Tracerco
Encyclopedia
Tracerco is the oil and gas services subsidiary of British chemical company and conglomerate Johnson Matthey
.
established a division to research the use of ionizing radiation
within chemical process
es. They found it was not possible to use it as a catalyst, but found it could be used to assess/diagnose within the chemical process, typically ahead of plant turnarounds Turnaround (refining)
. In the 1960s the division was named Physics and Radioisotope Services, performing flow studies, heat exchanger leakage tests
and column scans on a chemical plant
in the UK. To support the work being done in hazardous areas, a range of Intrinsically safe radiation monitors were developed. Most of this early work was later recorded by Peter Jackson .
In 1967 the first nuclear gauge was developed to measure the level within a vessel at Billingham chemical works
. The Specialist Measurement Instruments section was established with a range of level, trip and Nuclear density gauge
s, typical application of which is slug catchers and separation vessels
.
A General Atomics
Triga
250 kW Mark 1 nuclear reactor
was ope rated from 1971 to 1998. This was used to create short half-life radioisotopes for use in chemical plant
diagnostics, sample analysis and forensic work.
In the 1970s the business supported development North Sea oil
industry, selling a range of services and nucleonic gauges. In the 1980s bases were established in Aberdeen
, Houston, Sarnia
and Edmonton
. Subsea
gauges were developed for grout
monitoring. Subsea nucleonic gauge level system was developed for Texaco
Highlander Slug Catcher Tartan tieback. As well as techniques to assess and diagnose fluidised catalytic cracking units
.
In the 1990s a range of Flooded Member Inspection and Pipeline Inspection Gauge Tracking services used in pipeline pigging
campaigns. As well as methods to characterise the flow from oil and gas reservoirs were developed.
The Tracerco Profiler entered the market in 2000, this Nuclear density gauge
allows customers to see into their separator
. This product received the Queen's Award for Innovation
.
Imperial Chemical Industries
sold the group to Johnson Matthey
in 2002.
Tracerco bought the Process Diagnostics division of QuestTruTec in 2006 to become the largest supplier of nucleionic diagnostic services currently in operation.
Johnson Matthey
Johnson Matthey plc is multinational chemicals and precious metals company headquartered in London, United Kingdom.It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.-History:...
.
History
In 1958 ICIImperial Chemical Industries
Imperial Chemical Industries was a British chemical company, taken over by AkzoNobel, a Dutch conglomerate, one of the largest chemical producers in the world. In its heyday, ICI was the largest manufacturing company in the British Empire, and commonly regarded as a "bellwether of the British...
established a division to research the use of ionizing radiation
Ionizing radiation
Ionizing radiation is radiation composed of particles that individually have sufficient energy to remove an electron from an atom or molecule. This ionization produces free radicals, which are atoms or molecules containing unpaired electrons...
within chemical process
Chemical process
In a "scientific" sense, a chemical process is a method or means of somehow changing one or more chemicals or chemical compounds. Such a chemical process can occur by itself or be caused by somebody. Such a chemical process commonly involves a chemical reaction of some sort...
es. They found it was not possible to use it as a catalyst, but found it could be used to assess/diagnose within the chemical process, typically ahead of plant turnarounds Turnaround (refining)
Turnaround (refining)
Turnarounds are scheduled events wherein an entire process unit of an industrial plant is taken offstream for an extended period for revamp and/or renewal...
. In the 1960s the division was named Physics and Radioisotope Services, performing flow studies, heat exchanger leakage tests
Heat exchanger
A heat exchanger is a piece of equipment built for efficient heat transfer from one medium to another. The media may be separated by a solid wall, so that they never mix, or they may be in direct contact...
and column scans on a chemical plant
Billingham Manufacturing Plant
The Billingham Manufacturing Plant is a large chemical works based in the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees. In agricultural terms, it is one of the most important factories in Britain.-Brunner Mond:...
in the UK. To support the work being done in hazardous areas, a range of Intrinsically safe radiation monitors were developed. Most of this early work was later recorded by Peter Jackson .
In 1967 the first nuclear gauge was developed to measure the level within a vessel at Billingham chemical works
Billingham Manufacturing Plant
The Billingham Manufacturing Plant is a large chemical works based in the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees. In agricultural terms, it is one of the most important factories in Britain.-Brunner Mond:...
. The Specialist Measurement Instruments section was established with a range of level, trip and Nuclear density gauge
Nuclear density gauge
A nuclear density gauge is a tool used in civil construction and the petroleum industry, as well as for mining and archaeology purposes. It consists of a radiation source that emits a directed beam of particles and a sensor that counts the received particles that are either reflected by the test...
s, typical application of which is slug catchers and separation vessels
Separator (oil production)
The term separator in oilfield terminology designates a pressure vessel used for separating well fluids produced from oil and gas wells into gaseous and liquid components. A separator for petroleum production is a large vessel designed to separate production fluids into their constituent components...
.
A General Atomics
General Atomics
General Atomics is a nuclear physics and defense contractor headquartered in San Diego, California. General Atomics’ research into fission and fusion matured into competencies in related technologies, allowing the company to expand into other fields of research...
Triga
TRIGA
TRIGA is a class of small nuclear reactor designed and manufactured by General Atomics. The design team for TRIGA was led by the physicist Freeman Dyson.TRIGA is the acronym of Training, Research, Isotopes, General Atomics.-Design:...
250 kW Mark 1 nuclear reactor
Nuclear reactor
A nuclear reactor is a device to initiate and control a sustained nuclear chain reaction. Most commonly they are used for generating electricity and for the propulsion of ships. Usually heat from nuclear fission is passed to a working fluid , which runs through turbines that power either ship's...
was ope rated from 1971 to 1998. This was used to create short half-life radioisotopes for use in chemical plant
Chemical plant
A chemical plant is an industrial process plant that manufactures chemicals, usually on a large scale. The general objective of a chemical plant is to create new material wealth via the chemical or biological transformation and or separation of materials. Chemical plants use special equipment,...
diagnostics, sample analysis and forensic work.
In the 1970s the business supported development North Sea oil
North Sea oil
North Sea oil is a mixture of hydrocarbons, comprising liquid oil and natural gas, produced from oil reservoirs beneath the North Sea.In the oil industry, the term "North Sea" often includes areas such as the Norwegian Sea and the area known as "West of Shetland", "the Atlantic Frontier" or "the...
industry, selling a range of services and nucleonic gauges. In the 1980s bases were established in Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, Houston, Sarnia
Sarnia, Ontario
Sarnia is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada . It is the largest city on Lake Huron and is located where the upper Great Lakes empty into the St. Clair River....
and Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
. Subsea
Subsea
Subsea is a general term frequently used to refer to equipment, technology, and methods employed in marine biology, undersea geology, offshore oil and gas developments, underwater mining, and offshore wind power industries.- Oil and gas :...
gauges were developed for grout
Grout
Grout is a construction material used to embed rebars in masonry walls, connect sections of pre-cast concrete, fill voids, and seal joints . Grout is generally composed of a mixture of water, cement, sand, often color tint, and sometimes fine gravel...
monitoring. Subsea nucleonic gauge level system was developed for Texaco
Texaco
Texaco is the name of an American oil retail brand. Its flagship product is its fuel "Texaco with Techron". It also owns the Havoline motor oil brand....
Highlander Slug Catcher Tartan tieback. As well as techniques to assess and diagnose fluidised catalytic cracking units
Fluid catalytic cracking
Fluid catalytic cracking is the most important conversion process used in petroleum refineries. It is widely used to convert the high-boiling, high-molecular weight hydrocarbon fractions of petroleum crude oils to more valuable gasoline, olefinic gases, and other products...
.
In the 1990s a range of Flooded Member Inspection and Pipeline Inspection Gauge Tracking services used in pipeline pigging
Pigging
Pigging in the context of pipelines refers to the practice of using pipeline inspection gauges or 'pigs' to perform various maintenance operations on a pipeline. This is done without stopping the flow of the product in the pipeline....
campaigns. As well as methods to characterise the flow from oil and gas reservoirs were developed.
The Tracerco Profiler entered the market in 2000, this Nuclear density gauge
Nuclear density gauge
A nuclear density gauge is a tool used in civil construction and the petroleum industry, as well as for mining and archaeology purposes. It consists of a radiation source that emits a directed beam of particles and a sensor that counts the received particles that are either reflected by the test...
allows customers to see into their separator
Separator (oil production)
The term separator in oilfield terminology designates a pressure vessel used for separating well fluids produced from oil and gas wells into gaseous and liquid components. A separator for petroleum production is a large vessel designed to separate production fluids into their constituent components...
. This product received the Queen's Award for Innovation
Queen's Awards for Enterprise
The Queen's Awards for Enterprise is an awards programme for British businesses and other organizations who excel at international trade, innovation or sustainable development. They are the highest official UK awards for British businesses...
.
Imperial Chemical Industries
Imperial Chemical Industries
Imperial Chemical Industries was a British chemical company, taken over by AkzoNobel, a Dutch conglomerate, one of the largest chemical producers in the world. In its heyday, ICI was the largest manufacturing company in the British Empire, and commonly regarded as a "bellwether of the British...
sold the group to Johnson Matthey
Johnson Matthey
Johnson Matthey plc is multinational chemicals and precious metals company headquartered in London, United Kingdom.It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.-History:...
in 2002.
Tracerco bought the Process Diagnostics division of QuestTruTec in 2006 to become the largest supplier of nucleionic diagnostic services currently in operation.
Current Operations
The company has 7 business units:- Instrumentation provides a full range of Nucleonic measurement solutionsNuclear density gaugeA nuclear density gauge is a tool used in civil construction and the petroleum industry, as well as for mining and archaeology purposes. It consists of a radiation source that emits a directed beam of particles and a sensor that counts the received particles that are either reflected by the test...
including level, density and interface measurement, which are certified for installation in hazardous areasElectrical Equipment in Hazardous AreasIn electrical engineering, a hazardous location is defined as a place where concentrations of flammable gases, vapors, or dusts occur. Electrical equipment that must be installed in such locations is especially designed and tested to ensure it does not initiate an explosion, due to arcing contacts...
and subseaSubseaSubsea is a general term frequently used to refer to equipment, technology, and methods employed in marine biology, undersea geology, offshore oil and gas developments, underwater mining, and offshore wind power industries.- Oil and gas :...
. - Process Diagnostics can diagnose a wide range of production problems using sophisticated tracer and advanced measurement technology.
- Radiataion Monitors offers a range of Intrinsically Safe and Non-Intrinsically Safe Radiation Monitors, which can be used to measure radiation dose rate or characterise process and environmental contaminants.
- Radiation Protect Advice and Radiation Protection Supervisor Training provide a range of services to ensure client operational safety and compliance with national and international Radiological legislation.
- Reservoir Characterisation enable customers to optimise the recovery of hydrocarbons from both new and mature reservoirs.
- Analytical Services offer a range of standard and bespoke analytical and diagnostic techniques.
- Fuel Tagging provides a range of unique covert molecular markers, which are tailored to suit the applicati on.