Results

Saved refinery USD 400,000 per year

Proactively mitigated corrosion in

the top sections of the refiner’s

crude unit atmospheric tower

Optimized usage of EXCALIBUR

contaminant removal technology

Challenges

Provide an on-site and fast method

to test for the presence of MEA in

the raw crude

Correlate the MEA in the crude

to corrosion risk in the tower

overhead system

Determine what actions needed

to be taken to mitigate MEA-HCl

salt deposition

Improve additive usage

Baker Hughes solution

TOPGUARD FAMS

TOPGUARD CRM

EXCALIBUR contaminant

removal technology

A US Gulf Coast refi ner was experiencing

severe corrosion damage in the top section

of their crude unit atmospheric tower due to

monoethanolamine-hydrochloric acid

(MEA-HCl) salt deposition. The persistent

corrosion damage compromised the integrity

of the atmospheric tower overhead and

resulted in shorter than desired run lengths.

The refi ner asked Baker Hughes for a fast,

on-site method to quantify the amount

of monoethanolamine (MEA) in their raw

crude, correlate the MEA concentration to

a corrosion risk in the overhead, and most

importantly, prescribe mitigation options

that would enable them to reliably operate

the tower without the risk of MEA-HCl salt

deposition. Being able to accomplish these

objectives quickly and reliably would also

allow the refi ner to optimize their use of

Baker Hughes EXCALIBUR™ contaminant

removal additive that was being used to

acidify the desalters.

To begin, Baker Hughes deployed the

TOPGUARD™ fi eld amine measurement

services (FAMS), a unique methodology to

reliably detect low-level concentrations of

MEA in raw crude. The testing takes place

onsite and provides data feedback in as little

as 1-2 hours. The data obtained was then fed

into the TOPGUARD™ corrosion risk monitor

(CRM) to determine the potential for MEA-

HCl salt deposition in the tower overhead

system. Once this determination was made,

data from the TOPGUARD CRM was used to

propose mitigation options to reduce the risk

of MEA-HCl salt deposition as necessary.

TOPGUARD Services Mitigated Tower Corrosion and Saved Customer USD 400,000Location: US Gulf Coast

CASE HISTORY| bakerhughes.com

EXCALIBUR and TOPGUARD are trademarks of Baker Hughes Incorporated.

Disclaimer of Liability: This information is provided for general information purposes only and is believed to be accurate as of the date hereof; however, Baker Hughes Incorporated and its affi liates do not make any warranties or representations of any kind regarding

the information and disclaim all express and implied warranties or representations to the fullest extent permissible by law, including those of merchantability, fi tness for a particular purpose or use, title, non-infringement, accuracy, correctness or completeness of the

information provided herein. All information is furnished “as is” and without any license to distribute. The user agrees to assume all liabilities related to the use of or reliance on such information. BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED AND ITS AFFILIATES SHALL NOT BE

LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES FROM ANY CAUSE WHATSOEVER INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ITS NEGLIGENCE.

© 2014 Baker Hughes Incorporated. All rights reserved. 42281 12/2014

Current Operations

(No Mitigation)

Mitigation Option 1:

Apply Caustic

Mitigation Option 2:

Option 1+ EXCALIBUR Technology-10

-5

0

+5

+10

+15

+20

+25

+30

Overhead Chlorides (ppm) = 14

Brine pH = 8.5

MEA (ppm) = 15

Tower Top Temperature = 260°F

Overhead Chlorides (ppm) = 5

Brine pH = 8.5

MEA (ppm) = 15

Tower Top Temperature = 260°F

Overhead Chlorides (ppm) = 5

Brine pH = 5.5 - 6.0

MEA (ppm) = 4

Tower Top Temperature = 260°F

MEA

Sal

t Po

int

T

(°F

)

High

Low

Corrosion R

isk

Corrosion Risk = HIGH

Corrosion Risk = MEDIUM

Corrosion Risk = LOW

The graph illustrates how the data obtained

from TOPGUARD FAMS and TOPGUARD CRM

was used to help the refi ner reliably operate

their atmospheric tower without the risk of

MEA-HCl salt deposition in the overhead.

The data not only allowed the refi ner to

proactively mitigate MEA-HCl salt deposition,

but it also resulted in additive cost savings

of USD 400,000.

This case history is presented for illustration

purposes only, as the results may vary

between applications.

CASE HISTORY