The term “watercut” is a word that is familiar to operators in the oil and gas industry. The term “cut” actually refers to a percentage which is normally the percentage of water in a water/oil mixture by volume. The term “BS&W” stands for basic sediment and is often used as an interchangeable term. However, BS&W might not only be referring to water but in addition, the impurities in crude oil. During oil extraction, it is commonplace that a reservoir is going to have oil that contains a certain amount of water or suspended solids.
The water cut is the percentage of water in crude oil. The amount of water in crude oil can be measured by using a centrifuge or a lab instrument. This type of measurement uses a spot sample which will determine the water content in a crude oil pipeline at different time intervals.
What are some common ways of determining water in a crude oil sample?
• Centrifuge- used in the lab or on site
The practice involves spinning a specified amount of sample for a specified time in a heated centrifuge until all the water and sediment settle in the bottom of the centrifuge tube.
API 10 Oil Centrifuge
WL Walker Centrifuge Tubes (different types)
Karl Fischer titration is a classic titration method that uses coulometric or volumetric titration to determine trace amounts of water in a sample
• Other methods- Dean Stark
The Marcusson apparatus, also known as the Dean-Stark apparatus, Dean–Stark receiver, or distilling trap, is essential laboratory equipment utilized in synthetic chemistry for gathering water (or sometimes other liquids) from a reaction vessel. Teamed with a reflux condenser and distillation flask, it enables the constant extraction of water generated during reactions conducted at reflux temperatures, such as esterifications.
What is a Water Cut Analyzer?
Since the water content in crude oil can vary considerably over a time period, an inline instrument called a “water cut meter” can be installed in the pipeline to continually monitor the amount of water present in real time 24 hours a day. Water cut meters are typically used in the petroleum industry to measure the water cut of oil flowing from a well, produced oil from a separator, and crude oil transfer in pipelines, loading tankers and custody transfer metering systems . EESIFLO s a fluid measurement company specializing in Water Cut Monitors with a focus on crude oil (also known as BS&W, OWD, WFM or Water in Oil Analyzers) for the Oil & Gas Industry.
Water cut analyzers are typically used in the petroleum industry to measure the water cut of oil flowing from a well, produced oil from a separator, crude oil transfer in pipelines and in loading tankers.
Sponsor:
- Safia is located in Saudi Arabia and services the oil and gas industry with major clients such as Saudi Aramco, Saudi Electricity Company, Saudi Arabian Mining Company, and various oil and gas consultants and contractors in Ghawar, Safaniya, Khurais, Manifa. With our head office in Riyadh and satellite operation in Al Khobar.
For more information: https://www.ksafia.com/water-in-oil-monitoring/
