Engineering Standard

SAES-A-011 2 April 2018

Crude Oil Stabilization
Document Responsibility: Oil and Gas Process Engineering Standards Committee

Contents
1 Scope ................................................................ 2
2 Conflicts and Deviations ................................... 2
3 References........................................................ 2
4 Definitions and Abbreviations............................ 3
5 Crude Oil Stabilization Specifications ............... 5
6 Process and Equipment Design ........................ 5
7 Reboiler Heating Medium................................ 11
8 Crude Oil Stabilization De-Bottlenecking ........ 12
Revision Summary................................................. 12

Appendix 1 - Crude Stabilization Unit

Example (Sketch) ............................. 13
Appendix 2 - Thermosiphon Hydraulic
Calculation ....................................... 14
Appendix 3 - Reboiler Temperature
Control (Sketch) ............................... 21
Appendix 4 - Steam Injection Model Template ...... 22
Appendix 5 - RVP / TVP Conversion ..................... 23

Previous Issue: 1 January 2018 Next Planned Update: 2 April 2021

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Contact: Simone, Mulas (mulassx) on phone +966-13-8809485

©Saudi Aramco 2018. All rights reserved.

Document Responsibility: Oil and Gas Process Engineering Standards Committee SAES-A-011
Issue Date: 2 April 2018
Next Planned Update: 2 April 2021 Crude Oil Stabilization

1 Scope

1.1 This standard provides the minimum and mandatory requirements governing the
critical aspects of the design of a crude oil stabilization unit, including reboiler,
thermosiphon loop, process control and pre-heating train (if provided).

1.2 This standard also provides the minimum requirement for debottlenecking an
existing crude stabilization unit.

1.3 This standard does not cover requirements for the design of Gas Oil Separation
Plants (refer to SAES-A-010).

1.4 This standard does not cover requirements for the design of Produced Water
Treatment & Disposal and Gas Gathering Unit (refer to SAES-A-012).

2 Conflicts and Deviations

Any conflict between this document and other applicable Mandatory Saudi Aramco
Engineering Requirements (MSAERs) shall be addressed in writing to the EK&RD
Coordinator.

Any deviation from the requirements herein shall follow internal company procedure
SAEP-302.

3 References

The requirements contained in the following documents apply to the extent specified in
this standard:

3.1 Saudi Aramco References

Saudi Aramco Engineering Procedures

SAEP-302 Waiver of a Mandatory Saudi Aramco Engineering
Requirement
SAEP-364 Process Simulation Model Development and Support

Saudi Aramco Engineering Standards

SAES-A-010 Gas Oil Separation Plants (GOSPs)
SAES-A-012 Process Design Criteria for Produced Water
Treatment and Disposal
SAES-A-400 Industrial Drainage Systems

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SAES-A-401 Closed Drain Systems (CDS)

SAES-C-001 Process Design of Trays and Packing
SAES-D-001 Design Criteria for Pressure Vessels
SAES-E-004 Design Criteria of Shell and Tube Heat Exchangers
SAES-J-510 Process Analyzer Systems
SAES-L-132 Materials Selection for Pipelines, Piping, and
Process Equipment
SAES-L-133 Corrosion Protection Requirements for Pipelines,
Piping, and Process Equipment
SAES-L-310 Design of Plant Piping
SAES-S-020 Oily Water Drainage Systems

Saudi Aramco Manuals

FEL Manual Front-End Loading (FEL) Manual

Saudi Aramco Materials System Specification

32-SAMSS-020 Manufacture of Distillation Trays and Packing

3.2 Industry Codes and Standards

American Society of Testing and Materials

ASTM D2889 Standard Test Method for Calculation of True
Vapor Pressures of Petroleum Distillate Fuels
ASTM D323-90 Standard Test Method for Vapor Pressure of
Petroleum Products (Reid Method)
ASTM D6377-08 Standard Test Method for Determination of Vapor
Pressure of Crude Oil: VPCRx (Expansion
Method)

4 Definitions and Abbreviations

Available Head for Thermosiphon Flow (AHTF): Available head for thermosiphon
flow being equivalent to the head from the top of level in drawoff tray to the bottom of
the inlet to the reboiler.

BS&W: Basic (Bottom) Sediments and Water

Crude Oil Stabilizer: Distillation column with feed to the top and middle tray (if Feed
Preheater provided) to strip H2S (hydrogen sulfide) and light hydrocarbons to meet H2S

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Document Responsibility: Oil and Gas Process Engineering Standards Committee SAES-A-011
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and TVP specifications (refer to Appendix 1, Crude Oil Stabilizer example).

DP: Differential Pressure

GOSP: Gas Oil Separation Plant

H2S: Hydrogen Sulfide

Liquid Hold-up Time: Time defined as the duration that the column can supply liquid
to downstream equipment if incoming flow is cut-off. It is calculated as volume
between Low Liquid Level and Normal Liquid Level divided by liquid actual
volumetric flow

Liquid Surge Time: The duration that the column can accommodate inlet flowrate if
outgoing liquid flow cuts off. It is calculated as volume between Normal Liquid Level
and High Liquid Level divided by liquid actual volumetric flow

Operator Intervention Time: The duration between level where alarms are initiated
and levels where trips are triggered. It is calculated as volume between alarms level
(Low Liquid Level or Low Interface Level) and shutdown level (e.g., Low Low Liquid
Level or Low Low Liquid Level) divided by liquid actual volumetric flow.

MCC: Mechanical Completion Certificate

MOC: Management of Change

PFD: Process Flow Diagram

P&ID: Piping and Instrumentation Diagram

Reboilers: Heat exchangers used to provide heat to the bottom of a distillation column.

Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP): A measure of product volatility, measured in pounds per
square inch (psi) at 100°F. The higher the RVP, the more volatile the product is and
therefore, evaporates more readily (test method ASTM D6377-08 or ASTM D323-90).
Equation and table for RVP / TVP conversion are included in Appendix 5.

Required Head Thermosiphon Flow (RHTF): Required head for thermosiphon flow is
calculated by trial and error, and is the head on the inlet side of the reboiler to overcome
the loop pressure drop and the static head on the return loop including the reboiler.

TCV: Temperature Control Valve

Thermosiphon: It is a method of circulating liquid in a vertical closed-loop circuit,

without requiring a conventional pump. The circulation is a result of the density
differences caused by heat transfer to the liquid from a heat source.

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Trap out Tray: Tray designed for total draw of liquid.

True Vapor Pressure (TVP): The vapor pressure of the hydrocarbon mixture at its
operating temperature (test method ASTM D2889). Equation and table for RVP / TVP
conversion are included in Appendix 5.

5 Crude Oil Stabilization Specifications

5.1 The crude oil shall be stabilized to meet a TVP specification of 13.0 psia at a
maximum operating temperature in the export pipeline or maximum crude
storage temperature (including storage at downstream facilities), whichever
greater.
Note: The required maximum temperature in the export pipeline or maximum crude
storage temperature shall be specified on case by case basis. 140ºF can be
used in case no data are available for storage temperature (including
downstream storage at downstream facilities).

5.2 In addition the H2S content in the stabilized oil stream shall not exceed
30 ppm (w/w). If required, the maximum TVP limit shall be reduced to lower
than 13 psia, such that the H2S content is not exceeded beyond 30 ppm (w/w).
The column design and reboiler duty shall be based on the higher duty required
between the TVP and H2S specifications whichever is greater.

5.3 Additional crude cooling facilities may have to be added to ensure TVP of
13.0 psia at maximum temperature in the export pipeline or maximum crude
storage temperature is not exceeded.

6 Process and Equipment Design

6.1 Overall Requirements

6.1.1 In accordance with FEL Manual, the GOSP design shall progress
through Process Study (FEL-2 Study), DBSP Development (FEL-2
DBSP), Project Proposal (FEL-3 Project Proposal) followed by Detailed
Design and Construction (Project Execution).

6.1.2 Process simulations for crude stabilization units shall be developed in

accordance with requirements of Section 6.3 of SAES-A-010 where
applicable.

6.1.3 PFD and Heat and Material Balance tables for crude stabilization units
shall be developed in accordance with requirements of Section 6.4 of
SAES-A-010 where applicable.

6.1.4 P&ID for crude stabilization units shall be developed in accordance with
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requirements of Section 6.5 of SAES-A-010 where applicable.

6.2 Stabilizer Feed Preheat Train

6.2.1 Crude oil Stabilization process design shall incorporate energy

conservation to recover the heat from the hot stabilizer bottom stream.

6.2.2 If crude oil stabilization is done within the battery limits of the GOSP,
then hot stabilized crude shall heat the wet crude in order to facilitate the
breaking of emulsions and promote better separation performance.
Note: If crude oil stabilization process is done within the battery limits of the
GOSP, the hot stabilized crude can be also used to preheat the feed to
the Stabilizer on case by case basis.

6.2.3 When the stabilization process is not a part of the GOSP, then the hot
stabilized crude shall be used to preheat the feed to the column
(Stabilizer). Where feed pre-heating is used, splitting of the feed in a
cold stream (by-passing pre-heater) and a hot stream shall be considered
in order to provide optimum heat transfer and column design.

6.2.4 A flowmeter shall be installed on both cold and hot feed stream to the
column when Stabilizer Feed Preheaters are installed.

6.2.5 The preheat train shall be designed to provide optimum heat recovery.
A sensitivity analysis through process simulations shall be conducted by
Design Contractor to identify the optimum ratio between cold and hot
feed stream.

6.2.6 The process simulations shall be based on the latest version of the
approved simulation software. The process simulation software that will
be used in a project shall be concurred by P&CSD/APSD/PM&OU.
Process simulations shall be developed in accordance with SAEP-364.

6.3 Stabilizer Column Design

6.3.1 The crude oil stabilizer shall be designed in accordance with SAES-D-001
and to operate at not less than 3.0 psig and not more than 5.0 psig at the
top of the column. The low pressure operation of the stabilizer column
ensures low reboilers duty, low bottoms temperature and thereby reduced
fouling rates.

6.3.2 Multiple feeds to the column shall be based on feed preheater design but
in any case they shall not be more than two.

6.3.3 The column trap out tray (feed tray to the reboilers) shall be designed as
a chimney tray within the column, despite the number of tray passes or
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reboilers connected to the column. The different reboilers shall be fed

from the common trap out tray. Separate trap out trays for individual
reboiler feeds shall not be used. The column tray design, including the
trap out tray, shall be performed by tray vendor.

6.3.4 The column shall be designed with trays, primarily due to the fouling
nature of crude oil. Packings shall not be used.

6.3.5 The column shall be designed with the following minimum cumulative
hold-up and surge time:
 Between High Liquid Level alarm and Low Liquid Level alarm:
6 minutes

6.3.6 The column shall be designed with the following minimum operator
intervention time:
 Between High High Liquid Level shutdown and High Liquid Level
alarm: 2 minutes
 Between Low Liquid Level alarm and Low Low Liquid shutdown:
2 minutes

6.3.7 Column and trays shall be designed in accordance with SAES-C-001 and
32-SAMSS-020.

6.3.8 The re-boiled fluid (vapor/liquid mixture) returned from the reboilers
shall be designed to enter below the trap out tray (chimney tray).

6.3.9 The column shall be equipped with pressure differential instruments to

monitor DP across the column trays and facilitate performance
monitoring and troubleshooting.

6.3.10 A flowmeter shall be installed on column feed as well as column liquid

and vapor outlets.

6.3.11 Temperature instruments shall be installed on column critical locations

to monitor, detect and troubleshoot performance related issues (e.g., poor
distribution, vapor cross flow channeling etc.). The location of
temperature instruments shall be developed by design contractor and
confirmed by tray manufacturer.

6.3.12 The reboilers hydrocarbon feed and return lines shall be equipped with
through conduit valves to facilitate isolation. Isolation valves shall be
locked open for relief purposes as well as equipped with spectacle blinds.

6.3.13 The turndown of crude stabilizer shall be indicated by tray vendor and
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shown on Crude Stabilizer data sheet. The crude oil stabilizer shall be
designed to operate at the turndown as indicated by tray vendor.

6.3.14 The hydraulic calculations and data sheet of crude stabilizers shall be
shall be delivered to P&CSD as part of the MCC.

6.4 Reboiler Design

6.4.1 The reboiler/s shall be designed as once through thermosiphon reboiler/s

and not as circulating thermosiphon reboilers (see Figure 1). Such a
design reduces the vapor loading to the bottom tray and consequently the
column diameter size and the likelihood of flooding.

Figure 1

6.4.2 The reboilers shall be designed and installed as horizontal unit with
crude on the shell side and heating medium on the tube side.

6.4.3 Reboilers shall be designed in accordance with SAES-E-004.

6.4.4 Multiple reboilers shall not be designed to operate in series. This is

required to eliminate high pressure drop in the thermosiphon loop.
Acceptable reboiler configurations are as follows:
a) 2 x 50% Reboilers: 2 x 50% duty reboilers shall be installed with
one ready spare tube bundle in warehouse. Dedicated nozzle on the
column and independent piping to each Reboiler shall be provided.
The trap out tray shall be common (to any nozzle) and piping to the
reboilers shall not be externally connected to make-up 100% reboiler
design flow. Reboiler outlet piping shall also be segregated. All such
piping shall be geometrically symmetrical.

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b) 2 x 100% Reboilers: 2 x 100% duty reboilers shall be installed with

no ready spare tube bundle in warehouse. The two reboilers shall not
be operated in parallel at the same time to avoid excessive fouling and
thermosiphon loop instability. Such a design shall provide dedicated
nozzle and independent piping to each reboiler. The trap out tray
shall be common (to any nozzle) and piping to the reboilers shall not
be externally connected to make up 100% flow to each reboiler.
Reboiler outlet piping shall also be segregated. All such piping shall
be geometrically symmetrical.
c) 4 x 25% Reboilers: 4 x 25% duty reboilers shall be installed with
two ready spare tube bundles in warehouse. The reboilers shall be
arranged as two (50% capacity) on either side of the column.
The feed to the reboilers shall be designed with a common line on
either side of the column that is externally split to feed each of the
25% reboiler. The trap out tray shall be common (to any nozzle)
and. Similarly, reboiler outlet piping shall also be designed and
connected to the column with a common line from two reboilers.
All such piping shall be geometrically symmetrical.

6.5 Thermosiphon Loop Design

6.5.1 Design shall ensure that a vapor equalizing line is provided as shown in
Appendix 2, Figure 4 of this standard. This design equalizes the pressure
in the line to the reboilers with the pressure in the column, above the trap
out pan and assures continuous and stable flow in the thermosiphon loop.
The connection on the thermosiphon loop shall be made at the top of the
line above the vertical section as shown in Appendix 2, Figure 4 of this
standard. This is to ensure that the equalizing line connection is not
made in the liquid section of the thermosiphon loop.

6.5.2 Design shall ensure that there is no slug flow in the thermosiphon loop.

6.5.3 Design contractor shall ensure detailed hydraulic calculations are

provided as per the procedure provided in Appendix 2 of this standard.
Hydraulic information for Available Head for Thermosiphon Flow
(AHTF) and Required Head for Thermosiphon Flow (RHTF) shall be
included in the hydraulic calculations.

6.6 Reboiler Piping

6.6.1 The piping design shall be segregated and symmetrical as per

Section 6.3.4 of this standard.

6.6.2 Reboiler piping and Thermosiphon Loop Design shall be designed as

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described in Appendix 2 of this standard.

6.6.3 The piping shall be designed in accordance to SAES-L-310.

6.7 Steam Injection

6.7.1 Where steam is available, steam shall be injected into the crude upstream
of reboilers to facilitate higher vaporization within the reboiler at lower
processing temperature, due to the partial pressure effect of steam.

6.7.2 Process simulation shall determine the optimum steam injection rate to
meet the TVP and H2S specifications. In detail, Process simulation (see
template in Appendix 4) shall determine the maximum amount of steam
per barrel of crude processed by the column, which corresponds to the
saturation point of steam in the vapor phase of the re-boiled crude.

6.7.3 60 psig saturated steam with less than five degrees Fahrenheit (< 5°F)
superheat shall be used.

6.7.4 A flowmeter shall be installed on the direct steam injection line.

6.8 Stabilizer Bottom Pumps

6.8.1 Minimum 3 x 50% capacity crude shipping pumps and booster pumps
(if applicable) shall be provided for pumping the stabilized crude.

6.8.2 Stabilizer bottom pumps shall be selected and designed in accordance

with SAES-G-005.

6.9 Performance Analyzer

BS&W, H2S and RVP analyzer shall be provided on the stabilized crude oil
stream in order to monitor the quality of oil leaving the unit and detect eventual
upset conditions. The analyzers shall be designed and provided in accordance
with SAES-J-510.

6.10 Drain Systems

All crude oil stabilization units shall be equipped with necessary connections to
allow draining for maintenance. Closed Drain System shall be designed in
accordance with SAES-A-400/SAES-A-401 and Oily Water Drain Systems shall
be designed in accordance with SAES-S-020.
Note: For existing crude stabilization units the conversion of the existing Pressure
Sewer and Gravity Sewer Systems into Closed Drain System and Oily Water
Drain System shall be evaluated on case by case basis.

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6.11 Material Selection and Corrosion Control

Material selection and corrosion control for crude oil stabilization shall be
performed in accordance with SAES-L-132 and SAES-L-133.

7 Reboiler Heating Medium

The heating medium for the shell and tube heat exchanger reboiler shall preferably be
60 psig steam or hot oil where steam is not available. The use of hot water system is
not allowed.

7.1 Steam Heating

7.1.1 Where steam is used for heating, the design shall use 60 psig saturated
steam with less than five degrees Fahrenheit (< 5°F) superheat.
Higher pressure steam results in high tube skin temperatures and
increased fouling.

7.1.2 The reboiler shall be designed with condensate subcooling to a

temperature less than 180°F to prevent condensate from flashing in the
condensate collection header. This is to avoid continuous flashing and
condensing of steam in the return header downstream of TCV (refer to
Appendix 3) that causes hammering in the return condensate lines, and
can result in mechanical failure of the header.

7.1.3 Higher subcooled temperatures are acceptable provided that the return
header back pressure is maintained to attain condensate temperature
10°F below the flashing temperature in the entire length of the header,
prior to discharging into the condensate drum.

7.1.4 The condensate header must enter the drum horizontally. If a back
pressure control valve is used it shall be located as close as possible to
the condensate drum.

7.1.5 The reboiler crude oil outlet temperature shall be controlled by regulating
the steam condensate flowrate and by flooding the tubes to reduce heat
transfer area (see an example in Appendix 3). This configuration allows
smaller control valves, more accurate flow measurement (liquid stream)
and avoid pressure fluctuations in the reboilers.

7.1.6 A temperature override from a temperature controller installed on the

steam condensate outlet line shall be provided to prevent uncondensed
steam from entering the condensate system.

7.1.7 A flowmeter shall be installed on each steam inlet line to or condensate

outlet line from each reboiler shell in order to estimate individual duty
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and efficiency.

7.2 Hot Oil Heating

7.2.1 Where steam is not available hot oil heating shall be provided. Hot oil
system shall be designed in accordance with SAES-A-010.

7.2.2 The reboiler inlet temperature for hot oil shall not exceed 390°F.

7.2.3 The reboiler crude oil outlet temperature shall be controlled by

regulating the hot oil circulation flowrate.

7.2.4 A flowmeter shall be installed on each hot oil inlet line to the reboilers in
order to estimate duty and efficiency of each reboiler.

8 Crude Oil Stabilization De-bottlenecking

8.1 A process study including process simulation shall be conducted to establish the
equipment and/or piping limitation at new operating conditions.

8.2 Column diameter and tray geometry shall be verified in order to avoid upset
conditions (such as column flooding or weeping) under new operating
conditions according to requirements of SAES-C-001. Tray design verification
shall be confirmed by tray vendor.

8.3 Reboiler and feed pre-heater design shall be verified under new operating
conditions. In particular thermal exchange rate calculation shall be performed
for each exchanger in order to verify if the available heat exchange area is
suitable for the new operating conditions.

8.4 A flare and relief system study shall be conducted in order to verify the impact
on the flare system due to new operating conditions of crude stabilization unit.

8.5 A Management of Change (MOC) shall be completed for any design change of
crude stabilization unit.

Revision Summary
20 February 2013 New Saudi Aramco Engineering Standard.
1 January 2018 Editorial revision to modify paragraphs 6.1.5 and 6.3.2
28 March 2018 Major 5-year cycle revision
2 April 2018 This revision of the standard will improve clarity about reboiler configuration (once through
thermos-siphon versus circulating thermo-siphon) and stabilizer bottom temperature control
configuration. In addition, it will provide guidelines for hold-up and surge times for the
Stabilizer Column Bottom section.

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Appendix 1 - Crude Stabilization Unit Example (Sketch)

Figure 2

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Appendix 2 - Thermosiphon Hydraulic Calculation

Procedure
Design Contractor shall perform detailed hydraulic calculations in order to estimate the Available
Head for Thermosiphon Flow (AHTF) and the Required Head for Thermosiphon Flow
(RHTF). Hydraulic calculation shall be performed for each design and operating case as per
Table1 procedure (refer to Figure 3):

Table 1
AHTF Calculation Variable Unit
STEP-1
Consider the draw-off tray height in accordance to
draw-off tray liquid level (if any) specified by tray h0 ft
vendor
STEP-2
Consider the reboiler inlet piping height h1 ft
STEP-3
Calculate AHTF as sum of draw-off tray height
AHTF = h0 + h1 ft
(STEP-1) and reboiler inlet piping height (STEP-2)
RHTF Calculation
STEP-1
Assume as first trial that RHTF is equal to AHTF RHTF(1st trial) = h0 + h1 ft
STEP-2
Calculate pressure drop in every section of reboiler
inlet line (from the draw-off tray outlet nozzle to
∆p1 psi
the reboiler inlet nozzle) at design flowrate
according to STEP-1 assumption
STEP-3
Calculate pressure drop across reboiler ∆pReb psi
STEP-4
Calculate pressure drop in every section of return
line (from reboiler outlet nozzle to the return line ∆p2 psi
inlet nozzle) at design flowrate
STEP-5
Calculate pressure drop in the entire loop as sum of
∆pTot = ∆p1 + ∆pReb + ∆p2 psi
STEP-2, STEP-3 and STEP-4
STEP-6
Calculate static head in the return line using mixed
H2 = ρMix ˑ h2 psi
phase density
STEP-7

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AHTF Calculation Variable Unit

Calculate the static head in the reboiler inlet line as
sum of pressure drop in the entire loop (STEP-5) H1 = ∆pTot + H2 (NOTE 1) psi
and static head I in the return line (STEP-6)
STEP-8
Calculate the updated RHTF dividing static head in
the reboiler inlet line (STEP-7) by density of liquid RHTF(2nd trial) = H1/ρLiq ft
flowing in the line
STEP-9
Subtract first trial RHTF to updated RHTF to find
Err = RHTF(1st trial) - RHTF(2nd trial) ft
step error
STEP-10
If step error is less than 0.01 ft then updated RHTF
is the final result and stop the calculation.
Otherwise recalculate STEP-2 assuming that the
liquid level in the reboiler inlet line is equal to
updated RHTF and find new updated RHTF Err < 0.01 ft ft
recalculating STEP-5, STEP-7, STEP-8 and STEP-
9 with new ∆p1 from STEP-2 (NOTE 2). Repeat
this procedure until step error requirement is
satisfied.

NOTE 1: Gas Pressure drop through the draw-off tray has been considered negligible.

NOTE 2: Only ∆p1 changes because the level in the reboiler inlet line is different. All the other
variables remain the same as first trial.

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Part A Equalizing line

Drawoff tray
liquid height (h0)

Part B – piping outside the

Drawoff Tray column
Return line
Two phase – liquid + vapor
Vapor inlet nozzle
(pressure drop ∆p2)

Liquid

Reboiler inlet
piping height Return line piping
(h1) height (h2)
Stabilizer
Column

AHTF RHTF

Reboiler
(pressure drop ∆pReb)

One Phase – Liquid

(pressure drop ∆p1)
AHTF - Available Head for Thermosiphon Flow

RHTF- Required Head for Thermosiphon Flow

For AHTF > RHTF, provide Equalizing Line

Figure 3

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If AHTF > RHTF then equalizing line shall be provided as shown in Figure 4. The connection
on the thermosiphon loop shall be made at the top of the line above the vertical section as
shown in Figure 4. This is to ensure that the equalizing line connection is not made in the
liquid section of the thermosiphon loop.

Equalizing line

Head required
in tray

Liquid Flashes if
no equalizing line

Head required in pipe

for thermosiphon flow
Vapor

Return from
reboiler

Liquid

To reboiler

Figure 4

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Design Example

The following example will illustrate how to conduct on thermosiphon loop hydraulic
verification. Refer to Figure 5. The design crude feed to the column is approximately
735,000 barrels per day (bpd) at standard conditions (60ºF).

The oil from the bottom tray is collected in the trap-out tray. There are two 36 inch outlet
nozzles each diverts 50% of the flow to the reboilers (approximately 379,000 bpd at actual
conditions including internal reflux) on each side of the column.

In each loop, the crude flows to the shell side of two sets of horizontal thermosiphon reboilers
and then returns, via a 48 inch header, to the column. In the return header to the column the
flow is two phase. Refer to Figure 5 (The same is true of the other loop).

The thermosiphon loop hydraulics is described in Table 2.

Table 2 (NOTE 3)
AHTF Calculation Variable Value
STEP-1
Oil head in trap-out tray: h0 40.94 in
STEP-2
Reboiler inlet piping height h1 45.3 ft
STEP-3
AHTF = sum of draw-off tray height (STEP-1)
AHTF = h0 + h1 48.7 ft
and reboiler inlet piping height (STEP-2)
RHTF Calculation
STEP-1
As first trial RHTF is equal to AHTF RHTF(1st trial) = h0 + h1 48.7 ft
STEP-2a (Section S-A1 refer to Figure 5)
First Trial: 36 in nominal size and
approximately 86 ft long (based on Available ∆p1a(1st trial) 0.170 psi
Head 48.7 ft)
Final Trial: 36 in nominal size and
approximately 16.44 ft long (based on actual ∆p1a(Final trial) 0.142 psi
level in the pipe)
STEP-2b (Section A1-B refer to Figure 5)
24 in identical header to one of the two reboilers
∆p1b 0.045 psi
and approximately 12 ft long (single phase)
STEP-2c (Section B-E refer to Figure 5)
16 in identical header to each of the two nozzles
on the reboiler section; approximately 5 ft long ∆p1c 0.101 psi
(single phase).
STEP-2 (overall ∆p reboiler inlet line)
Sum of each section of reboiler inlet line (First
∆p1(1st trial) = ∆p1a + ∆p1b + ∆p1c 0.316 psi
trial)
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Document Responsibility: Oil and Gas Process Engineering Standards Committee SAES-A-011
Issue Date: 2 April 2018
Next Planned Update: 2 April 2021 Crude Oil Stabilization

AHTF Calculation Variable Value

Sum of each section of reboiler inlet line (Final
∆p1(Final trial) = ∆p1a + ∆p1b + ∆p1c 0.288 psi
trial)
STEP-3
Pressure drop across exchanger (section E to
∆pReb 2.0 psi
E1)
STEP-4a (Section E1-E2 refer to Figure 5)
36 in identical header from each of the two
nozzles on the reboiler; almost 5ft long (two ∆p2a 0.021 psi
phase).
STEP-4b (Section E2-F refer to Figure 5)
36 in identical header from each of the
∆p2b 0.052 psi
reboilers; almost 9 ft long (two phase).
STEP-4c (Section F-G2 refer to Figure 5)
48 in common section return to the column
∆p2c 0.405 psi
about 71 ft long
STEP-4 (overall ∆p returning line)
Sum of each section of reboiler returning line ∆p2 = ∆p2a + ∆p2b + ∆p2c 0.478 psi
STEP-5 (overall ∆p entire loop)
Sum of pressure drops calculated in STEP-2, ∆pTot(1st trial) = ∆p1(1st trial) +
2.794 psi
STEP-3 and STEP-4 (First trial) ∆pReb + ∆p2
Sum of pressure drops calculated in STEP-2, ∆pTot(Final trial) = ∆p1(Final trial) + 2.767 psi
STEP-3 and STEP-4 ∆pReb + ∆p2
STEP-6
Static head from reboiler outlet nozzle through
the return line to the column (section E1 through H2 = ρMix ˑ h2 3.158 psi
G2)
STEP-7
Static head in the reboiler inlet line H1(1st trial) = ∆pTot(1st trial) + H2
5.953 psi
(First trial) (NOTE 1)
Static head in the reboiler inlet line H1(Final trial) = ∆pTot(Final trial) +
5.925 psi
(Final trial) H2 (NOTE 1)
STEP-8
Updated RHTF (2nd trial) RHTF(2nd trial) = H1(Final trial)/ρLiq 16.52 ft
RHTF(Final trial) = H1(Final
Updated RHTF (Final trial) 16.44 ft
trial)/ρLiq
STEP-9
Err(1st trial) = RHTF(1st trial) -
Step error (First trial) 32.18 ft
RHTF(2nd trial)
STEP-10
Err(2nd trial) = RHTF(2nd trial) -
Step error (Final trial) 0.008 ft
RHTF(Final trial)
NOTE 3: The intent of the hydraulic values in Table 2 is for illustrative purpose only.

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Document Responsibility: Oil and Gas Process Engineering Standards Committee SAES-A-011
Issue Date: 2 April 2018
Next Planned Update: 2 April 2021 Crude Oil Stabilization

Figure 5

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Document Responsibility: Oil and Gas Process Engineering Standards Committee SAES-A-011
Issue Date: 2 April 2018
Next Planned Update: 2 April 2021 Crude Oil Stabilization

Appendix 3 - Reboiler Temperature Control (Sketch)

Figure 6

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Document Responsibility: Oil and Gas Process Engineering Standards Committee SAES-A-011
Issue Date: 2 April 2018
Next Planned Update: 2 April 2021 Crude Oil Stabilization

Appendix 4 - Steam Injection Model Template

Steam Injection Process Model Templates are available in the Corporate Model Library by
using the following link: Corporate Model Library

Figure 7

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Document Responsibility: Oil and Gas Process Engineering Standards Committee SAES-A-011
Issue Date: 2 April 2018
Next Planned Update: 2 April 2021 Crude Oil Stabilization

Appendix 5 - RVP / TVP Conversion

Table 3

110ºF 120ºF 130ºF 140ºF 150ºF

RVP TVP RVP TVP RVP TVP RVP TVP RVP TVP
(psia) (psia) (psia) (psia) (psia) (psia) (psia) (psia) (psia) (psia)

4.5 6.2 4.5 7.3 4.5 8.6 4.5 10 4.5 11.6

5.0 7.0 5.0 8.3 5.0 9.6 5.0 11.2 5.0 13.0

5.5 7.9 5.5 9.2 5.5 10.7 5.5 12.4 5.5 14.3

6.0 8.7 6.0 10.1 6.0 11.8 6.0 13.6 6.0 15.6

6.5 9.6 6.5 11.1 6.5 12.9 6.5 14.8 6.5 17.0

7.0 10.4 7.0 12.1 7.0 13.9 7.0 16.0 7.0 18.3

7.5 11.3 7.5 13.1 7.5 15.0 7.5 17.2 7.5 19.6

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