Contamination Detection in Oil and Gas Products

Owlstone’s (UK) Lonestar Analyser is a portable chemical detector that can be used for the detection of contaminants in oil and gas products. Using field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometry, it can provide almost instant identification and quantification (down to parts per billion levels) of substances of interest. Its small size (36x26x20cm and less than 8kg) and robustness mean it is easily portable, and can be operated on-site. The straightforward sample-loading and user interface systems allow operation by non-specialist personnel.

Applications can be developed from scratch according to customer needs, as there are no compound-specific elements within the Lonestar system. Owlstone have extensive experience of developing bespoke applications for major oil industry companies, and current applications include identification and quantification of H₂S scavengers (triazine, MEA), methanol, acetic acid and organic chlorides (PERC, TCE, DCM) in crude oil, H₂S scavengers in water, and carbonyl sulphide in propane.