High level energy studies on Process Plants typically show enticing benefits for energy optimization and enhancements which ultimately entails in dept performance monitoring of systems and equipment, typically results in the injection of large capital expenditure to upgrade equipment and systems.

However, there is very little information that guides process plant operators on doing the simpler things that does not involve large capital expenditure investments to optimize and enhance energy efficiencies. Investments are made into energy studies on brownfield processing units which in many instances are not economically feasible for implementation due to recommendations for major equipment renewals and long plant downtime. Process plant operators in Trinidad operate units that are typically beyond 20 years old with equipment, systems and technology that may be obsolete, requiring investments in maintenance and repair to ensure plant reliability and safety,  but in many instances energy efficiency may not be the driving factor.

Brownfield process plant operators can achieve energy efficiency improvements by targeted repairs and minor modifications capitalizing on new methodologies, materials and technologies. Following are just some energy optimizing/enhancing initiatives that can yield benefits to brownfield processing plants, to be further detailed and discussed during the workshop at TTEC 2020:-

1. Addressing of steam leaks, equipment flange leaks, etc. - Review of flange design and operation to reduce leaks on major steam piping and equipment critical flanged joints. This is a major source of losses due to leakage and plant down time for repairs on process plants that can be reduced.

2. Study and review of type of steam traps throughout of processing unit. New technology and materials exists. Older processing units have obsolete systems and materials installed.

3. Repairs, maintenance and redesigning of Insulation systems. New technology and materials exists. Older processing units have obsolete systems and materials installed.

4. Repairs, maintenance and redesigning of Refractory systems. New technology and materials exists. Older processing units have obsolete systems and materials installed.

5. Repairs, maintenance and redesigning of surface protection systems. New technology and materials exists.

6. Performance monitoring, purging and cleaning of tubes on heat exchange equipment to reduce fouling and enhance heat transfer.

7. Upgrade of heaters, boilers, reformers by upgrade of burner management systems and burners.

Worley provides EPC services to support brownfield process plant operators improve plant reliability, optimize and enhance energy efficiencies through engineered repairs and minor modifications.

Date: Wednesday February 5th, 2020
Topic: Energy Efficiency Enhancements for Brownfield Process Plants
Venue: Regency III, Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain
Time: 9:00am – 12:00noon
Cost: USD$150 plus VAT

Feature presenters:

Oneil Doon, Construction Manager, Worley Trinidad Ltd 
Ahlya Ackbarali, Principal Civil/Structural Engineer, Worley Trinidad Ltd 

Agenda:

9:00 am – 9:05 am: Welcome and Introductions
Priya Maharaj-Glasgow, Snr. Director, Operations, Worley Trinidad

9:05 am – 9:10 am: Learning & Safety Moment
Ahlya Ackbarali, Chief Engineer, Civil & Structural, Worley

9:10 am – 10:00 am: Session 1:

• Our Combined Global Capabilities 
  Ahlya Ackbarali, Chief Engineer, Civil & Structural, Worley Trinidad

• Reducing CO2 emissions
  Vasant Saith, Chief Process Engineer, Worley Trindiad

• Reduced Leakage and Plant down time for repairs
  Oneil Doon. Manager, Construction, Worley Trinidad

10:00 am – 10:45 am: Session 2:

• Material selection technology
  Oneil Doon, Manager, Construction, Worley Trinidad

• Insulation selection
  Oneil Doon, Manager, Construction, Worley Trinidad

• Upgrade of Obsolete Systems
  Oneil Doon, Manager, Construction, Worley Trinidad

10:45 am – 11:00 am: Coffee Break

11:00 am – 12:00 pm: Session 3:

• Performance Monitoring
  Vasant Saith, Chief Process Engineer, Worley Trinidad

• Energy Efficiency Studies in Brownfield Projects
  Vasant Saith, Chief Process Engineer, Worley Trinidad

• Equipment Upgrades
  Oneil Doon, Manager, Construction, Worley Trinidad

• Q&A - Ahlya Ackbarali & Oneil Doon, Worley Trinidad

Speaker Bios

Oneil is a profession and board registered engineer and the holder of a B.Sc. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine. With over 20 years practicing engineering, he has gained tremendous skill and knowledge supporting the local oil and gas industry throughout his career.  He started his engineering career in 1999 in the naval architecture industry, designing, maintaining, repairing and constructing ocean going vessels at Caribbean Drydock Limited. He was intimately involved in the design and construction of one of the first floating oil and gas production facilities built in Trinidad.  After his stint at the Drydock he moved fully into the oil and gas processing industry in 2001, where he spent the eighteen (18) years at the state-owned oil refinery, Petroleum Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (Petrotrin). At Petrotrin he worked in the Design Engineering Section (Mechanical and Civil), functioning in different roles over the years. He and his team provided expert design engineering solutions for routine maintenance, capital projects and turnarounds of medium to large scale projects on various oil refining process plants and equipment. He functioned as a Mechanical Engineer, Lead Designer, Project Leader, Engineering Superintendent and Drafting Superintendent, where he acquired a vast spectrum of knowledge within refining and process plant operations. Just a couple of the projects he led was a refinery wide upgrade of all processing facilities to ensure compliance of environmental emission regulations, as well as, numerous efficiencies enhancing projects throughout the refinery. Oneil now functions as Construction Manager at Worley Trinidad Limited, with responsibility for all major engineering, procurement and construction projects for onshore and offshore inclusive of greenfield, brownfield and TAR scopes.

Ahlya is a Principal Civil/Structural Engineer with 15 years’ experience, 9 years of which is in the oil and gas industry. She holds a BSc in Civil Engineering from the University of the West Indies (U.W.I), Trinidad and an MSc in Structural Engineering from the University of Sheffield, UK. She is also a registered Engineer with B.O.E.T.T., an associate member of A.P.E.T.T., a professional member of A.I.S.C., a member of A.S.C.E., and a graduate member of IStructE.

Ahlya has worked on projects for BP, BG, Shell, BHP, Repsol, Atlantic, EOG Resources, PPGPL, Nutrien and Trinity. Presently involved in brownfield projects onshore and offshore. She has also worked on consultancy projects for the Ministry of Health, Security and Education and Nu-Iron.  Some of the responsibilities involved were civil and structural engineering input and design from conception to close out of projects during FEED, Optimize, Detailed and Execution phases of various projects.