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[ Nutshell Filters ]

The application

When the issue is the removal of oil and suspended solids form difficult water streams, the Nutshell Filters often represent the most efficient and reliable treatment technology.

The most common application of this technology is the treatment of produced water at oil fields, however nutshell filters are also applied for waste water treatment in refineries and petrochemical industries (e.g. in water reuse plants, upstream membrane systems), or to treat water used for direct cooling in the steel industry.

Unidro NSF

Unidro Nutshell Filters are the result of our experience in media filtration as well as our know-how in dealing with produced water and are successfully performing in different conditions and situations.

In Unidro Nutshell Filters the media is effectively backwashed thanks to a proper fluidization of the filter bed by a high flow of scouring gas, which is injected into the filter media through special designed distributors.

High technology, high performances

With our special media selection and our polishing extralayer a higher filtration grade may be obtained.

The performances of Unidro NSF are the reduction of oil content to less than 1 ppm in treated water, and the 99% removal of solid particles greater than 10 µm.

Produced water treatment

With experience in water treatment, a wide separation equipment portfolio and a specific know-how on wellhead processes Unidro is a highly qualified partner for PWT.

Process Filters

Unidro process filters cover a wide range of application for gas and hydrocarbon filters, including solid removal from gas and liquid, liquid/gas and liquid/liquid separation.

BTEx stripping

BTEX (Benzene, Toluene, Ethyl Benzene and Xylenes), are one of the most water soluble Hydrocarbon processed in a typical Oil & Gas field.

Flotators

Dispersed oil may be efficiently removed from contaminated water by means of flotation, i.e. by injecting a suitable amount of gas.

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[ Cartridge Filters ]

Unidro can provide a complete range of disposable and backwashable cartridge filters for the standard to the most critical applications in the oil and gas industry, both for water, HC and process streams.

The Disposable Cartridge Filters

Unidro scope of supply may include individual equipment (filter vessel with internals) as well as complete skid packages (multiple filters with interconnecting piping, instruments fully assembled on skid and ready to be installed).

U-Stamp, quick opening, special layout are some of the options.

The Backwashable Filters systems

Unidro mechanical filters are simple and reliable backwashable units, with a wide range of process conditions.

When treated fluids or industrial environment is challenging our multiple filters systems include a set of backwashable cartridge filters operating in parallel. A nest of ON/OFF valves and instrumentation managed by PLC allow a completely automatic operation of service and backwash cycles.

We select each component such as valves, actuators, instrumentation and accessories on a project basis, thus matching any project requirement, site condition or owner standardisation.

Designed and fabricated for our customer

The filter vessels are fabricated for our customers in our shop

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Most of our filter elements are designed by our engineers and expressly fabricated for Unidro

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For each application, we design the most suitable filter unit, select the most efficient filtering element thus ensuring a fully tailor-made product which can meet process specification as well as Project mechanical requirements.

Produced water treatment

Making produced water suitable for reinjection or disposal means to identify and design the necessary separation and conditioning steps taking into account the very peculiar characteristics of each individual site.

Water injection

In the “water flooding” or “water injection” process the water is injected into the oil producing rock displacing oil towards a second well where the oil is extracted.

Process Filters

Unidro process filters cover a wide range of application for gas and hydrocarbon filters, including solid removal from gas and liquid, liquid/gas and liquid/liquid separation.

Produced water treatment

With experience in water treatment, a wide separation equipment portfolio and a specific know-how on wellhead processes Unidro is a highly qualified partner for PWT.

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[ Consultancy ]

The long and comprehensive professional experience of Unidro in the water and utilities related processes
is available to customers when needed.

Process optimization, operation consultancy

This service may apply to several different cases, such as an existing unit modification to meet new requirements (a change in feed conditions, a new requirement on performance, an higher capacity), the check of operating parameters to optimize the performances, the evaluation of the applicability of a new technology, the revamping of an obsolete existing plant.

Value engineering, FEED

Unit optimization for operation cost reduction, optimization of upstream/downstream treatment steps in order to get better overall efficiency, retrofitting with more up-to-date technologies and much more.
The service may lead to deliverables such as Design Report with recommendations, Feasibility Study or even a complete FEED.
Otherwise, it may be limited to simple advices and suggestions.

Feasibility studies

Unidro’s expertise in design, supply and operation of packages is available to support Client’s new initiatives. Process study of new utilities units, basic design, economical evaluation.

Comparison of different available technologies to allow the organization to take decision. Collection of site data, sampling programs and analyses. Lab test, site pilot units.

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[ O&G Process Equipment ]

Unidro is able to provide a wide range of WELLHEAD EQUIPMENT for the Offshore/Onshore Oil&Gas Industry, including:

Multiphase Separators READ MORE
Desalting/Dehydrator Units
Flash Drums
S&T Heat Exchangers

Integrated Design

Thanks to the company experience gained over the years in both Crude Oil Treatment and Water Treatment, Unidro can now provide and Integrated Design, covering several unit operations in upstream area, including wash water deoxygenation with Vacuum Degasifier and Produced Water Treatment.

Desalter/Dehydrator

Our specialists can deal with the best available technologies such as:

Alternating Current (AC) field
AC high frequency field
Direct Current (DC) field
Combination of AC/DC field

All the components, such as HV Transformer, Electrostatic Grid, Mixing Valve, instrumentation as well as piping, pumps and Emulsion Breaker Injection Unit can be designed and provided.

Vessels manufacturing and skid assembly, when required, can be completely realized in our shop, in full compliance with the project specifications.

Flash Drums and Separators

Unidro has a wide experience in applying phase separation technologies to the water, oil and gas streams. Our process team can size the separation units using the appropriate engineering design software, including CFD, and select the best internals, either based on our in-house design or procured from the most reputable international manufacturers of separation and mass transfer components.

In all cases, the fabrication of the equipment in our ASME certified shop under our direct responsibility ensures to our products the best quality in terms of both process performance and mechanical workmanship.

Shell & Tube Heat Exchanger

Unidro can design and manufacture a wide range of shell and tube heat exchangers from the simplest up to the most critical duties.
Engineering services include thermal and mechanical design, ASME code calculations, wind load analysis, seismic analysis, fatigue analysis, shell stress due to applied nozzles and external loads and CAD drawings.

Each heat exchanger is customized to comply with the Client specifications. Design and fabrication standards comprise ASME Sec. VIII Div. 1, ASME U-stamp, PED (97/23/EC), TEMA C, B and R, sour and lethal service requirements.

Process Filters

Unidro process filters cover a wide range of application for gas and hydrocarbon filters, including solid removal from gas and liquid, liquid/gas and liquid/liquid separation.

Nutshell filters

When the issue is the removal of oil and suspended solids form difficult water streams, the Nutshell Filters often represents the most efficient and reliable treatment technology.

BTEx stripping

BTEX (Benzene, Toluene, Ethyl Benzene and Xylenes), are one of the most water soluble Hydrocarbon processed in a typical Oil & Gas field.

Flotators

Dispersed oil may be efficiently removed from contaminated water by means of flotation, i.e. by injecting a suitable amount of gas.

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[ Water Injection ]

In the “water flooding” or “water injection” process the water is injected into the oil producing rock displacing oil towards a second well where the oil is extracted.

The fresh water which have to be injected needs to be thorouly treated in order to prevent wells plug. The treatment may involve removal of oil traces, suspended solids and oxygen, as well as chemical conditioning.

Filters

Media and guard filters are normally combined for injection water treatment. Unidro high velocity media filters, with accurately graded media layers and special inlet/outler water distributors allows to reach a very high treated water quality, thus releaving the downstream guard filters from frequent clogging.

Unidro disposable or backwashable elements can be chosen for guard filters and both low pressure (at injection pumps suction side) or high pressure (after injection pumps) equipment is available.

Vacuum Degasifiers

Vacuum degasifier is often the crucial process step in the water injecton system, being vacuum technology less widely mastered then water filtration. Unidro specific experience in degasifiers and deoxygenation units ensure a poper design and an optimized arrangement of this unit, including vacuum tower and vacuum system. Namely, vacuum towers and vacuum ejectors are fabricated in our shop.

Injection Manifolds

Unidro can design and fabricate the high pressure distribution manifolds for water distribution to wells or, where required, for both water distribution and oil collection. The manifolds are fully preassembled on self supporting skids, equipped with motorised valves and, as required, flow meters to monitor flowrates to each well.

Process Filters

Unidro process filters cover a wide range of application for gas and hydrocarbon filters, including solid removal from gas and liquid, liquid/gas and liquid/liquid separation.

Nutshell filters

When the issue is the removal of oil and suspended solids form difficult water streams, the Nutshell Filters often represents the most efficient and reliable treatment technology.

BTEx stripping

BTEX (Benzene, Toluene, Ethyl Benzene and Xylenes), are one of the most water soluble Hydrocarbon processed in a typical Oil & Gas field.

Flotators

Dispersed oil may be efficiently removed from contaminated water by means of flotation, i.e. by injecting a suitable amount of gas.

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[ Brine Purification ]

In chlor-alkali production plants based on membrane electrolysis, the feed sodium chloride (or potassium chloride) brine must be treated to a very high quality i.e. no suspended solids and very low residual hardness is admitted (few ppbs of calcium, magnesium, strontium).
Unidro has a wide record of experiences in designing and supplying tailor made units for each of the main sections of the brine treatment chain: clarification of the saturated brine, filtration of the clarified brine, super-purification of the filtered brine by means of chelate resin towers.

Clarification

For the clarification of the saturated brine Unidro can propose either a conventional circular-shaped clarifier provided with sludge scraper, or a rectangular settling tank equipped with internals lamella.
Large equipment are normally delivered prefabricated and lined at shop, ready for assembly by bolting only at site.

Rectangular settlers are selected when a very compact system is desired and are delivered as fully pre-fabricated tanks.

Filtration

Filtration can be accomplished by two steps in series: the first on anthracite filters, to remove the large majority of residual suspended solids; the second on precoat candle filters, to provide a very fine filtration and remove particles larger than 1 micron.
Unidro can provide high-performance anthracite filters, which incorporate a special backwash concept.
Unidro precoat filters based on different type of precoatable candles.

Super-purification (Chelate Resin Units)

The super-purification of brine is achieved by treating the filtered brine in a chelate resin towers unit.
This unit typically includes three resin columns connected in series, with a “merry-go-round” arrangement.
Regeneration through a complex sequence of steps is fully automatic and operated by Unidro proprietary PLC software.

Precoat Filters

Lamella

Media filters

Water treatment packages

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[ Lean Amine Treatment ]

Alkanolamines such as MDEA or DGA are solvents of common application in gas sweetening plants.
Treating a slip stream of the circulating lean amine prevents undesired contaminants, such as suspended solids or amine degradation products, from being accumulated in the circuit.
A lean amine filtration package would typically include three filters arranged in series: a pre-filter, to remove suspended solids such as iron sulphides or oxides; an activated carbon filter, to adsorb organic molecules generated by amine degradation; a guard filter, to avoid that any carbon fines would go through.
Unidro has provided very large Lean Amine Filtration Units for highly demanding Clients.

Pre-Filters

Either a cartridge filter or a precoat filter is typically selected as lean amine pre-filter for solids removal.
In case of a cartridge filter, the disposable filter elements must be of a consistent material and type to cope with the solvent nature and temperature, and to remove the largest amount of incoming solids, whilst avoiding early exhaustion. Depending on solvent type, on operating conditions and on the solids concentration and size, Unidro can optimize the filter design and the filter elements selection.

Candle and Leaf Type Precoat Filters

In case of a precoat filter, Unidro can propose a vertical filter with candle type filter elements, or a horizontal filter with flat circular filter elements (“leaves”).
For both filter types, the precoating / service / cleaning cycle normally involves complex automatic loops with sequence ON/OFF valves operated by the control system.

Activated Carbon Filters and Guard Filters

Adsorbing the organic contaminants on a granular activated carbon bed allows to minimize foaming phenomena in the gas process plants.
When designing the filter, the nature of the fluid must be considered to establish an adequate contact time and to optimize the hydraulics.
An appropriate media selection ensures the right porosity to adsorb effectively the undesired molecules.
As prolonged operation may lead to the production of some carbon fines, a 5 micron-rated cartridge guard filter is normally installed downstream the Activated Carbon Filter.

Process Filters

Nutshell filters

BTEX STRIPPING

Flotators

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[ Condensate Recovery and Treatment ]

Our experience in the water treatment and utilities combined with the wide range of technologies and equipment available in-house, give us a full coverage of the different needs connected to condensate treatment and recovery.

Turbine Condensate Recovery

The removal of SS (iron scale, precipitates, impurities) from the recovered Turbine Condensate is required in Power Stations. With our special backwashable filters (gas-bump cartridge filters) we can provide a well proven, efficient, reliable technology, fully in-house developed.

Suspect Oily Condensate Treatment

Return steam condensate from heaters may be accidentally contaminated with oil, due to spillage in heat exchanger equipment. Our unique Double Step Resin Coalescer is an equipment specifically intended for this purpose. Sometime combined with Activated Carbon Filters, Resin Coalescer is the most appropriate technology for this type of condensate.

Condensate Polishing Units (CPU)

The removal of hardness, silica from the return process or steam condensate prior to feed back to the boilers is a standard requirement in boiler circuits. Unidro’s experience in Mixed Bed Polishers is outstanding, with a reference list including capacity of more than one thousand cubic meters per hour in a single unit and credits from the major international players in Oil and Gas. External Regeneration for high pressure condensate treatment is also available.

Condensate Degassing with Thermal Deaerator

The removal of oxygen and carbon dioxide is normally necessary prior to feed HP boilers. This is obtained in thermal deaerators, where the condensate stream is stripped with hot steam. Unidro can design thermal deaerators, which are fabricated in our shop.

https://www.unidro.com/what-we-do/engineered-products/resin-coalescers/ https://www.unidro.com/media-filters/ https://www.unidro.com/what-we-do/engineered-products/precoat-filters/ https://www.unidro.com/what-we-do/engineered-products/cartridge-filters/ https://www.unidro.com/mixed-bed-polishers/ https://www.unidro.com/condensate-polishers-with-external-regeneration/

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[ Produced Water Treatment ]

With experience in water treatment, a wide separation equipment portfolio and a specific know-how on wellhead processes Unidro is a highly qualified partner for PWT.

The Produced Water problem

Inlet water temperature, salinity, chemical stability, oil dispersion as well as outlet parameters: conditions are different for each individual project and every treatment is a case history itself.

One stop shop principle

Unidro combines the expertise to deal with the PWT problem, the know-how to design a “tailor made” system, a complete portfolio of our own separation equipment.

Primary Separation for desanding and coarse oil removal
Secondary Separation for fine oil removal
Tertiary Separation for suspended solids and oil polishing by media filtration
Special Treatment BTEx strippers, biological treatment
Final Guard Filtration
Injection manifolds

FEED, process consultancy, after sale site services

The experience of Unidro in treating produced water in very challenging conditions in North Africa, Middle East and South Pacific Region gives us the know how to support our clients when the feasibility of a PWT is to be investigated and all the required parameters need to be identified and measured. Portable equipment for analysis and jar tests, pilot units for testing can be available during feasibility study provided by Unidro.

In case of existing facilities, process and know-how support for optimisation, revamping, debottlenecking or retrofitting existing equipment can be provided by Unidro teams to clients worldwide.

https://www.unidro.com/api-separators/ https://www.unidro.com/cpi-coalescer/ https://www.unidro.com/clariflocculators/ https://www.unidro.com/what-we-do/engineered-products/flotators/ https://www.unidro.com/what-we-do/engineered-products/nutshell-filters/ https://www.unidro.com/media-filters/ https://www.unidro.com/what-we-do/engineered-products/cartridge-filters/ https://www.unidro.com/btex-stripping/ https://www.unidro.com/biological-oxydation-high-salinity/ https://www.unidro.com/media-filters/