First Retrofit Plant for Drain Water Treatment
For the treatment of drain water by centrifugal separators and decanters, GEA recently delivered the first retrofit plant to a drilling platform in the waters of Alaska. (Photo: GEA)
Photo: GEA
With two centrifuge skids for the treatment of drain water, GEA’s Business Unit Mechanical Separation, recently delivered the first retrofit plant.
While drilling for oil, drain water collects on the platform in large volumes, which is passed into large tanks together with other waste water occurring. In conformity with the IMO Regulations MEPC.107(49) this contaminated water must not be drained into the ocean before corresponding treatment and de-oiling.
The disposal of drain water on land is associated with high costs and expenditure of time so that a corresponding treatment is necessary by separation on the drilling platform already. For this reason, the use of drilling platforms in the waters of Alaska required a retrofit of the drain water treatment plant, which ensures a residual oil content in the drain water of less than 5 ppm. For this purpose, GEA has designed a plant with a high performance decanter for solids extraction as well as a separator for residual oil removal. The special feature here is the retrofit concept: Both centrifuges including peripheral equipment were delivered in one container each ready for operation. The required connecting piping between the containers was part of the scope of delivery as well. After the customer has fitted the supply line, the skids can be put into operation directly on deck, by “plug&play” so to speak. This possibility of retrofitting convinced the customer not only by its uncomplicated handling, but also by its enormous cost and time benefit.
In addition, the guarantee of lower residual oil content improved the charter rate of the drilling vessel - for this reason, GEA said, adding that the retrofit plant will pay off quickly.
