Apex

Steam Heat Exchanger

Apex , Well Testing has developed its own set of fabrication specifications to ensure that equipment used by Apex Petroleum Services, Well Testing meets or exceeds all local requirements. Apex Petroleum Services, Well Testing specifications are primarily based on the following worldwide recognised specifications:

Equipment Design and Fabrication Specifications

  • API Spec 6A – Specification for Valves and Wellhead Equipment
  • ASME VIII For construction of pressure vessels , Div 1&2
  • API RP 14C – Recommended Practice for Analysis, Design, Installation, and Testing of Basic Surface Safety Systems on Offshore Production Platforms
  • NACE MR-01-75
  • Product Specification Level (PSL) 3
  • Material Class DD
  • Temperature Class P&X (-20° F to +350° F)
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Steam Heat Exchanger

A steam heat exchanger consists of a pressurized tank (usually 150 or 350 psi) that contains a set of process coils. Steam is piped into the vessel from an external steam generator to heat the well effluent passing through the process coils.
The steam heat exchanger is considered to be the preferred unit for offshore use. It is safer than indirect fired heaters because the flame source in the steam generator is not located in the well test area.
Steam heat exchangers are available as multi-tube (small diameter multiple single pass tubes entering one end of the vessel and exiting the other), or multipass (single tube passing up and down the length of the vessel).
Both are available as high or low pressure. The multi-tube is more efficient as the total surface area for heat transfer is greater. It also has a far smaller pressure drop due to the shorter tube length and larger number of tubes.

Features and Benefits

  • Automatic temperature control is an integral part of the design.
  • Split-coil design, allows more efficient thermal conductivity and reduced pressure drop through the coil package.
  • Bypass manifold helps reduce coil damage during cleanup.
  • Modular design with box beam container which conforms to ISO specifications for improved portability.
  • Meets applicable industry standards.
  • Can be third-party certified.
  • Prevents forming of hydrates.
  • Improves separation of oil/water emulsions and foaming oils by reducing surface tension and viscosity.
  • Dissolves paraffin and asphaltenes to prevent deposits from forming on the interior components of the separation equipment.
  • Reduces viscosity of oil to improve burner efficiency.

Operation

Steam heat exchangers are used to heat the well production after it flows out of the wellhead and prior to the separation process. The preheat coils heat the well effluent before it passes through a choke. The post-heat coils reheat the well effluent after it has passed through the choke.

Steam Heat Exchanger

Meets requirements of NACE MR0175.

Working temperature°F (°C) -20 to 350 (-29 to 177)

Other sizes, configurations, and pressure ratings are available to meet most applications.

These ratings are guidelines only. For more information, consult your local Apex Petroleum Services representative