Engineering in action - flow motion

Unexpected use is the rule, not the exception when it comes to technological advances.

This ‘technology timeline’ – at the heart of which is what many of us may think of as a simple nozzle – lends weight to that rule.

Over centuries, the number of uses that nozzles and jet pumps are put to, demonstrates how one advance, whether in scientific theory or technology application, can have wide-ranging consequences.

Caltec, the Petrofac-owned fluid dynamics company, applies its own surface jet pump and compact separation expertise and solutions to enhance oil and gas production. The technology itself is passive: it has no moving parts, requiring simple controls and maintenance, with the laws of mathematics and physics working in harmony inside patented designs. The company has been working with most oil and gas majors to apply or retrofit these technologies for a broad range of efficiency gains.

How it works

The surface jet pump is at the heart of Caltec’s production solutions. The device uses the energy from a high-pressure fluid to boost the pressure of a low-pressure fluid to an intermediate level.

In studying the science behind the pump, the company’s fluid dynamics specialists have made improvements to its design and performance as well as extended its range of applications. Uses include

• production boosting
• multi-phase boosting
• gas/liquid separation
• flare recovery
• de-gassing liquids
• oil/water separation

There are more than 105 applications in use, extending the life of assets, increasing productivity and profitability, and helping to meet environmental obligations.

To find out more, contact us at info@caltec.com