Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
Perth
26th April 2007
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Flow Assurance
A Reservoir
Asphaltenes
Pressure
Hydrates
Waxes
B
Product
Temperature
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Where in the World is
Deepwater?
North Africa
Gulf of Mexico
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Deepwater Development
Issues
ÙReservoir uncertainty
ÙDeepwater installation
ÙOperability / availability
ÙFlow Assurance
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Deepwater Features
ÙDeeper water column (higher hydrostatic pressure)
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GoM Water Temperature Profile
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NWS versus GoM Water
Temperature
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Hydrates
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What are Hydrates?
Ù Ice like crystals formed from water and light hydrocarbons (~85
mol% water, ~15 mol% hydrocarbon), which when
agglomerated can block the flow path
Ù Contain as much as 180 volumes (STP) of gas per volume of
hydrate
Ù Can form at >18°C (>65°F) when the pressure is >170 bar
(>2500psi)
Ù Can form in wellbore, flowline, valves and meter discharges
Ù Have been found in wet gases, condensates & black oils
Ù Structure sI
• Usually formed by smaller molecules like methane, ethane, and
carbon dioxide
Ù Structure sII
• Formed by larger molecules such as propane and isobutane
Ù Structure H
• Formed by large molecules such as methylcyclo-hexane, only in
the presence of a smaller molecule
Ù Most often encountered on restart
Delivering
Ù Safety issues associated with depressurisation for blockage
Consulting Excellence
Hydrates
Ù Manage problem - Prevent hydrate formation
(which requires water, light hydrocarbons, low
temperatures and high pressures):
• Thermodynamic solutions:
− Remove water
− Maintain high temperature
− Decrease pressure below hydrate dissociation pressure
− Inject thermodynamic hydrate inhibitor, e.g. MeOH, MEG,
salt!
• Non-thermodynamic solutions:
– Inject low dosage hydrate inhibitor
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Hydrates
Ù Manage problem - Blockage remediation:
• Depressurisation below hydrate dissociation pressure:
– Single sided
– Double sided
• Thermal methods:
– Raise temperature above hydrate dissociation
temperature
– Hot Flushing - not effective on total blockages
– Exothermic Reaction - drastic action, difficult to deploy
and control in remote lines
• Chemical dissolvers:
– Alcohols e.g. MeOH
– Glycols e.g. MEG
• Mechanical methods
– Coiled tubing
– Pigs, if flow path open
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Typical NWS Hydrate Curves
HYDRATES
NO HYDRATES
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Typical NWS Hydrate Curves
HYDRATES
NO HYDRATES
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Typical NWS Hydrate Curves
HYDRATES
NO HYDRATES
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Multi-component Fluid
7000
Multiple Component Phase Diagram
6000 CRITICAL
POINT CRICONDENBAR
BUBBLE
5000 POINT DEW POINT CURVE
CURVE
4000
LIQUID 99
MOLE %
QUALITY
LINES 95
3000 MOLE %
90 CRICONDENTHERM
80 MOLE %
MOLE %
2000
1000
VAPOR
0
-100 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000
Courtesy: DeepStar Temperature (F)
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Retrograde Gas
5000
PRESSURE PATH
IN RESERVOIR
1 RETROGRADE GAS
3000
Pressure (psia)
60
50 40
30
20
10 % LIQUID
2000
SEPARATOR
1000
0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
Courtesy: DeepStar Temperature (F)
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Wet Gas
3000
PRESSURE PATH
WET GAS IN RESERVOIR
1
2500
POINT
1500
20 % LIQUID
10
5 1
1000 2
SEPARATOR
500
0
-50 0 50 100 150 200 250
Courtesy: DeepStar Temperature (F)
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Dry Gas
3000
PRESSURE PATH
IN RESERVOIR
DRY GAS
1
2500
2000
Pressure (psia)
1500
DEW POINT CURVE
CRITICAL
POINT
1000
2
SEPARATOR
10 5 1% LIQUID
500
0
-100 -50 0 50 100 150 200
Courtesy: DeepStar Temperature (F)
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Fluid D
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Fluid E
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Fluid Liquid “Features”
Ù Hydrocarbon liquid content
• CGR (condensate to gas ratio)
– Typical range is from 3 to 100 stb/MMscf
Ù Water content
• Saturated water (water of condensation)
– Ranges from 1.5 to 5 stb/MMscf initially up to 25 stb/MMscf late
in life
• Formation water
– Range ??????
– Upper limit constrained by some processing capacity e.g. MEG
regeneration to say 5,000 bwpd, maybe more?
Ù Total liquid content
• Ranges from 5 to 105 stb/MMscf early life up to 130
stb/MMscf late in life
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Associated FA Challenges
Ù Production chemistry related:
• Wax
• Asphaltenes
• Scale
• Corrosion
• Chemical compatibility
Ù Other:
• Sand production
• Erosion
• Hydraulic performance / liquid management
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Hydraulic Performance
ÙInfluenced by:
• System operating conditions (pressure &
temperature)
• Multiphase flow (hydrocarbons, water &
chemicals)
• Pipeline topography
ÙChallenges:
• Slugging (hydrodynamic, terrain, riser)
• Liquid surges as a result of rate changes e.g.
start-up, ramp-up (dynamic pigging), pigging
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Generic Development
Ù Development details:
• 20 km subsea tieback:
– 4 wells at a single drill centre
• Production rates:
– Early life: 1,000 MMscfd
– End of plateau: 600 MMscfd
• Required arrival pressures:
– Early life: 120 bara
– End of plateau: 25 bara
• Liquids content:
– CGR: 5 bbl/MMscf
– Saturated water: 2 bbl/MMscf
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Generic Development
20 km 25oC
100 m shallow
20oC
10 km
100 m 20oC
1,000 m scarp
4o C
1,000 m
deep
4o C
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Hydraulic Performance
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Thermal Performance
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Liquid Content – Total Hold-up
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Liquid Management
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Liquids in Deep Case
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Thanks for your
attention
Any questions?
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