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Black Powder Contamination

Black powder is the industry term for the abrasive, reactive contamination present in all hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon derivatives. Black Powder precipitates from erosion, chemical corrosion and bacterial corrosion of carbon steel pipeline walls and components.

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Company

Black Powder Solutions (BPS) is a Canadian company that designs and manufactures patented magnetic separator systems as an inline, full-flow solution to removing Black Powder™ contamination from hydrocarbon fluids and gases, refined products, petrochemicals and water.

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Technology

These systems are the sustainable alternative to conventional filtration; they protect processes and equipment from breakdown or failure at all stages of the hydrocarbon value chain because they effectively > 1 micron sized particulate which is detrimental to process system reliability.

Upstream

BPS Applications in oil and gas exploration and production.

Midstream

BPS Applications petrochemical refining and gas plants.

Downstream

BPS Applications in oil and gas transportation and distribution.

Targa Resources Loading Line Application

Black Powder Contamination plugging off traditional basket strainer filters during loading. Small quantities of large particulate saturated the basket screens and plugged off flow. The incoming dock filters would allow the Black Powder to enter the facility, impeding loading and creating costly downtime and demurrage penalties.

Proof of Concept Test 

ENI Offshore Natural Gas Platform: Glycol Separation
Adriatic Sea, Offshore Italy April 2015
  • Traditional filtration was unable to filter the Black Powder contaminating the glycol dehydration unit, reducing it’s ability to dehydrate gas.
  • A BPS Magnetic Separator was installed to remove the Black Powder contamination to sub-micron levels.
  • Proof of concept test: Black Powder removed after 2 days.
  • Analysis of Black Powder showed 74% non-ferrous particulate (Phosphorous and Silica), 26% ferrous(Iron Oxides).

What’s Happening Now

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