Any WEMCO experts on here?

[KernOily]

Hi guys. Are any of you knowledgeable when it comes to WEMCO units? All I get is BS and malarkey from the vendors, so I"m looking to se eif any of you have a substantial amount of experience. If so I will post back here with specific questions.

Thanks!
Pete

 

[KernOily]

Sorry - I should have been more specific. I am looking for information for the oil-water depurator flotation machines. Thanks!

 

[orenda1168]

KernOily:

My experience with the WEMCO Depurator dispersed air flotation systems dates to some thirty years ago (1974)in a Caribbean refinery API separator effluent application, specifically at Amerada Hess' St. Croix, USVI refinery (now under a different name?). At the time, my employer, Petrolite Corporation, Tretolite Division in St. Louis, Missouri held the marketing rights for the system to the petroleum industry. As Petrolite and Tretolite don't exist as such due to corporate sell-offs (Petreco and Baker-Hughes I believe were the successors), I have no present knowledge of the owners/marketers of the WEMCO system.

From on-site pilot unit data we accumulated over several weeks on the various API effluent streams, the WEMCO was shown to be a superior oil/solids removal device, to the extent that the unit effluent consistently contained well under 15 ppm O & G, which at the time was acceptable for direct discharge. As I recall the case to be with most air flotation systems, then and now, the WEMCO was in need of selected oil-in-water demulsifiers and or wetting agent to routinely achieve the necessary level of O&G removal.

The upshot of the on-site work was the refinery's purchase of several systems to the tune of more than $100,000, not including the selected chemical aids. While I don't still have the pilot data, nor the actual system performance data after installation of the units (as I left Tretolite and the Caribbean in 1975), my recollection is that the system performed exactly as shown during the pilot runs, and easily met the discharge criteria in place at the time.

I am still of the opinion that the WEMCO is superior to dissolved air flotation technology, particularly in terms of performance. At least at the time of my involvement, WEMCO's CAPEX and OPEX were comfortably competitive with DAF systems.

I'm sorry that I don't have the specifics of the St. Croix applications as that is obviously what you need. Unless things have drastically changed over the intervening years, I believe that you should seriously consider the WEMCO technology as it is (or certainly was) the prince of O&G removal treatment in the oil production and refinery industry.


Orenda

 

[kkimic]

WEMCO is own by Cameron by its Petreco Process System Branch. I may be able to help you.

Cheers,

kkimic

 

[kkimic]

WEMCO is owned by Cameron by its Petreco Process System Branch. I may be able to help you.

Cheers,

kkimic

 

[AMenJr]

KernOily:
I just noticed you thread about floatcells. Did you get all your answers? I have bought and installed many of both types, hydraulic and mechanical.

 

[1agitator]

I have knowledge regarding almost all aspects of Wemco flotation Units. What kind of information are you looking for?

 

[KernOily]

Guys thanks for the replies. I am looking for any sizing or mass rate/transfer equations for these units.

Specifically, I am looking for relationships between throughput, removal vs. inlet oil concentration.

For example, the WEMCO 144X is nameplate-rated at 170,000 bpd. Does this rate hold for all (reasonable) oil concentrations?

Supposedly, WEMCOs are rated for 95% removal of oil, grease, and solids. But over what oil concentrations and throughput rates does this apply?

 

[orenda1168]

There are too many variables of a stream to the WEMCO to give you a sensible reply. Your best bet is to talk directly with Petreco (as above) and let them do what's necessary (i.e. pilot run your wastewater) to quantify performance.

Orenda

 

[1agitator]

KernOily

Obviously water chemistry and proper chemical is extremely important but I have not seen a Wemco yet that did not achieve 95% removal at <300-ppm oil. My opinion is that <300-ppm oil that the Wemco will do 170,000 bpd and achieve 95% removal. Infact I have seen many Wemco's operating 10% above the rated thru rate and still doing a good job. I am not sure what the oil concentrations are. My experience is when a producers is not achieving 95% usually its due to not operating the Wemco properly.


Good luck getting Petreco to answer anything. I use a company out of Bakersfield, CA USA called Separation Specialists. They appear to be very knowledgeable and much easier to deal with than Petreco regarding helpful information, parts & service.

 

[kkimic]

I encourage you to contact Petreco in a first instance, they have provided many of these before and I am sure they will help you find the answer you want.

These units are rated for up to 95% removal but obviously there are many parameters that affect the performance (temperature, viscosity and density of both phases, etc...)

Hope this clarifies.

Regards.