ChE Tulsa University

Dr. Francis S. Manning

Professor of Chemical Engineering

Research Emphasis

• Oilfield processing of petroleum
• Oilfield-related environmental problems
• Engineering education.

Research

Professor Manning, with Professor Richard Thompson as co-author, is currently writing a three-volume treatise on oilfield processing. Volume One considers natural gas processing and was published in 1991. Volume Two deals with crude oil treating and was published in 1995. Volume Three will consider oilfield waters both produced and injection. These volumes and their prepublication notes are used by Professors Manning and Thompson in numerous industrial short courses nationally and internationally.

BTEX Recovery from TEG Dehy Units.

The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 require reduction of current benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylene (BTEX) emissions from triethylene glycol (TEG) dehydration units. Dehydration and BTEX recovery capabilities of the three most attractive processes --Conoco, Texaco/Coastal, and DRIZO-- were determined by computer simulation. Five year capitalized costs were also estimated. These simulations established the following conclusions: All three processes can reduce BTEX emissions to less than one percent of uncontrolled levels. The DRIZO process is by far the most expensive but it can dry natural gas to far lower dew points. The Conoco and Texaco/Coastal processes are comparable with regard to complexity, initial and operating costs, and BTEX recovery. BTEX emissions can be reduced to essentially zero only when all hydrocarbon vapors leaving the separators are either flared or used for fuel. When these hydrocarbon vapors are burned, all three processes can meet and exceed current EPA emissions regulations.

Engineering Education.

In collaboration with Dr. Keith Wisecarver, Professor Manning spearheaded the fund to establish the Paul Buthod Chemical Engineering Computer Laboratory. Currently this laboratory has 18 Pentium III, 800 mhz PCs. Dr. Manning has been the College’s representative to the ASEE Midwest Section since 1991. Professor Manning was Program Chair for the 1996 ASEE Midwest Section Meeting and was Chair of the Midwest Section of the ASEE during 1997-98. He also arranges and participates in two review sessions every year for the Fundamentals of Engineering examination. 

Selected Publications

• L. N. Canjar and F. S. Manning, "Thermodynamic Properties and Reduced Correlations for Gases," Gulf Publishing Company, Houston, 1967.
• D. Sutterfield, J. Wells, and F.S. Manning, "Fate of Heteroatoms When Processing Crudes," Proceeding of 2nd International Conference of Long-Term Storage Stabilities of Liquid Fuels, San Antonio (1986).
• F.S. Manning and R.E. Thompson, Oilfield Processing of Petroleum - Vol 1. Natural Gas, PennWell Publishing Co., Tulsa (1991).
• F.S. Manning and R.E. Thompson, Oilfield Processing of Petroleum - Vol 2. Crude Oil, PennWell Publishing Co., Tulsa (1995).
• B. Rajganesh, P.T. Selvaraj, F.S. Manning, K.L. Sublette, and C. Camp, "Biotreatment of Produced Water for Removal of Sulfides, Organics, and Toxicity," Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology (1994).

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