High-Tech has been in the business of answering complex questions for well over a decade, questions like:

Q: What is Stokes’ Law and how does it pertain to the separation process?
A: George Stokes developed a formula in 1843 that identifies the major components of separation, and when properly applied, accurately predicts the separation of two or more immiscible fluids or solids in fluids. This formula, or “law”, deals addresses gravity, particle size, viscosity and the differences in the specific gravity of the media being separated from the continuous media/fluid.

Q: Does Stokes’ Law really work in the oil patch?
A: Stokes addressed static or quiescent separation. In the oil patch most separation takes place dynamically. Therefore, the formula had to be modified to make it work accurately in oil patch applications. It is still uncomplicated, and easy to apply.

Q: What does HTC have to do with gasoline loading terminals?
A: HTC provides engineering for vapor emission control system design. This includes AutoCAD P&ID drawing development, vessel sizing and internals design, pipe sizing and piping design, layout configuration to fit each application, and project management. Start-up and commissioning is also included, so clients get a complete package. See www.symexamericas.com for more information.

Q: What is a micron, and what does it have to do with separation?
A: There are 24,500 mirons in one inch, so one micron is 1/24,500ths of an inch. In the business of oilfield separation, droplets or solid particles larger that 150 microns generally separate rapidly, while those smaller do not. Droplets and particles smaller than 10 microns do not separate, but flow along with the fluid stream. So, the key to good separation is to manage the way fluids and solids are handled and processed to minimize the chances of them being sheared into tiny particles that don’t separate.

Q: What is retention time? How is it calculated and measured?
A: Retention time is the time available for fluids to separate. It has been calculated by dividing the production rate into the storage capacity of any given vessel. For instance, a 1000 barrel tank processing 1000 barrels per day of fluid is said to have 24 hours (one day) of retention time. Actual retention times can be determined in the field by inoculating inlet fluids with a strong dose of a dye (oil or water soluble, depending one which retention time you seek). When the retention time of most oilfield vessels is measured, the actual retention time is usually less than 5% of the calculated time.

Q: If most oilfield process vessels are so inefficient, what does HTC do to improve them?
A: HTC has patented technologies such as the HWSB™ to improve retention time and separation. The key to these technologies is the uniform distribution of fluids in the flow paths of each vessel at velocities at or below 1’/minute. When this is accomplished, fluids nearly “plug” flow and retention time is maximized.

Q: What about the usefulness of water analysis?
A: Water analyses represent chemical values in a snapshot of time. One analysis is generally quite useless, but a series of analysis over a long period of time can be very telling. The first analysis should not be over-interpreted; it is a baseline just a first EKG is. Subsequent test reveal old and new problems compared to the baseline analysis and those that follow.

Q: How does HTC work?
A: Like most consulting firms, HTC charges by the hour.

Q: Is all of HTC’s work done in their offices, or in the field where the real problems exist?
A: Both! HTC is keen on the hands-on approach. We like to go to the field, interview everyone, and achieve a general consensus on the real problems. The, HTC returns and completes its report in the office.

Q: Who is SYMEX Americas and what exactly do they do.
A: SYMEX Americas is a wholly owned subsidiary of TESCO, and Indianapolis, Indian service and supply firm focused on gasoline terminal operations in the mid-west and east coast. SYMEX Americas is the owner of a proprietary hydrocarbon vapor emission control technology, and supplies these specialty systems to gasoline wholesalers so they can comply with the Clean Air Act in the most cost effective way.