VOC Recovery System for Crude Oil Tanker Loading

Abstract During offshore and onshore loading of crude oil tankers, huge volumes of valuable Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) are emitted to the atmosphere maybe up to 330 ton per Very Large Crude Oil Carrier (VLCC). When these emissions are liquified, they will be equal to hundreds of barrels of oil. They are a substantial source of financial loss and destructive environmental impact. The objective of this paper is to introduce a Vapor Recovery System concept which can limit & recover the emissions of VOC up to 90% at the Fujairah Terminal. All loading and unloading of oil on offshore, on Floating Storage Offloading Unit (FSOs) and Floating Production Storage Offloading (FPSOs), on onshore storage tanks and terminals, and on shuttle tankers contribute to significant emissions of VOCs. It is possible to install Vapor Recovery Unit (VRU) on each of these applications to capture and recover VOCs. There are two generic approaches to VOC recovery, known as ‘Active’ and ‘Passive’ VOC recovery technology. The Active Vapor Recovery Unit VRU systems typically include a compression step followed by condensation, absorption and/or adsorption. The Passive VRU systems use vapor-balanced loading/unloading with VOC as blanket gas for storage vessels. The VOCs are a combination of Methane and Non-Methane components which evaporate from crude oil and are typically vented into the atmosphere during routine ship loading activities, causing emissions of harmful vapor to the environment. These vapors also represent a fire/explosion hazard. The methodology will be to apply a new concept to limit and recover the VOC emissions during loading of crude oil tankers alongside a Single Point Mooring (SPM). The VOC recovery technology is a unique combination of a modern offshore Supply Vessel (OSV) which considers both hydrocarbon recovery as well as power generation.