Hydrocarbon Recovery -

Esmeraldas Refinery

HYDROCARBON RECOVERY

Ecuador’s petroleum recovery efforts include remediation of oil-contaminated areas, with Petroecuador, the state-owned oil company, focusing on soil remediation and source elimination, while also exploring enhanced oil recovery techniques like CO2-EOR.

Environmental Considerations

While hydrocarbon recovery is crucial for energy supply, it poses environmental challenges, including greenhouse gas emissions, groundwater contamination, and land disruption. Sustainable practices such as carbon capture and storage (CCS), improved water management, and stricter regulations help mitigate these impacts.

Future of Hydrocarbon Recovery

With the global push for cleaner energy, hydrocarbon recovery is evolving toward more sustainable methods. Innovations in enhanced recovery techniques, digital oilfield technology, and alternative energy integration will shape the industry’s future, ensuring efficiency while reducing environmental impact.

In conclusion, hydrocarbon recovery remains a vital aspect of global energy production. By leveraging advanced technologies and sustainable practices, the industry can continue to meet energy demands while addressing environmental concerns.

Bacter Plus

Procedure

Hydrocarbon

Recovery

Bacter Plus Procedure in Hydrocarbon Recovery

Bacter Plus is a microbial-enhanced oil recovery (MEOR) technology that utilizes specially cultivated bacteria to improve hydrocarbon extraction. The procedure involves:

Hydrocarbon Recovery Process: Once Bacter Plus is applied, the hydrocarbon is guided toward the recovery section equipped with skimmers, transfer pumps, and fast-tank systems. Using transfer pumps and manual assistance, the cleaned and fluidized hydrocarbon is transferred to the slop treatment plant for final purification. The final hydrocarbon volume is recorded by subtracting the BS&W percentage from the net hydrocarbon volume.

Removal of Solid Macro Residues: Initially, solid residues such as wood, plastic objects, metal tanks, hoses, and refractory remains are removed. These materials are washed with a demulsifier, dried, and properly disposed of in accordance with environmental management regulations.

Demulsification Process: To recover weathered hydrocarbons from contaminated pools, the contractor applies E60R demulsifier, which breaks the hydrocarbon emulsion and reduces the Basic Sediment & Water (BS&W) content from 60% to below 10%.

Application of Demulsifier E60R: The concentrated product is diluted with water from the same pool and applied using pressure pumps. This initiates the separation of water, solid particles, and hydrocarbons.

Enhancement with Bacter Plus: Bacter Plus is introduced to stabilize the molecule, prolong its residence time in the medium, and improve overall recovery efficiency. The application method mirrors that of the demulsifier.