STE

Well Test Manual 3

Section 2

Instrumentation – Air Supply

Table of Contents
Introduction and Objectives……………………………………………… 2-2
Why is an Air Supply Necessary………………………………………… 2-3
What is a compressor…………………………………………………….. 2-3
Rig Air Supply……………………………………………………………… 2-4
Compressor Air Supply…………………………………………………… 2-5
Air Distribution Systems………………………………………………….. 2-6

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Introduction
The section contains information on the Air Supplies necessary to run a Well
Test.

Objectives
After completing this section, you should be able to

• Understand the reason behind having a good air supply

• Understand what an air compressor is
• Uses of an air compressor
• Why it is necessary to have dry system air
• Danger of air.

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About the Air Supply

Why is an air supply necessary in Well Testing?

The air supply provides three very important functions.

• Provides air to operate the ESD (Emergency Shutdown) system.

• Provides air to operate the control instrumentation.
• Provides air to facilitate proper burn at the Oil burners.

Air supply is often taken for granted, someone else is controlling that supply
and therefore does not need be watched.

On many occasions two different air supplies are used:

• Rig air – to run ESD and instrumentation
• Compressors – to supply air to burners and also may have to be used
to supply air for instrumentation/ESD.

Supply pressure from both these sources will be within the range of 100psi to
150psi. They supply small amounts of air to 1000’s of scf/m

What is a Compressor?

A compressor is a machine that is used to increase the pressure of gas. The

earliest compressors were bellows, used by blacksmiths to intensify the heat
in their furnaces. The first industrial compressors were simple, reciprocating
piston-driven machines powered by a water wheel.

A modern industrial compressed air system is composed of several major

sub-systems and many sub-components. Major sub-systems include the
compressor, prime mover, controls, treatment equipment and accessories and
the distribution system. The compressor is the mechanical device that takes
in ambient air and increases its pressure. The prime mover powers the
compressor. Controls serve to regulate the amount of compressed air being
produced. The treatment equipment removes contaminant from the
compressed air, and accessories keep the system operating properly.
Distribution systems are analogous to wiring in the electrical world – they
transport compressed air to where it is needed.

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Rig Air Supply

On many off-shore jobs rig air supply is readily available for use and can be
piped into our system to supply air for ESD systems and Instrumentation. It is
important to realize that most rig air supplies will be wet, that is moisture will
be present in the air. Removal of this moisture is important as this can cause
instrumentation/ESD systems to malfunction.

It is therefore advisable to fit an air drier before the supply is used. This will
minimize the amount of moisture into the equipment. Moisture is also
responsible for deterioration of the equipment, rust forming etc. With the air
drier should also be a filter to remove any particles that are entrained in the
air.

Example of small air

Drier used with rig
supply air

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Compressors Air Supply

Compressors are mainly used to supply air to the burners. In certain

circumstances they will also be used to supply air to both instrumentation and
ESD systems. Most of the modern compressors will be fitted with upstream
filters, moisture traps and downstream filters with moisture traps. Even so if
this air is to be used for instruments or ESD purposes then air driers must be
fitted before connection to the systems.

In certain circumstances it is imperative that proper air driers are fitted after
the compressor. When temperatures are well below zero then an air drier
must be fitted. This will considerably reduce the amount of moisture in the air
and stop freezing in the lines. If freezing occurs then instrumentation will shut
down. Even worse there is also the possibility that the ESD system will not
function properly.

Full air dryer system.

Air for the burner does not require any additional treatment, but should be
blown all the way to the burner before use, to check that there are no
blockages.

Instrumentation should be periodically checked for the retention of water in

the instruments and blown down where necessary.

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Air Distribution Systems

It is important to work out the number of compressors required to give a clean

burn at the burner nozzles. Once this is established then we must carefully
work out the size of hose require to feed this air. It is easily possible to use
hoses which will not supply sufficient scfm to the burners. You must also take
into account pressure drops along the length of the hoses.

When supplying air to instrumentation and ESD loops the requirement for
large bore pipework is not necessary. The supply requirements are very
small. But it is important that regulation of this supply is adhered to
stringently. Many of the instruments will necessitate a different supply
pressure and therefore fitting of pressure regulators must be done with care.
These regulators should be placed next to the equipment or on the equipment
and will therefore eliminate the possibility for confusion. Supply pressure to
instrumentation/ESD systems should be checked before use.

Commonly 35psi is used on most of our equipment, but we have on many

occasions dropped this pressure for other instruments associated with ESD
systems which require the maximum pressure at 25psi.

After reading this section I hope that you realize how important it is to our job
that air is constantly monitored and maintained.

Safety – Air – Pressure – Danger

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