Publications

Texaco's Exploration and Production Technology Department has developed a suite of fiber-optic instruments for monitoring the oil content of produced water. These include :- The Environmental Oil Alert System N (EOAdI) which is a fluorescence instrument for on-line determinations of oil-in-water. Because of its unique blend of instrumental and chemical technologies, the EOA -11 is capable of monitoring any produced water stream regardless of oil gravity, salinity or temperature. A special non-fouling water sampler allows the system to operate for long periods without maintenance. The EOA-II has been installed on four offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico and two off the coast of California. At the Kern River Field in Bakersfield, California, the EOA-11 is used to maintain low free oil concentrations by automatically regulating water clarifier polymers.- The Star Scan Oil-in- Water A nalyzer which is a benchtop absorption instrument for determining the oil content of individual water samples. Analysis is performed by inserting a fiber optic probe into a water sample that has been treated with a unique water-based reagent. No organic solvents are required. Both free oil and water soluble organics can be measured. The Star Scan Oil-in-Water Analyzer is an ideal replacement for conventional infrared instruments that will soon be obsolete due to the pending ban on freon production. And,- The SpectrA Iert Emulsion Detector which is an on-line device that monitors gathering lines for the presence of reverse emulsions. One instrument simultaneously monitors eight gathering lines. Total oil content can be as high as 30%. The SpectrAlert Emulsion Detector is installed upstream of the primary skim tanks at the Kern River Field to provide early warning of system upsets. SpectrA lert output is used by the field's PLC system to automatically control the injection of reverse emulsion breakers.