Learn more about low shear

Low Shear Shorts are 30 seconds short videos explaining important aspects of Low Shear Processing Solutions. The messages include only the most essential, and are presented in a short and concise format. Topics are:

• Coalescing pump installation
• Coalescing low shear pumps
• Low shear choke valve upgrade
• Discussing low shear pumps
• Field case: Low shear FPSO upgrade
• Explaining low shear valves
• Explaining “Low Shear”
• Demonstrating shear

Offshore field results from installing a Low shear multistage centrifugal pump with coalescing capabilities to improve the platform production capacities

Discussing coalescing centrifugal pumps, how they increase production capacities, what coalescence is, and its importantce for water treatment and oil production.

Offshore field results from installing two Low shear choke valves to increase the produced water treatment efficiency.

Discussing low shear centrifugal pumps, which are reliable and ensure stable, efficient production.

Highlighting the effect of installing a Low Shear Valve to increase the production capacity and extend the operational lifetime of an FPSO.

Explaining the importance and benefits of low shear valves for oil production and produced water treatment.

Explaining the meaning of Low Shear, common issues with high shear and benefits of low shear.

Demonstrating the benefits of low shear valves and pumps compared to standard equipment.

Typhonix Coalescing Centrifugal Pumps are developed for produced water applications. Through extensive testing, Typhonix has shown that it is possible not only to make a pump which does not break droplets, but also enlarges oil droplets during pumping.

Typhonix Multiphase Samplers reduce sources of errors associated with turbulence during filling, free gas flotation during container filling and dissolved gas flotation during container filling or pressure release.

The Typhoon^® Valve System is a cost-efficient way to debottleneck separation and produced water treatment systems, greatly improving separation efficiency without adding additional equipment or expensive separator modifications.

Typhonix Low Shear Day 2020 was held as a webinar, focusing on how to get a cleaner and more cost-efficient oil production by reducing unwanted shear and turbulence. At the Low Shear Day Webinar, we discussed our experiences and understandings, highlighting the following subjects:

• What are the effects of shear in oil production?
• Where can you find sources of shear?
• What can you do to minimize shear forces or mitigate the effects of shear on downstream separation equipment?
• How can your process layout and equipment be optimized to reduce potential separation issues? 

The webinar consisted of two presentations and a Q&A session, covering the most frequently asked questions. The presentations were called:

• Low shear oil production: Droplet breakup in valves and pumps
• Next generation process control equipment: Coalescing valves and pumps 

Understanding the effects that different levels of shear have on the separation of oil and water is vital when designing an efficient and compact production and processing facility.

The location and type of valves and pumps used in the processing facility have a direct impact on the separation efficiency and profitability. Utilizing low shear technologies reduces the number and size of the separation stages required, and reduces the need for heating and chemicals.

Removing high intensity shear zones by using low shear alternatives, and applying technologies that cause droplet coalescence, has a direct impact on CAPEX and OPEX.

Low droplet shearing is important for optimizing the downstream separation efficiency.

The droplet shearing is related to turbulence in pipes and equipment. A good way of illustrating high and low shear is by shaking two bottles, where one is shaken intensely and the other lightly. The lightly shaken bottle illustrates a low shear flow regime, where the droplets remain large and separate easily in downstream separation equipment.

In Typhonix coalescing valves and pumps, the concept of low shear is taken a step further, where the turbulence is used in a constructive way to form larger droplets.

These technologies are designed with an optimal turbulence intensity. This optimal level of turbulence is large enough to bring droplets and promote coalescence, while at the same time maintaining the large droplets.

Typhonix low shear valves, low shear pumps and coalescing pumps are available today, and have been adapted by several of the major companies all over the world. The equipment is tailored for each specific application, offering the best possible low shear performance.

Conventional valves and pumps break oil droplets while handling produced water, leading to reduced efficiency of downstream treatment processes. Typhonix has designed both valves and pumps, where the magnitude of shear forces are controlled and optimized to the benefit of downstream separation processes.

In the coalescing valve, the turbulent energy that controls flow rate or pressure, promotes droplet growth rather than droplet breaking in multiphase flow. The coalescing pump is a multistage centrifugal pump with high hydraulic efficiency. The pump layout and configuration of the individual stages are custom designed to control shear forces and optimize oil droplet coalescence.

In Typhonix low shear valves, a larger volume is used to dissipate the energy. This results in a lower turbulence intensity and therefore also reduced droplet break-up.

In Typhonix low shear centrifugal pumps, pressure is generated over a larger number of stages. Combined with optimized internals, this results in a robust and reliable pumps design with low droplet break-up.

To reduce droplet breakup and maximize oil/water separation efficiency, replacing conventional equipment with the low shear alternatives is an effective, quick, and cost-efficient solution.

Typhonix also offer low shear studies, collaborating with independent third parties for objectivity, to estimate and demonstrate the potential benefits of low shear debottlenecking of your specific asset.