Experiences from the Use of Thinner SRU Membranes on Existing Offshore Platforms

New thinner SRU (Sulfate Removal Unit) NF (Nano Filtration) membrane was developed to boost the more efficient available water productivity per treatment module for energy and space saving benefits. Two module designs have been offered to the offshore service, with one targeting a more efficient fouling control with expanded surface area, and another targeting utmost compact design to save energy and space consumption. This new technology is currently available and has been used at offshore fields since 2020. With the replacement of the new NF membranes, existing SRUs can either increase by 10 to 16% capacity without modifying the actual system or use a thicker feed spacer (34 mil vs. 26 mil), allowing for operation at lower Differential Pressures (dP) reducing Cleaning-In-Place (CIP) frequency and alleviating the hassle and downtime stress brought by fouling management. New systems can be designed with 9.1-13.7% reduction in size for the same capacity when compared to standard SRU membranes. This paper investigates the benefits achieved in the real field on thinner NF membrane installation through the analysis of fouling control, production capacity boosts and membrane longevity extension. Existing platforms where the thinner SRU membranes are in use side by side with regular membrane product were tracked for direct comparison, which reveals remarkable gaining on energy consumption, chemical reduction, and downtime control with new thinner membrane installation.