent overpressure conditions and overfilling. This is especially important when the process liquids contain chemicals, such as hydrogen sulfide, that are highly toxic and extremely flammable.
Your grab sampling system must also be reliable in terms of functionality and accuracy. This could mean installing a custom grab sampling system configuration. The following criteria should be considered when specifying a grab sampling system:
|
Criteria |
Considerations |
|
Temperature and Pressure |
Each grab sampling system has a maximum fluid operating temperature and maximum rated pressure. |
|
Phase |
A cylindrical sampler is suitable for both liquid and vapour systems, whereas a bottle sampler is suitable for non-volatile liquid systems. |
|
Hazardous/Flammable Materials |
The system must have stringent leak and chemical protection when dealing with hazardous chemicals. |
|
Materials of Construction |
The materials and coatings used in the sampling system must be compatible with the system fluid. |
|
Surface Treatments |
A more representative sample can often be achieved by reducing the adsorption of the sample fluid via a surface treatment. |
|
Purge |
If your fluid contains a chemical that may leave residue behind, this residue must be purged from the system with a purge fluid. |
A reliable system will provide a truly representative sample and will keep equipment operating smoothly. Like any other system in the SAGD process, grab sampling systems can be a source of leaks. Thus, a system with quality tube fittings and minimal connections is critical in reducing potential leak points that could disrupt operations.
An efficient grab sampling system is one that, due to its safety and reliability by design, saves your facility time and money. In particular, this system should help you to avoid unplanned downtime and reduce water usage by streamlining the sampling process and verifying the quality of the water.
The Best Way to Ensure SAGD Water Treatment Efficacy
If you’re looking for an expert opinion on whether or not you have the right grab sampling system—or if you need to upgrade or replace your current system—Edmonton Valve & Fitting has a solution perfectly suited for you. Edmonton Valve’s Field Advisory Services can perform a grab sampling audit that will provide clear, specific recommendations on boosting grab sampling consistency, reliability, and efficiency. Our local field service technicians have deep and comprehensive knowledge regarding fluid system applications for SAGD companies.
About Tristian McCallion, Custom Solutions Manager, Edmonton Valve
Edmonton Valve has relied on McCallion for 26 years. His current title is Custom Solutions Manager. Earlier, he supervised our sales team. Before that, he managed sales throughout Edmonton and northeastern Alberta. For 12 years he also worked with Swagelok Energy Advisors across North America, training customers on steam fundamentals (TAP), testing steam traps, and conducting steam system audits.
