NIDC Indigenizes Eco-Friendly Well Test Burner

EghtesadOnline: The National Iranian Drilling Company's experts have designed and manufactured the first indigenized well test burner dubbed "Land Burner" to address the environmentally-unfriendly fallout conditions that occur from crude oil disposal during traditional well testing operations.

News ID: ۷۸۳۳۹۰

23 July 2018

"Two versions of the equipment have been produced, with six successful trial operations in two major oilfields, namely South Azadegan and Sarvestan," Jahangir Shojaei, NIDC's technical services director, was quoted as saying by NIDC's news portal.

Well testing during exploration and appraisal includes the production of hydrocarbons with a temporary production facility to obtain fluid samples. Burners are used to prevent the pollution of land or marine surface through the release of explored liquids during testing.

According to Shojaei, the oil industry has been committed to environmentally-friendly exploration and appraisal, and with this improved burner technology, the fallout of unburned hydrocarbons and dense smoke clouds can be significantly reduced or eliminated during well-testing operations, Financial Tribune reported.

"The Land Burner is aimed at removing residues resulting from inefficient flaring operations, which can have an adverse impact on the environment," he added.

The burner's unique nozzle makes use of pneumatic atomization and enhanced air induction. Internal air mix atomizers produce much smaller hydrocarbon droplets than conventional burners. Smaller droplets burn faster, eliminating the potential for raw hydrocarbons to fall out of the flame.

The NIDC official noted that minimizing air pollution by mixing high pressure air with oil to have a smokeless flare, eliminating land pollution, decreasing waste oil, increasing burning efficiency, optimizing the ignition system, reducing time due to loss of flare are among the advantages of the equipment.

"No water injection is required for cooling the equipment. A water shield protects the rig from the heat radiation of the flame," he said.

Shojaei described the achievement as noteworthy because Iran used to be an importer of such equipment.

The company has been active in implementing the Oil Ministry's plan to indigenize equipment and machinery used in the sector.  According to reports, out of 1.2 million equipment required by the oil and gas industry, 800,000 equipment are produced domestically, all of which are compatible with international standards. These equipment include turbines, compressors, pumps, pipes and catalysts.