Construction of crude stabiliser unit at Iraq’s Khurmala oilfield nears completion

Construction of the Khurmala crude stabiliser unit for Iraqi oil and gas company KAR Group’s Khurmala oilfield is nearing completion, announced the US-based Ventech Engineers, who are executing the project.

Once complete, the stabiliser will serve KAR’s central crude processing station (CPS) at the Khurmala oilfield, located about 50km from its Kalak refinery in the Kurdistan Region of northern Iraq.

Fabricated into eight modular units and designed to process about 100,000 barrels per day of crude, the crude stabilisation unit will meet crucial safety and process requirements at the oilfield, claimed the company.

Ventech project manager Scot Stanley said the stabiliser will remove light gas and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) from the crude.

"This improves refinery operations, reduces potential H2S exposure risk to the CPS and refinery personnel, and eliminates sulfur dioxide (SO2) production when refinery off-gas is used to fire the heaters and boilers," Stanley added.

"Our project will help KAR operate with an enhanced level of safety and achieve longer service life from their refinery equipment."
Ventech said the project commenced in 2012, while the modules are slated to be delivered from its Pasadena, Texas, fabrication facility in March 2013.

In November 2008, KAR Oil & Gas commenced fast-track construction of phase one of a multi-phase project to bring the Khurmala oilfield to start initial production by July 2009.

The northern most dome of the Kirkuk oil field structure, the Khurmala Dome is about 20km by 8km and lies completely on the territory of Erbil Governorate.

Ventech Engineers designs and constructs new modular refineries, gas-processing systems, and existing-plant relocations.