The Petroleum Corporation of New Zealand Limited discovered New Zealand's first major oil field in 1980. Production is currently 1590 m3/d (10,000 bpd), which Production is currently 1590 m3/d (10,000 bpd), which represents about 14% of the country's requirements.
The crude has a high pour point (32deg.C) and a high wax level (35%). A major factor in development of the field was the selection of appropriate technology to overcome transportation problems via a 40 km pipeline from the process plant to port storage with ground temperatures of process plant to port storage with ground temperatures of 11deg.C (52deg.F). Technical and economic considerations resulted in the selection of a chemical pour point depressant rather than thermal cracking, dilution with condensate, or maintaining the crude oil temperature above its pour point. pour point. Selection of a suitable pour point depressant was made using laboratory studies done by various prospective suppliers. Product performance was based on pour point and yield value for the crude using a simple simulation of pipeline cooling. pipeline cooling. The first year of pipeline operation was essentially troublefree and the following key points were noted. The actual pipeline dosage rate was considerably lower than laboratory predicted rates. By careful experimentation during pipeline shutdowns of varying duration, it has been possible to devise a management plan which minimizes difficulties during start-up.
The paper discusses how the adoption of pour point depressant technology, in conjunction with pipeline design, has resulted in an essentially trouble-free system which enables the crude to be successfully transported by pipeline. pipeline
The Petroleum Corporation of New Zealand Ltd. (Petrocorp) discovered New Zealand's first major oil field during 1980. The field is located onshore in high value farming land in the country's North Island, near New Plymouth (Fig. 1).
Production of crude oil commenced in October 1984 with Production of crude oil commenced in October 1984 with 795 m3/d being produced from four wells. This has been subsequently increased to 954 m3/d and beginning in November 1986, production will be 1590 m3/d from twelve wells.
The marketing strategy was based on bulk storage at New Plymouth with dispatch to markets within New Zealand Plymouth with dispatch to markets within New Zealand and overseas by tanker. Transportation of crude from the production station to port storage was recognized as a production station to port storage was recognized as a problem during initial planning because of the high pour problem during initial planning because of the high pour point of the crude. point of the crude.
