Risk analysis of the MEG regeneration system in FPSO units: application of the Bowtie method

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21712/lajer.2025.v12.n4.p1-12

Keywords:

Acidentes, petróleo e gás, riscos, segurança

Abstract

Oil and natural gas are the main energy sources used worldwide, playing a crucial role in transportation, electricity generation, and heating. Offshore production has expanded over the decades, driven by the search for new reserves and technological advancements. In this context, Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) platforms play a fundamental role, enabling the extraction, processing, and storage of oil and gas in remote offshore locations. One of the operational challenges in these units is the formation of hydrates, which can block production lines. To prevent this issue, Monoethylene Glycol (MEG) is used as an inhibitor, reducing hydrate formation and allowing for regeneration and reuse, making the process more efficient. The MEG regeneration system involves its separation from water and impurities in a distillation column, ensuring its reintegration into the production cycle. Offshore operations require stringent safety measures due to extreme environmental conditions and the presence of flammable substances. This study applied the Bowtie methodology to assess risks in the MEG regeneration module of an FPSO unit, identifying threats, preventive and mitigating barriers, and the consequences of system failures. The analysis revealed that failures in MEG regeneration can significantly impact platform operations, leading to environmental, economic, and safety risks. The integration of risk management strategies, combining the Bowtie method with other approaches such as HAZOP, enhances operational safety and improves the efficiency of offshore activities.

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Author Biographies

  • Yvan Jesus Olortiga Asencios , Federal University of São Paulo

    Yvan completed a Post-Doctorate in Physical Chemistry at the University of São Paulo, USP, Brazil. He was a Visiting Researcher at the Institute of Chemical Technology at the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover, Germany, and at the Institute of Materials Chemistry at the Technischen Universität Wien (Technical University of Vienna), Austria. PhD in Chemistry (in Physical Chemistry) from the University of São Paulo, USP; and Master in Chemistry from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, PUCP, and completed a Specialization in Fuel Engineering at the same university. He is a Chemical Engineer from the Universidad Nacional José Faustino Sanchez Carrión, (UNJFSC), Lima / Perú (Diploma Revalidated by the Federal University of São Carlos, UFSCar). He is a Researcher in the area of Heterogeneous Catalysis for the production of Renewable Fuels and Advanced Materials for environmental applications. Head of the Catalysis and Sustainable Chemistry Laboratory at the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP, BS). He coordinated FAPESP and CNPq Projects. He holds the position of Full Professor at the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) (works on the Undergraduate Courses and the Graduated Program in Integrated Environmental Analysis at UNIFESP Diadema SP). He is also a Professor and Collaborating Researcher of the Postgraduate Program in Chemical Science and Technology at the Federal University of ABC (UFABC), Santo André-SP. Since 2023 he has been a member of the Energy Technical Committee of the Regional Chemistry Council-Region IV (CRQ-IV-SP). He is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Science Sustainable Engineering (ISSN 2965-4505).

  • Luiza Helena da Silva Martins, Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia

    Assistant Professor C 601 at the Institute of Animal Health and Production of the Federal Rural University of the Amazon (UFRA), teaching in the Food Science and Technology, Agronomy, and Animal Science programs. She holds a Post-Doctorate in Food Science and Technology from UFPA, with research focused on the valorization of Amazonian biomass waste. She has a PhD in Chemical Engineering from UNICAMP (DDPP), focusing on lignocellulosic biomass treatments, a Master's degree in Food Science and Technology from UFPA, and undergraduate degrees in Food Technology (UEPA) and Information Systems (Estácio). Her research focuses on bioactive compounds, including phenolic compounds, flavonoids, antioxidants, and peptides, with an emphasis on Amazonian inputs from meliponiculture and agro-industrial waste, aiming at their use in the production of inputs for fine chemicals. She also works on fermentative and enzymatic processes aimed at obtaining organic acids and other compounds of interest. He works with process optimization through Design of Experiments (DOE), and applies data science, artificial neural networks, and mathematical modeling in his studies, using RStudio, Statistica, Python, and WEKA as his main tools for data analysis, modeling, and classification.

  • Andrea Komesu, Federal University of São Paulo

    Currently, she is an Adjunct Professor C at the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Baixada Santista Campus (since 2017). She is a permanent faculty member of the Postgraduate Program in Bioproducts and Bioprocesses at UNIFESP, working with international partners in India. She holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the Federal University of São Carlos (2010) and a doctorate in Chemical Engineering from the State University of Campinas (2015). She has a postdoctoral degree in Chemical Engineering from the State University of Campinas (2017). She has experience in the area of ​​Chemical Process Engineering, mainly working on the following topics: fermentation for the production of biofuels and value-added chemicals, utilization of agro-industrial waste, conventional and unconventional separation processes for bioproduct purification, and computational simulation of processes.

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Published

12/24/2025

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 4 (2025)

Section

Petróleo e Gás Natural

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Latin American Journal of Energy Research

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

O autor, no ato da submissão do artigo, transfere o direito autoral ao periódico.

How to Cite

Olortiga Asencios , Y.J., da Silva Martins, L.H. and Komesu, A. (2025) “Risk analysis of the MEG regeneration system in FPSO units: application of the Bowtie method”, Latin American Journal of Energy Research, 12(4), pp. 1–12. doi:10.21712/lajer.2025.v12.n4.p1-12.

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