Comply with Highly Regulated Oil in Water Measurements Using Portable Infrared Analyzers
The Petroleum Industry - both offshore and onshore -- has regulations that limit the amount of oil in discharged water. Fixed filter infrared (IR) analyzers have been used to test oil levels in produced water on drilling platforms for over 45 years for a number of reasons. On oil rigs where real estate is at a premium, infrared analyzers such as the Wilks InfraCal TOG/TPH Analyzers are compact (typically 6 inches or 15 cm square, weighing less than 5 lbs) and rugged enough to withstand salt air and a rustic lab set up. The operation can be done by non-technical personnel in less than 15 minutes. Infrared methods also match well with onshore laboratory testing making it a reliable way to keep effluent levels under the regulated amount.
US EPA methods 418.1 and 413.2 were used extensively worldwide until the Montreal Protocol called for Freon (the solvent used in the analysis) to be phased out. Infrared analysis using tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) for the extraction process is still a regulatory method in the North Sea to ensure compliance with discharge permit levels.
As IR was typically used as a quick verification that oil and grease levels were below the regulated level, other solvents such as tetrachloroethylene, hexane, n-pentane or S-316 are now widely used on both offshore and onshore oil platforms even though there is not an associated EPA method for these solvents. There is an ASTM method (D-7066) for infrared oil in water analysis using S-316. Trying to do gas chromatographic or hexane/gravimetric tests on oil drilling platforms is either too time consuming or too complicated. IR is, therefore, used as a daily check with a monthly sample typically going onshore for a regulatory test.
For further information on the InfraCal TOG/TPH Analyzers for on-site measurement of oil in water, please contact:
Wilks Enterprise, Inc.
25 Van Zant Street, Ste. 8F,
E. Norwalk, CT 06855
TEL: 203-855-9136
FAX: 203-838-9868
Email: info@wilksir.com
The information can be downloaded from the Wilks website: www.wilksir.com/oilgrease-analyzers http://wilksir.com/pdf/Oil_in_Water_Petrochemical.pdf
About Wilks Enterprise, Inc.
Headquartered in E. Norwalk, Connecticut, Wilks Enterprise specializes in easy-to-use, portable mid-infrared analyzers for specific measurement applications. All Wilks analyzers have been specifically designed for on-site use by non-technical personnel and are used for a wide variety of applications in the biofuels, environmental, petrochemical, quality control, and manufacturing industries. These portable analyzers enable analytical measurements to be made in the field, helping to eliminate the wait for off-site lab results.
InfraCal and Wilks are trademarks of Wilks Enterprise, Inc.
