First Retrofit Plant for the Treatment of Drain Water

With two centrifuge skids for the treatment of so-called drain water, GEA (Germany), Business Unit Mechanical Separation, recently delivered the first retrofit plant. Whilst drilling for oil, drain water collects on the platform in large volumes, which is passed into large tanks together with other waste water occurring. In
conformity with the IMO Regulations MEPC.107(49) this contaminated water must not be drained into
the ocean before corresponding treatment and de-oiling.

The disposal of drain water on land is associated with high costs and expenditure of time so that a
corresponding treatment is necessary by separation on the drilling platform already. For this reason, the
use of drilling platforms in the waters of Alaska required a retrofit of the drain water treatment plant,
which ensures a residual oil content in the drain water of less than 5 ppm. For this purpose, GEA has
designed a plant with a high performance decanter for solids extraction as well as a separator for
residual oil removal. The special feature here is the retrofit concept: Both centrifuges including peripheral
equipment were delivered in one container each ready for operation. The required connecting piping
between the containers was part of the scope of delivery as well. After the customer has fitted the supply
line, the skids can be put into operation directly on deck, by “plug&play” so to speak. This possibility of
retrofitting convinced the customer not only by its uncomplicated handling, but also by its enormous cost
and time benefit.

In addition, the guaranty of lower residual oil content improved the charter rate of the drilling vessel - for
this reason, the retrofit plant will pay off in next to no time.