PRODUCTION PLANT
An oil production plant, also referred to as an oil terminal, is a critical facility in the oil and gas industry where production fluids extracted from oil wells are processed to separate key components and prepare them for export or further use. These facilities play a vital role in transforming raw well fluids—a mixture of crude oil, natural gas, water, and sediments—into marketable products.
An oil production plant is a specialized facility designed to process raw production fluids—typically a mixture of crude oil, natural gas, and produced water—into separate, marketable components. This distinguishes it from an oil depot, which is primarily used for storage and distribution without processing capabilities. KP Mahamanou Oil & Gas Limited operates advanced oil production plants, both onshore and offshore, to ensure efficient and environmentally responsible processing of hydrocarbons.
KP Mahamanou Oil & Gas Limited’s Role
KP Mahamanou Oil & Gas Limited excels in designing, constructing, and operating oil production plants that meet the highest standards of efficiency, safety, and environmental compliance. By leveraging advanced technologies and best practices, the company ensures the reliable processing and export of hydrocarbons, supporting the global energy supply chain while minimizing environmental impact. This commitment to excellence underscores KP Mahamanou Oil & Gas Limited’s dedication to sustainable energy development.
Key Differences Between Oil Production Plants and Oil Depots
Oil Production Plants: Equipped with processing facilities to separate and treat crude oil, natural gas, and produced water. These plants are essential for preparing raw well fluids for export or further use.
Oil Depots: Focus on storage and distribution of already processed oil and petrochemical products, with no processing capabilities.
Offshore vs. Onshore Facilities
Offshore Platforms: Larger, permanent offshore platforms often have full oil production facilities onboard to process fluids directly at the source. Smaller platforms or subsea wells, however, typically export raw production fluids to nearby offshore processing platforms or onshore terminals.
Onshore Terminals: These facilities receive raw or partially processed fluids from offshore platforms and perform additional processing, storage, and export operations.
Processing Workflow in an Oil Production Plant
Wellhead to Choke Valve:
The process begins at the wellhead, where production fluids exit through the production wing valve. The fluids then pass through a choke valve, which regulates the flow rate to ensure safe and controlled movement into the production plant.Inlet Manifold and Separation:
Fluids from multiple wells are gathered at the inlet manifold and directed into a separator. The separator divides the mixture into its three primary components: crude oil, natural gas, and produced water.Crude Oil Treatment:
The separated crude oil is routed to a coalescer to remove any remaining water or impurities. It is then metered and pumped to storage tanks or an onshore terminal for further processing or export.Produced Water Management:
The produced water is treated in a hydrocyclone to remove entrained oil and solids. Depending on environmental regulations and water quality, it is either reinjected into the reservoir or discharged overboard.Associated Gas Processing:
The natural gas, initially referred to as wet gas due to its saturation with water and liquid alkanes, is processed through scrubbers, compressors, and coolers to remove liquids. The resulting dry gas can be exported, reinjected into the reservoir, used for gas lift, flared, or utilized as fuel for power generation.Onshore Terminal Operations:
Onshore terminals typically include fired heaters, separators, and coalescers to stabilize the crude oil and remove any remaining produced water. Onshore separators operate at lower pressures than offshore units, resulting in more gas being evolved. This gas is compressed, dew-pointed, and exported via pipeline or flared if export is uneconomical. Large crude oil storage tanks are often available to ensure continuous production even if export routes are temporarily unavailable.Export to Refineries:
Processed crude oil is exported to refineries either via pipelines or tankers, depending on the location and infrastructure.
